The Bugle Dordogne - Apr 2014

Dordogne now holds 10 Michelin stars Les Fresques, at the Château des Vigiers in Monestier, has been granted its first Michelin star, bringing the number of local restaurants in the famous guide to 10 >> Page 4

Dordogne April 2014 - Issue #10

France convicts first person of genocide In a landmark ruling, a French court has convicted a prominent Rwandan over the 1994 genocide of 800,000 Tutsis. The ruling is expected to open the floodgates to a series of trials over the coming years that could reveal more of France’s involvement in the atrocity and its aftermath. wheelchair-bound in 1986 after a car accident and was nicknamed “the captain on wheels”. He was accused of distributing weapons to members of the Interahamwe militia who carried out the massacres and encouraging them to kill the Tutsi.

Furthermore, he was said to have had close ties with death squads as well as with the Akazu, a secret and elite Hutu corps within the president’s inner circle. He was also a shareholder in the Radio des Milles Collines, which spread fierce antiTutsi propaganda across the country before and during the slaughter.

During the trial he was accused of drawing up lists of political opponents to be killed, even including details of how they should be murdered. Testifying by

>> continued on page 7

NEWS - Could snails soon be off the menu?

A recent invasion of a foreign flatworm could be threatening France’s snail population, something that would have an adverse impact on the country’s menus >>Page 11

FRENCH LIFE - In the Garden - April

Our resident expert, Michelle Pierce, helps us get our gardens ready for the year ahead >> Page 12

BILINGUAL - The origins of rugby

We take a bilingual look at William Webb Ellis and how the world got the game of rugby >> Page 15

© 2006 - Remibetin (WikiCommons)

I

n a landmark ruling, a French court has sentenced a former intelligence chief and captain of Rwanda’s presidential guard to 25 years in prison, after finding him guilty of genocide and crimes against humanity.

The conviction is the first in France over the 1994 genocide that left 800,000 people dead, mostly Tutsis massacred by the majority Hutu population.

After a six week trial, the jury took 12 hours to deliver its verdicts against Pascal Simbikangwa, who was described as being steeped in “extremist Hutu ideology”.

The 54-year-old had denied the charges and said he was the victim of “a witch hunt” claiming that he had never even seen a dead body in the spring of 1994.

Simbikangwa was left

INSIDE > > >

The Bugle Business Directory

The price of applying for a British passport from France is to be slashed by 35% from April >> Page 9

Develop a habit that saves you money!

4 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 17-20

Don’t let the banks cash in!

www.hifx.co.uk

Save time and money by sending your international money transfers the easy way and benefit from: Consistent bank beating exchange rates online or over the phone.

Move money, pay people and settle bills within seconds.

Make and track payments 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Norton security used by 97 of the world’s top 100 banks.

HiFX Plc is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority under the Payment Services Regulations 2009, registration 462444, for the provision of payment services.

2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

A

s we go to print, the first round of municipal elections has taken place, with the second round votes currently being counted. For most larger towns, it is this second round - fought between the two most successful ‘lists’ from the first round - that decides who will be in charge.

I live in a small commune of only a few hundred people and second round votes are rare here. There is usually only one list and the required 50% of the commune’s vote is not too difficult to achieve without opposition.

I voted in our local elections for the first time this year - six years ago, I was temporarily out of the country and unable to vote. I do think that it is important for expats to get involved in the life of their commune, even if it is just to vote once every 6

years. In many smaller, rural communities, just getting enough people together to form a conseil municipal is challenging enough; people expect others to step forward without necessarily being willing to do so themselves.

Our mayor is not standing for re-election and for a while there was a genuine concern that no one at all would put themselves forward to be mayor in my commune. The least I can do is vote for those that are willing to give up their time.

I have heard from a number of British expats that have joined their local councils. I think it is fantastic to have a “foreign” voice on the local council, especially for communities with large proportions of expats. Not all expats throw themselves into public life in France, but plenty do have a lot to offer their communities.

Don’t forget that EU residents living in France

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

also have the right to vote in the upcoming European elections in May. At around this time of year, it always feels as though the summer “season” is on the horizon. By the time you read this, the low-cost airlines will have begun their summer schedules from Bergerac and Limoges airports, and the Easter holidays will be fast approaching. These two factors usually generate an influx of second home owners and tourists into the region. The past few years have been tough and tourism is a vital source of income for areas such as the Dordogne.

We distribute as many as 6,000 copies of The Bugle through Bergerac and Limoges airports in the peak summer months and it is really noticeable when the flight schedules are trimmed back for winter. Love them or hate them, the low-cost airlines are a vital link with “back home” more than 500,000 people use the two airports each year, the vast majority of them heading to and from the UK.

Life seems to get increasingly expensive, so I was very pleased to hear that the price of a passport issued to overseas applicants is to drop by 35% from this April (see page 9). I have been meaning to renew my daughter’s passport for a few months, but now I am very

glad that I held off. I’d like to say it was forward planning, but it has more to do with procrastination! It was quite annoying when the passport office in Paris was closed, but for once, the savings made by doing this appear to have been passed on to the consumer!

The Bugle Dordogne is now into its tenth month - wow, how the times flies. We have already established a solid readership over this time and the paper is being very well received, but we are always interested in hearing your feedback. If you have anything that you would like to see in The Bugle, or any feedback on the newspaper, we would love to hear from you - drop us a line at editor@ thebugle.eu Until next month!

Steve Martindale, Editor

INSIDE this edition 3-6 Local News 7-12 National News 12-13 French Life 14 Practical 15 Bilingual 16 What’s On Feature 17-20 Directory 21-24 What's On

CONTACT us Tel: 05.55.41.17.76 General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales24@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions24@thebugle.eu Editor: Steve Martindale Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The name’s Boyd, William Boyd

© 2009 - Michael Fennell (WikiCommons)

T

he name’s Boyd, William Boyd.

The British author, who spends part of his time in the Dordogne at his home in Sadillac, near Bergerac, is the latest of just 5 authors to write an official James Bond novel. His first Bond adventure, entitled “Solo”, was released in the UK in September 2013, but March of this year saw the much-anticipated release of its French version.

Set in the swinging sixties, the story centres on Bond’s mission to a civil war in the fictional country of Zanzarim, a thinly veiled version of the Nigerian Civil War. Boyd was chosen to write the book by the Fleming estate - with his wife and son both dead, it is his nieces who these days manage Ian Fleming Publishing Ltd. “One day in 2011, my agent rang me up and said, ‘sit down, you’ve been chosen by the Fleming family!’” said Boyd in a recent interview with l’Express. “I had to pass a kind of cultural test on my Bond knowledge but also had a number of questions of my own, most notably the amount of freedom I would be given with the story.”

Boyd closely based his version of Bond on the character from Ian Fleming’s original novels, steering away from the various on-screen film versions of the British spy. “I have always been intrigued by the extended suicide that was Ian Fleming’s life, a man who hated himself, like many of our great writers such as Evelyn Waugh and Henry

Green,” Boyd told Sud Ouest back in 2012.

“My Bond will resemble him to a certain extent. I have made him a bit older - 45 years old - and put him in the swinging sixties... it should be fun!”

With one Bond novel under his belt, will Boyd be writing a sequel? “No. I’ve loved the adventure and I am very proud of it. It’s my third spy novel - a genre I love like so many British people... but it is time to move on to something else.” ■

Minimising your tax, maximising your wealth

I

f the fear of making the ‘wrong’ choices about your financial assets has left you mired in indecision, come to one of Blevins Franks’ Spring Seminars!

We provide strategic international financial advice, which is crucial to sound financial planning. To benefit from our experience and insight, please contact us if you would like to attend a seminar or, alternatively, if you would prefer to arrange a private appointment.

We worry about wealth preservation so you don’t have to.

Seminars: CAHORS - Wednesday 9th April at 10:30am * FULLY BOOKED * BERGERAC - Thursday 10th April at 10:30am ANGOULÊME - Friday 11th April at 10:30am For more information and to book your choice of seminar visit: www.blevinsfranks.com/Seminars Blevins Franks has been providing specialist, professional advice to British expatriates for decades, and has earned a reputation as the leading international tax and wealth management advisers to UK nationals living in Europe. We provide integrated tax, wealth management and estate planning services to private clients in France, as well as Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, Malta and the UK.

B

rantôme has a new FrancoBritish association, “So British”, that is looking to bring the two communities closer together and arrange a series of crosscultural events. The first such event will be held in the “Venice of the Périgord” on 21 and 22 June this year.

The project is being led

by Jean-Luc Nicolas, and the mixed association is also made up of a further six British and French volunteers. This first themed weekend will include a traditional sports day, a big breakfast, cricket demonstrations and much more besides - watch this space for full details!

So British is also organizing an accompanying British Market on Sunday 22nd June. The all-day event will feature traditional British food, home-made products, artisan items and handmade crafts. The market will take place on both of the main squares of the

picturesque town in the north of the department.

“It is a very interesting idea,” enthused Brantôme’s mayor Monique Ratinaud, who took part in the planning meetings. The vice president of the development council was equally enthusiastic, saying, “There is a real need to help foreigners to integrate into the region, and these kinds of events help immeasur-

ably in this regard”.

If anyone would like to take part in the British Market and have a stall, then please get in touch with Vanessa, the secretary of the association, via email at: vanessa.pomfret24@orange.fr. The price of a stall is same price as an ordinary market with a minimum €5 for an entire day’s pitch. ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

F

ood lovers around the world hold their breath each year as the Michelin Guide unveils which restaurants have kept, gained or lost the famous stars that can mean so much to a business. The Dordogne fared well in 2014’s recently released edition, with a new restaurant joining the

nine establishments already boasting a Michelin star (see box below).

The latest to the table is “Les Fresques”, in the grounds of the Château des Vigiers golf and country club in Monestier, near Sigoulès in the south west of the department. The award is perhaps one of the most surprising in

The Dordogne’s Michelin starred restaurants: La Tour des Vents at Monbazillac Le Moulin du Roc at Champagnac-de-Belair La Table du Pouyaud at Champcevinel L’Oison - Château des Reynats at Chancelade L’Essentiel at Périgueux La Gentilhommière at Sainte-Sabine-Born Le Grand Bleu at Sarlat L’Imaginaire at Terrasson Le Vieux Logis at Trémolat Les Fresques at Monestier

this year’s guide and came as a shock to many. The success of head chef Didier Casaguana has come very much under the radar, built slowly and without making waves.

When the restaurant opened in 1990s, a push to gain a Michelin star failed and it was not until 2 years ago that fresh resources were given to Les Fresques in an attempt to once again seek the approval of the famously mysterious Michelin inspectors. Trying to move away from a reputation as a “golfing restaurant” which typically served people staying in the hotel, Les Fresques reduced the number of covers from 60 to 45, changed the menu and switched to exclusively evening dining.

Head chef Didier Casa-

© http://www.vigiers.com/

New Michelin star for the Dordogne

guana put his success down to very basic principles. “I am not a revolutionary, but more of a lover of my region,” he told Sud Ouest newspaper.

“The food I prepare is seasonal, favouring quality local products and authentic tastes. For example, I want to highlight the flavour of lamb along with the vegetables that accompany it.”

Whilst for many, gaining the recognition of Michelin is the highest accolade, it can also sometimes become a poisoned chalice. The cost of keeping up Michelin standards often in turn drives up the price of food and there have been cases in the past of chefs giving back their stars to return to more affordable dining. In other cases, losing

a coveted star can force the closure of an establishment.

Others argue that in seeking to cook the kind of food rewarded by the Michelin guide, chefs are producing a certain “type” of cuisine that is not necessarily in keeping with the changing tastes of the modern diner.

Les Fresques re-opens on the 10th April. ■

T

he recipe is fairly simple if a bit industrial: add 5 litres of water to 15kg of durum semolina flour to create 20kg of pasta dough. Put this through a machine to create spaghetti strips 2mm wide.

But what happens if you decide not to cut the spaghetti...? This was the challenge that three bioengineering students from the Institut Universitaire de Technologie in Périgueux set themselves when they recently attempted to break the world record for the longest piece of spaghetti.

The previous record was set by a group of Belgians in 2008, when they created a single piece of pasta measuring an impressive 80.46 metres. The Dordogne students didn’t just beat this record, however... Sophie Piollet, Thomas Di Piazza and Thibault Cambefort absolutely annihilated it, creating a single, unbroken piece of spaghetti 1 kilometre long!!

“It’s not every day that you get to break a world record,” said Thomas after doing just that. “We did it - I’m really proud!” added Sophie.

The experiment, which took months in the planning, did have a serious side. The students had to learn and understand industrial food processes and how the temperatures and pressures inside the pasta machine affected the spaghetti produced and how subtle variations in the recipe would change the final product. “Here we are training students who will become the senior technicians in our industrial food industries of the future,” explained Jean-Marie Andrés, the teacher in charge of the project.

With the correct recipe established and a number of training runs under their belts, the students loaded up the pasta machine with 20kg of dough and, at 11 metres of spaghetti per minute, it took around one and a half hours to reach the 1 kilometre milestone.

There was one downside to the experiment, however.

Despite being filmed, the record was not witnessed by an independent adjudicator and will therefore not be recognised by the famous Guinness Book of Records. On the plus side, the university’s students ate well that day as the 1,000 metres of pasta was given to the campus canteen! ■

Screenshot (Le Parisien)

Students break world spaghetti record

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

Is a wine only as good Because I’m Happy...! as the car park?

Screenshot (YouTube)

© 2007 - Agne27 (Flickr)

S

aint-Emilion wines are known for their bouquet, taste and flavour - not for the infastructure of the place where they were produced.

However, a book on the industry which produces the region’s finest wines revealed critics set far greater store by the number of parking spaces, conference rooms and architecture than can reasonably be considered necessary. In some cases, the actual quality of the wine was found to account for only 30% of the score given to wines.

The book, entitled Vinobusiness, by Isabelle Saporta, a French journalist, attacks what she has described as the “cruel, medieval micro-society” which is responsible for producing wine. A few very powerful châteaux control the market, which is worth millions of euros, as they have a monopoly on the criteria used to judge the wines. There is also a suggestion that the criteria are fixed by such high earning châteaux in an attempt to continue their dominance in the trade.

According to the author, who has poured scorn on the way grasping château owners pillage EU funds, a culture of bribery also surrounds the process of rating wines.

Sycophantic critics are regularly bribed to provide positive reviews, which, in an increasingly competitive market, can make

all the difference to sellers. A château can raise its prices by around 20% if its ratings increase. Saporta even goes as far as to suggest that a 5,000 euro fee is charged for good feedback among some wine critics.

Jane MacQuitty, wine critic of The Times, offers a warning to those interested in the wine business: “Bordeaux is big business and even in a truly trying vintage like 2013 there are millions of euros to be made.

“With so much money at stake not every château visit, tasting note or primeur sample, can be viewed as 100 per cent above board. It’s caveat emptor - buyer beware.” ■ Amaryllis Barton

I

f you own a television or a radio, you will almost certainly have heard Pharrell Williams’ global smash hit song “Happy” in recent weeks and months - the catchy, feel-good anthem is almost everywhere at the moment! One trend that has built up around the song is for proud residents of towns and cities around the world to film their own music video to accompany the cheery lyrics.

The Dordogne is no exception, and one such video that has already been viewed online tens of thousands of times is set in Bergerac. Entitled “Happy we are from Bergerac”, the video features clips of men, women and children, both old and young and from a wide variety of jobs and backgrounds, dancing to the music at home, at work or in front of local landmarks.

If you need cheering up, watching one of these “Happy we are from...” videos will surely do the trick, despite their decidedly amateur nature. It is hard to see people smiling and dancing without smiling yourself... and wanting to join in!

Not to be outdone by its neighbour, Périgueux was soon in on the act with its own video, although this one was temporarily taken offline in the run-up to municipal elections when it was revealed a local politician was behind it. The video contained no obvious political message and was soon back up and running and making people happy. One local entrepreneur has even begun producing “Happy we are from Périgord” mugs!

To watch a Happy video, visit the Bergerac tourist office website: www.bergerac-tourisme.com/Happy-we-are-in-Bergerac

“Dead” basketball player is alive and well

There was sadness and confusion in the Dordogne last month when the news came through that Quinton Ross, a former NBA basketball star who had spent last season playing for the Boulazac Basket Dordogne team near Périgueux, had been found dead in New York, buried in a shallow grave.

The news came as a particular blow to the man himself, who was in fact alive and well!

“My phone was going crazy,” explained the 32-year-old, who had spent 7 years playing in the top flight in America before moving to the Dordogne in 2012. “I went onto my Facebook age and then on the internet and everywhere it was saying that I was dead. It was crazy!”

The New York Post broke the news of Ross’ early demise on its website, before going on to retract it. The story does not have a happy ending, however, as in fact it was another man named Quinton Ross who had been found, stuffed into a bin bag and buried in a shallow grave beside a road in suburban New York. He had been seen shortly before his presumed murder being chased by a group of men. ■ 32,000ft² of great products incl. Toiletries, DIY, Housewares, Furniture plus loads more at great prices & we are even open on SUNDAYS!!

The bargains don’t stop at THE SHED - we have 1000’s of value for money products in our 32,000ft² store including the best Ambient British Grocery selection available anywhere in the Limousin. We are reliable for lots of your favourite brands whether it be Heinz baked beans, Bisto gravy granules, Typhoo teabags etc.

Our British food aisle may be second to none, but at THE SHED we are about more than just groceries. We regularly restock our range of DULUX paints and English Plaster as well as many other DIY essentials like PVA, angle beads etc. Whether you’re after HOUSEWARES, TOILETRIES, FURNITURE or CLOTHING, you’ll find them all at bargain prices... so get yourself down THE SHED!!

Decking, Ply, Flooring, Sand, Gravel, etc. ... plus a great range of Timber for all your DIY needs!!

Route de l’Isle Jourdain Opposite the Gendarmerie Just off the RN147

87320 Bussière-Poitevine

Tel: 05 55 68 74 73

Open Tue - Sat: 09h00 - 12h00 & 14h30 - 18h30 (closed Mon) Sun: 09h30 - 12h00 & 14h30 - 18h00 GPS: Long: 0° 53’ 33’’ 40 E Lat: 46° 13’ 45’’ 10 N

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

First conviction over 1994 genocide Smoke alarms to become compulsory from 2015

>> continued from pg 1 video from a prison in Kigali, where she is serving a life term, Valérie Bemeriki, one of the most prominent voices on Radio des Milles Collines, said Mr Simbikangwa “had organized the genocide”.

The trial is politically charged as France has long been widely criticized for not doing enough to prevent the mass killings in 1994 and for providing weapons and military training to the Hutu-led government that carried them out. Then president François Mitterrand, along with other senior French politicians, were determined to keep the former Belgian colony of Rwanda within the French sphere of influence in Africa. They feared that the Tutsi-dominated opposition, led by Paul Kagame the current Rwandan president - would look to forge closer ties with America and the English-speaking world.

As well as allegedly training and arming the Hutus, France was also accused of protecting the perpetrators as they disappeared into the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo through a “humanitarian” mission it carried out called Operation Turquoise.

Simbikangwa was arrested in 2008 on the French Indian Ocean island of Mayotte, where he was living under a false identity, and flown to

The assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana sparked the genocide of 800,000 people After retiring under a cloud had committed “serious erfrom the Gendarmerie, he crerors of judgment” and sufated a security company called fered “a form of blindness”, Secrets, which advised the but stopped short of offering Rwandan authorities in the the full apology demanded by early 1990s and helped to ship Rwanda. arms and train the Rwandan There are dozens more cases army. He flew into Kigali just relating to the Rwandan genoas the massacres were begincide that will now be tried ning and while he has denied over the coming years. The acting for the French governmost revealing is likely be the ment, he has said he was workcriminal investigation recently ing “in France’s interest”. Barlaunched against Paul Barril, a ril has even been accused of retired senior French Gendarplaying a role in the assassinamerie officer and former head tion of President Juvénal Habof the late president François yarimana, the incident which Mitterrand’s personal “antisparked the Rwandan genoterrorism” unit in the Elysée cide. ■ Palace.

France the following year. He has been in prison since and France has repeatedly refused requests from the Rwandan authorities to extradite him.

Diplomatic ties were broken in 2006 after a French judge accused Rwandan president Paul Kagame, a Tutsi who commanded the rebel forces that ended the genocide, of sparking the slaughter. In 2010 Kagame took Rwanda into the Commonwealth of Nations, signalling a definitive end to its ties with France. Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy tried to patch up relations, admitting France

Marriage proves love doesn’t die With the status of his own love life in doubt, François Hollande has brought someone else’s back to life. The French president allowed a grieving widow known only as Pascale the right to marry her dead husband.

The heartbroken widow was given special permission to marry her late partner, Michaël, who died in 2012. The marriage was made possible by a little known law which was introduced in 1959 after a dam burst in Southern France and killed over 500 people. A young pregnant woman was so upset at losing her fiancé in the accident that President Charles

de Gaulle permitted them to marry. In 2011, another Frenchwoman, 35-year-old Christelle Demichel, wed her dead boyfriend, a former police officer who was killed in 2002.

The marriage, which took place in Dizy-leGros, eastern France, in early March will be binding in the same way as any other marriage. Indeed, legal experts have pointed out that if Pascale ever wishes to marry again, she will have to file for a divorce.

The expert added: “But this should be a fairly simple procedure because it will of course be uncontested.” ■ Amaryllis Barton

From March 2015, it will be compulsory to have at least one smoke alarm installed in your house in France. According to the French ministry of housing, only 2% of French homes are fitted with a properly functioning smoke detector, a staggeringly small number when compared to the 98% of Norwegian homes and 89% of homes in the UK. The smoke detector will need to be installed in a corridor or hallway leading to rooms that are used regularly. It should be attached to the ceiling or at the top of a wall, away from a source of smoke and the occupant (or agency managing a property) is obliged to check the sensor is working properly on a regular basis. CE-accredited detectors are fitted with a ‘test’ button for this purpose.

Between 600 and 800 people die in house fires in France every year and 70% of fires start at night, after people have gone to bed. Ministers believe the number of fatalities would be halved if smoke detectors were compulsory. ■

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

Rogue trader finally facing jail

J

érôme Kerviel, the so-called “genius of fraud” whose €4.9 billion loss at France’s second largest bank, Société Générale, made him a household name in January 2008, has lost his appeal against his jail sentence. In 2010 he was sentenced to five years in jail, with two suspended, for “breach of trust, computer abuse and forgery”.

In his original trial, Kerviel was also ordered to repay “four billion, nine hundred and fifteen million, six hundred and ten thousand, one hundred and fifty four euros” in damages to the bank, despite the fact that he was at the time working as a computer consultant in Paris earning €2,300 a month. In a partial victory for the former trader, the appeal court ordered a review of this figure.

Kerviel has declared that he will take his case to France’s highest appeal court and his lawyer, David Koubbi, hailed the decision as “a victory”, saying: “We are starting afresh. We are going to ask for an expert assessment to establish ex-

actly what happened at Société Générale. This is the end of the Jérôme Kerviel case and the beginning of a new case against Société Générale.”

The bank responded by saying: “Jérôme Kerviel has lost his court case. Société Générale has won.

There were failings at the Société Générale but they have been repaired.”

Société Générale revealed in 2008 that Kerviel had run up €38 billion of unauthorised trades, more than the bank was worth at the time, and the process eventually cost the bank 4.9bn euros - the biggest loss of its kind in history.

The size of the bank’s losses shocked a world that was yet to witness the collapse of Lehman Brothers or hear of Bernie Madoff, but with hindsight, the scandal was a harbinger of the financial crisis that was just around the corner.

Kerviel has always admitted the unauthorised trades, but said officials at Société Générale knew what he was doing but turned a blind eye as long as it was making money.

Speaking during his original trial, Kerviel told the court: “The daily encouragements of my superiors didn’t put the brakes on me, but rather encouraged me”, claiming that his bosses must have been aware of

his massive illicit trading positions. “On a trading desk, we are all 50 cm from one another. Everything is seen, everything is heard.”

Although it was fined €4m by the French banking commission in 2008 for its

failure to efficiently control its trading floor, Société Générale had denied any knowledge or involvement in what it called Kerviel’s “financial terrorism”.

Two of Kerviel’s direct managers were eventually

The strange case of the “amnesia girls”

Houses on Internet is a marketing service that allows private owners of French property to sell their house without using an estate agent. A method that has proven to be very successful.

How does it work?

1. We make a website for your property in English, French and Dutch. The main website is available in Russian too.

2. We connect that website to our main site which gets over 130,000 visitors from 40+ countries per month.

3. We advertise your property on several international French-property websites. This way we reach 1.5 million people a month worldwide.

What does it cost?

We ask a contribution to the advertising cost up front and after the sale a fee of 2.5%, which is included in the selling price.

Houses on Internet operates throughout France with a staff of 7 professionals and 89 local photographers who visit our clients to take photos and gather all information.

For more information, call us at 05 55 65 12 19, or visit our website.

WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM Plus Vite!

Moins Cher!

I

n February this year, a young woman was found wandering on a beach in Gijón, in the Asturias of northern Spain. She was spotted by fishermen, disoriented, dazed and wandering barefoot despite the cold - her shoes and socks were found later in a skip. The young woman was collected by the Spanish Guardia Civil, without identification, haggard and suffering from complete amnesia, speaking bad Spanish and only slightly better English.

The police took her to a local hospital where she was treated for a slight graze on her head. She had no idea of her name, age or the whereabouts of her home, although medical staff estimated her to be in her early 20s. Tests for any kind of narcotic revealed no intoxication to explain her condition.

Mysteriously, on her hands was the cryptic message in English, “Forgive me, I failed”.

Meanwhile, a young woman called Emeline Fourny had been reported missing by family and friends in Toulouse a week or so previously, after an uncharacteristic absence.

French customs officers put the Spanish police report together with the alert from Toulouse and were able to make a positive identification from a photograph. The stranger on the shore was the missing Emeline Fourny, a 24-year-old business administration graduate from Toulouse who was

currently studying for a law degree.

Emeline’s parents raced to the hospital in Gijón for a tearful reunion and hoping for an explanation, but Emeline was unable to account for her actions after leaving Toulouse. Her car was discovered parked in Oviedo, from where it is presumed Emeline made her way to the coast by public transport. The cause of her current mental state remains a mystery.

Doctors say that they are hopeful that Emeline will completely recover with time and be able to pick up where she so mysteriously left off.

Emeline’s case was eerily reminiscent of a similar event in 2013 when a young woman was hospitalized in Thuir, near Perpignan, close to the Spanish border.

Disoriented, suffering from amnesia and without any ID, she gave her name as Sarah Mastouri, born in Algeria. Hospital staff were unable to trace the name and finally issued an appeal. Sarah, it turned out, was born and lived in Reims in north eastern France and her real name was Michèle.

Doctor Philippe Raynaud at the psychiatric hospital in Thuir was grateful for the public response to their appeal for information at the time, saying: “This sort of case is not unusual. There is no question that Michèle completely believed in her other identity. There is no question of fabrication or pretence. Sarah Mastouri was absolutely real for Michèle”. ■ Brian Hinchcliffe

sacked, and in 2009 Société Générale chairman, Daniel Bouton, was forced to resign. Bouton described Kerviel as an “evil genius” whose “catastrophic” actions almost destroyed the 150-year-old bank. ■

No plans to introduce pedestrian phone ban Ignoring calls from a French senator, the interior ministry has said that it has no plans to ban pedestrians from using mobile phones when crossing the road.

Around 500 pedestrians were killed in France in 2012 and a further 12,000 were injured, but the government has warned that any regulation on using phones would be “very difficult to enforce”.

The ban had been put forward by Senator Pierre Bernard-Reymond who had petitioned Interior Minister Manuel Valls to investigate consequences for pedestrians who were not paying attention to what they were doing while checking their phones, writing texts or listening to loud music.

Motorists who use their phone while driving currently face a €135 fine and three points off their driving licence if caught and convicted. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Mini Digger

Très Jolie

Landscaping, ditching, land clearance etc.

Also general Garden Maintenance

Mail order available or find me at a local market

Ladies fashion accessories

with Driver for Hire

Piégut market every Wednesday Paula Robinson

05 55 78 62 29 06 04 08 29 53

John Bonella

87440 Marval

05 55 78 62 29

siret no. 523 183 580 00019

tres.jolie1@orange.fr Facebook: search for “Tres Jolie Milhaguet”

john.bonella@gmail.com

siret 753 125 061 00014

Carrefour plans to build on recent success

S

econd only to Walmart in size, Carrefour is set to expand its horizons in emerging markets such as China and Brazil after a year of bumper profits in mainland France, which accounts for almost half of its total sales.

The leading supermarket group announced it has plans to renovate its stores in France, Italy and Spain, although growth in the latter two countries was not as good as expected.

It is hoped that store renovation in these countries will have the same effect as in France when Georges Plassat took control just under 2 years ago. His overhaul of domestic stores, tightening of profit margins and increased manager control are thought to be responsible for the impressive recovery Carrefour has seen despite France’s economic woes. In-

deed, Carrefour share prices increased by 49% over the course of 2013 and the dividend for last year was raised by 7 per cent to 0.62 euros per share.

Around 2.5 billion euros will be spent on store renovation since hypermarkets make up the bulk of its store space.

With more shoppers turning to the internet or to smaller convenience stores in towns and cities, it is more crucial than ever that the French supermarket giant retains its competitive edge in the grandes surfaces format.

Not to be outdone, however, Carrefour announced in December that it had made plans to buy and control 127 malls where its stores are located.

This is part of a joint venture worth around 2 billion euros - and is a sure sign that the French economy shouldn’t be written off just yet. ■ Amaryllis Barton

M

any expats were left fuming when the passport processing centre at the British Consulate in Paris was closed, forcing all passport requests to be handled through the UK. The move has now had a positive outcome, however, after James Brokenshire, the Minister for Security and Immigration, announced in the House of Commons that the cost of UK passports issued to applicants from abroad would drop by 35%.

The fee for a standard adult UK passport for British citizens applying from overseas countries, including France, will drop to ₤83 from April 7th - ₤45 less than the current price. A child’s passport (under 16) will now cost £53.

“This reduction comes as a result of efficiency savings made over the last 3 years by bringing

© fasphotographic - Fotolia.com

Overseas passport cost to be slashed by 35%

back the processing and issuing of overseas passports to the UK, whilst maintaining the highest levels of security and customer service,” Brokenshire said.

The new prices are still higher than UK residents pay because overseas applications generally take longer to process, and expats in France will also still have to pay a courier charge in addition to the passport fee.

To order a new or replacement passport, go to the “Overseas British passport applications” page on www.gov.uk where you can make an overseas application. You will need to apply and pay online and send your supporting documents direct to the UK. The turnaround time is four to six weeks, and applications are accepted up to nine months before current passports are due to run out. ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

Paris bans cars as deadly smog descends

W

hilst most of us in rural France will have enjoyed the balmy weather and sunny days seen in early March, spare a thought for those living in Paris.

The combination of relatively cold nights with warm, sunny, windless days led to a smog descending on the nation’s capital, which has prevented pollution from dispersing.

At one point, Paris’ air quality index (AQI) rose to 185, higher than the world’s most notoriously polluted cities like Beijing and Delhi, and well above the level of 80 that triggers an alert.

So bad was the pollution, which exceeded safe levels for five days running in Paris and surrounding areas, that officials took the drastic step of banning half of all cars from the City of Light: on alternating days, vehicles carrying odd-numbered and even-numbered licence plates were banned from using the city’s roads. Outside of the capital, nearly three-quarters of France was under maximum alert in what the European Environment Agency said was the worst air pollution since 2007. The European Commission has repeatedly warned France that it is not complying with Europe-wide rules on air contaminant levels.

Jean-Paul Huchon, head of the organisation that oversees transport in the Paris area, said the toxic air posed “significant risks to the health of residents”.

Electric or hybrid cars were exempt from the ban, as were taxis, buses, and emergency vehicles. Cars carrying three or more people were also able to travel regardless of their number plate, in a bid to encourage car-sharing.

Public transport was made free across the entire Paris region, as well as in the cities of Caen, Grenoble, Reims and Rouen.

Velib’ rental bikes and the car-sharing Autolib’ scheme were also being offered free of charge.

As anyone who has tried to use a pedestrian crossing in Paris will know, the locals are not always keen to obey traffic rules and Parisians’ revolutionary streak came to the fore. “How will I get to work?” asked one irate citizen. “It takes 20 minutes by road, and one and a half hours on public transport” adding that even if he is fined, “it’s my boss who’s going to have to pay”.

Hundreds of police were drafted in to enforce the ban; by lunchtime of the first day nearly 4,000 people had been handed a €22 fine and a further 27 drivers had had their cars impounded for refusing to co-operate

with officers.

France’s Automobile Club Association (ACA), which has more than 750,000 members, denounced the move as has “hasty, ineffective and bound to lead to chaos”.

“I am amazed to see that a small lobby has managed to convince people that cars were behind this peak in pollution,” said Pierre Chasseray, head of a drivers’ associ-

ation called 40 Millions d’Automobilistes.

“This measure is worse than unfair... it is stupid.”

Environmental groups have blamed successive governments for the poor air quality by promoting the use of diesel vehicles - used by 67 per cent of French motorists - via tax breaks that are still in place today. ■

F

rench police have been changing crime statistics in a “systematic, organised and controlled manner” according to a report ordered by Bernard Boucault, a Parisian police official. The practice, which supposedly began under Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 in an attempt to make Paris a better tourist destination, is said to have continued well into the Hollande presidency.

Thousands of crimes were removed from records or were deliberately misrepresented.

Burglaries, for example, were recorded under vandalism as officials fought to hush up “the apparent seriousness of the delinquency problems” rife in France’s capital. It is thought many street crimes, including muggings, were simply too widespread to be recorded.

Manuel Valls, the interior minister, at first attempted to suppress the report which paints France - and its police - in a less than positive light.

However, his department was forced to publish the report online in early March.

Worryingly, despite fiddling the figures, police were unable to mask a massive increase in the number of burglaries. The doctored figures showed a 26% rise; the true increase, of course, remains to be seen. A separate study conducted by the National Institute for Economic Studies and Statistics, revealed that 17 per cent of French people felt unsafe in their homes, a rise of 13 per cent since 2008.

President Hollande has sought to prove that Paris is just as safe as other European cities, notably London, but this new report shows that

his administration will have a tough job on its hands.

Le Figaro reported in January that “London [has] dethroned Paris” as the world’s most popular tourist destination. If Paris’ growing reputation for crime continues, this is a title London will hold for the foreseeable future.

London mayor Boris Johnson has, unsurprisingly, capitalised on these revelations.

He gleefully commented that “[with] a low crime rate and much else besides, it’s no wonder that people from all over the globe are flocking to London in record numbers”.

■ Amaryllis Barton

© 2007 - Agne27 (Flickr)

Crime in Paris: lies, damn lies and statistics

Roaming fees set to be abolished within EU The European Parliament is expected to rubber stamp plans to ban roaming charges within the EU in April. The new rules, which have already been adopted by the European Parliament’s industry committee, mean that mobile phone networks will have to charge “foreign” roaming users the same as their own customers. The big mobile phone operators have warned that such a move could mean that average mobile phone charges would rise as a result.

Before becoming law, the move would need to be ratified by a meeting of the council of EU ministers this autumn and, if approved, would then come into effect on December 15th, 2015.

Roaming charges have plummeted in recent years; the costs of calls and text messages have dropped by 80%, while data roaming is now up to 91% cheaper than back in 2007. Despite the EU’s efforts, however, 28% of travellers in the EU still switch off their phones abroad to avoid roaming charges, according to a survey by the European Commission. ■

Speeding at 150km/h was just to “dry car” One French mayor’s plans for re-election took a turn for the worse when he was caught driving at more than 60km/h over the speed limit. Many people would have a ready made excuse: my wife’s in labour, my speedo’s broken, I didn’t

realise it what the speed limit was... does that sound plausible?

How about: I had to go that fast as I have just been through a car wash and was trying to dry my vehicle...!

That was the excuse used by Jean-Louis Hennon, the mayor of Courcelles-Epayelles, in the Oise department of northern France. “I went to the car wash and on the way back I may have accelerated over the limit for only a kilometre, no more, to dry the car out,” he told local newspaper Le Courrier Picard. “It may seem strange but the excuse is sincere.”

Local police did not agree and the mayoral hopeful had his driving licence confiscated. ■

Britany Ferries launches new “No frills” service In March this year, Brittany Ferries launched a new “no frills” service between Le Havre in Normandy and Portsmouth, running four times a week. They have also unveiled a weekly service between Portsmouth and Santander in northern Spain.

According to Brittany Ferries, the new “économie” lowcost crossings are designed for customers “who wish to travel to France or Spain at a very reasonable fare without the cruisestyle experience normally provided by Brittany Ferries”.

The new ferry, chartered from Stena Line, features en-suite cabins (minus the carpets) and a lounge where seats can be reserved for overnight crossings. There will also be 12 petfriendly cabins per crossing.

One-way fares for a car and two people travelling from Portsmouth will start from £79 to France and £169, including spaces in reclining seats, to Spain. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Village all a flutter over “chick flick”

T

he high-end chicken farmers of Loué are up in arms after an explicit porn film was shot in broad daylight in their village and posted online. The film, involving a “farmer’s daughter” was not the kind of “chick flick” you might expect to be shot in the region made famous for its free range poultry.

The introduction states: “The producers went to meet 33-yearold Sophie, a chicken breeder, who wanted to make a video for her husband as a Valentine’s Day gift.” Set up as a pastiche of a news report, the film opens with Sophie posing near the roadside sign for the famous village, in a white wool jumper and high boots, telling viewers that she “helps farmers out”.

The film, which has already been watched well over 3 million times since it went online in February, quickly takes an explicit turn as Sophie reveals exactly how she likes to “help” the local farmers.

News of the video was soon ruffling the feathers of the lo-

cals. “In the street or during village events, people were joking about the subject, but I didn’t really know what it was all about,” the mayor of Loué, Dominique Croyeau, told France Bleu Marine.

After examining the film in great detail, locals were less than convinced that Sophie really was who she claimed to be. “She’s not a Loué chicken breeder.

You’d have to be naive to believe that, she’s an actress,” said Yves de La Fouchardière, director of the Fermiers de Loué cooperative, speaking to French newspaper Les Nouvelles.

This assessment appeared to be backed up by further exhaustive investigations carried out by local law enforcement officers. Police in the Sarthe department confirmed it was unlikely that the “farmer’s daughter” was a bona fide chicken breeder, as “we also found her on other websites”...

Although local businesses have claimed that the video is damaging to their reputation, no criminal complaints have yet

been filed because there are no known victims. Shooting a porn movie in broad daylight and in public is against the law in France; prosecutors confirmed that they can file charges if anyone comes forward who witnessed the sexual conduct during the shoot.

The producers of the film said they did not wish to fuel the controversy, but told the website 20 Minutes that “obviously no local was present and all the sex scenes were shot elsewhere”.

It is not the first time that the location of a porn shoot has generated controversy. In December

2013 school officials threatened to sue after sex scenes that had been shot directly in front of their lycée were posted online.

In that case the “dinner lady” involved was also suspected of being an actress and the school later confirmed she was not on their staff. ■

Are the French Snails off the menu...? really a nation of hypochondriacs? false symptoms which can result in a false diagnosis - not to mention the fact that doctors’ time is wasted in the process. Add to this the fact that, according to Vincent Renard, the chairman of the Union of Medical Teachers, X-rays and medical appointments tend to result in more stress for patients and it seems clear there is no magic medicine for France’s 8 million hypochondriacs.

The news also comes as José Manuel Barroso called the French ‘malades imaginaires’, referencing the title of 17th century writer Molière’s famous play, because the French economists refuse to accept signs of recovery in their economy. Although Barroso was berated when his comments were made, it appears the president of the European Commission was in the right. *** Take another look at the debate on France and its hypochondriacs: Supercondriaque is a French language film which has just been released and which has sparked a nationwide debate on whether the French really are ‘malades imaginaires’. The protagonist, a typical Frenchman in many respects, refuses to faire la bise for fear of catching a cold and is never seen without his anti-bacterial hand wash. The film was seen by some 360,299 viewers on its first day - more than any other French film in over two years. ■ Amaryllis Barton

© 2013 - Derzsi Elekes Andor (WikiCommons)

B

ritish people may long have suspected it, the French have often denied it, but new statistics make it clearer than ever: the French really are hypochondriacs.

A survey published in February suggests 10% of French people are hypochondriacs. It will come as no surprise to people who have lived in Paris to discover that Parisians are more likely to be hypochondriacs than people who come from the provinces. Perhaps more interestingly, young men were found to be more likely to suffer from the condition than any other demographic.

“Men have trouble expressing their emotions or we could even say confessing their emotion, so maybe it’s easier for a man to say ‘I have a physical problem,’ than to say ‘I am anxious,’” said Jean-Pierre Olié, a professor of psychiatry at the University of Paris.

“Women are allowed to cry, they are allowed to show they are emotionally overwhelmed, they are allowed to be afraid in our cultural scheme.”

The internet was also cited as a possible reason for the growing number of hypochondriacs. The wealth of online resources for diagnosing symptoms can feed sufferers’ anxieties.

Although a visit to the doctor may seem to assuage these fears, problems arise when hypochondriacs present

S

nails, a signature dish across France, could soon be off the menu if warnings from scientists about a flatworm invasion prove to be true. The invader in question is the New Guinea flatworm, which has an insatiable appetite for the humble snail and is already on a list of the 100 most dangerous invasive species in the world.

Workers at a botanical gardens in Caen, Normandy, called for expert scientific help after they spotted a strange, dark, flat worm living among their greenhouse plants. Reporting their findings in the journal PeerJ, the team of French experts said DNA tests had confirmed their worst fears: Platydemus manokwari has indeed arrived in Europe.

“This species is extraordinarily invasive,” said Jean-Lou Justine of the National Museum of Natural History. “I really hope it can be stopped at the earliest stages. All snails in Europe could be wiped out. It may seem ironic, but it’s worth pointing out the effect that this will have on French cooking.”

“Platydemus manokwari represents a new and significant threat to biodiversity in France and Europe, which hosts hundreds of species of snails, some of which are endangered and protected,” wrote scientists in PeerJ. “It is therefore important to consider the implementation of eradication and control of this flatworm.”

The New Guinea flatworm measures about five centimetres long by five millimetres wide, its back is black olive in colour and it has a pale white belly, where its mouth is located. The head is elongated, with two prominent black eyes.

The flatworm feasts on snails and can even pursue them up tree trunks. When supplies of snails run out, it can tuck into other soil species, including slugs and earthworms, which are essential for aerating and fertilising soil.

The New Guinea flatworm has a distant cousin, the New Zealand flatworm (Arthurdendyus triangulatus), which has already triggered an invasive species scare in western Europe. It has

invaded the whole northern British Isles and has been blamed for reductions in earthworms. Other European countries have put in place monitoring processes in a bid to prevent it being imported through plants and agricultural products. ■

Just for laughs.....

A snail walks into a car dealership and asks to buy their fastest, most expensive car, but only if they agree to paint a large ‘S’ on the doors and roof.

“Why on earth would you want an ‘S’ on the doors and roof of a sports car?”, asks the dealer.

The snail replies: “So that when I zoom past, people will look at me and say ‘Wow! Look at that S car go!’ ”

12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

In the garden - jobs for April

B

by Michelle Pierce

lustery, blueskied April, with its warm sunny days and cold frosty nights can be a real challenge for young plants and seedlings, but it’s also that magical time of year to get out and rediscover your garden after the long winter months.

That’s what I was going to write, but now, the optimistic part of me is not so sure.

Given how lovely the weather was in March, maybe we will be “lucky” and get away with no frosts. “Lucky” because you always have to pay for your pleasure, and such warm, dry weather so early will mean dry soil and watering later.

The garden really starts up this month. Sowing can crack on and go into overdrive. Get most of what you want for the first part of the season sown now, in a greenhouse, porch or sunny kitchen windowsill. It’s better to sow small quantities regularly than too much at once. You’ll

the second part. But I always find it difficult to be disciplined and take my own advice on this. Seed is so little, generally, and a pinch gives so many plants it’s quite unbelievable. Is that it, I say?

I’ll just sow a few more then, it looks so scant. Thus ending up with thickets of lettuce.

Another good tip is to mix a fast maturing variety with a slower one that needs more space. Carrots and radish is the often cited example when you pull up your little radishes, it thins out the row and gives the carrots room to develop. But why not try salad leaves between cabbages?

only end up with a glut. For salad leaves sow a pinch of seed every week or so. This technique is good for everyone who doesn’t want 10kg of radishes at the same time - even rows of veg could be staggered by sowing the first half a few days earlier than

leach into the soil, and the extra humus will help water retention later.

© Naomi Schillinger - outofmyshed.co.uk

Preparing the planting If you buy plants in (here I’m thinking about things like courgettes or tomatoes) it really doesn’t hurt to give a bit of extra care to their planting site. Spread a bit of natural fertilizer around, or cut some fresh young nettle tops and pile them on the ground where you plan to plant the plants. The nutrients will

Saving work later in the year If you keep on top of the weeds now, then you’ll have less to do as the season pro-

Now is the time to make use of your compost heap

gresses. Ten minutes a day with the hoe saves an awful lot of effort. And remember that some weeds are edible - Hairy Bittercress, for example, tastes like rocket and makes a welcome addition to your salad.

After you’ve cleaned a patch of ground, apply a mulch to damp earth, and you’ll have quite a lot less weed. Use chopped linen, bracken, straw, etc., but bark chippings can acidify your soil. If you don’t want to go to the expense of this, try and get your ground surface covered as completely as possible.

You can sow a green manure.

This will act like a mulch, suppressing other weeds and feeding the soil when you hoe it in. I tried radishes for this last year, which worked well as they germinate so fast.

Gave a good crop, too!

Turn out your compost heaps Put the well rotted material onto beds and borders, especially where you had high cropping plants, or anywhere that yields were very low.

Maybe the soil is exhausted.

Ideally, we’d all start the year with empty compost bins, ready to receive the numerous prunings, etc. we’ll need to deal with throughout the year.

Try not to take so much green waste to the déchetterie! Even brambles decompose down, with time, to give an excellent compost.

Look after the soft fruit Renew your strawberry patch by taking off the extra runners and replanting them elsewhere, or in pots for planting later in the year.

Feed the area and have a good weed. Now your raspber-

ries should be in leaf, so it’s easy to see the dead canes.

Cut these out, and remove any that are too weedy, look unwell, or are in the wrong place. Feed and mulch, and check the wires or supports if you have them. Make sure your currants (black, red and white) have good air circulation going through the middle of them - prune if really necessary. Because it’s a bit late now, you may have less fruit for this year but you’ll have healthier bushes.

Basically, now we want to get out into the garden Don’t be put off by the seemingly endless list of things to do. If it gets done today, great. If not, there’s always tomorrow...

Good gardening! ■

Lilacs

Perfect panicles of swoony, heady flowers in blues, mauves or whites: who can fail to love lilacs? Nor be impressed how a plant which originates from Persia and the Near East has made itself into an archetypal member of the French gardening landscape?

That there are so many colours to choose from, and forms is really down to one man:

Victor Lemoine - 1823-1911 One of those Victorian nurserymen who just seemed to be able to do anything that took his interest, he was responsible for an extraordinary number of varieties, including potentillas, streptocarpus, fuchsias, spirea, hydrangea paniculata and the first zonal pelargoniums.

From 1850 he was based in Nancy, where his output continued to be prodigious. However, from the 1870s it was lilacs that caught his interest and he and his descendants introduced over 200 cultivars.

In 1876 he created the double French hybrids, including the pure white form 'Madame Lemoine'. He was the first foreigner ever to receive the Victorian Medal of Horticulture from the RHS. There are probably not that many gardens in France that do not owe something to his passion. Thank you, Monsieur Lemoine.

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

When la merde hits the pan

P

by Brian Hinchcliffe

ardon my French, but the English paraphrase in the title nicely sums up the conclusions of a recent book by Pierre Weill. For those of us not avid listeners of French radio, Monsieur Weill is a long-established contributor to Radio Monte Carlo, Radio France, France Inter and a host on the long-running phone-in Le téléphone sonne. He also runs a public opinion survey company.

Pierre Weill has his ear, and presumably, his nose to the ground in his latest book “Mangez, on s’occupe du reste”. A roughly translated title might be “Eat up, just trust us”.

Pierre Weill’s new book is concerned with what the French are coming to recognize as “la malbouffe”, those food items that fail to provide essential nutrients, are high in fat or sugar or both, are intensely manufactured and processed and which often fail to please as much as they ought. Fast food springs to mind but malbouffe in French signifies more than that. Fast food has its place but malbouffe not at all.

Malbouffe is unredeemable, bad food.

there is an ever widening gulf between producers and consumers. He cites the recent Findus scandal in France, with Romanian horse meat masquerading as beef in supermarket ready-made lasagne.

And you thought that only happened in Britain!

Professor of toxicology and biology at Bordeaux University, Jean-François Narbonne, is convinced that this insistence on cheaper and cheaper food will inevitably and continually produce this type of adulteration. Traceability was lost in that price war fought by Leclerc, Findus, Carrefour, Comigel and Spanghero. The whistle was blown by an inspector in Ireland investigating suspect beefburger meat. Without this intervention French consumers would still be tucking into lasagne au Shergar.

Worse than this kind of corner-cutting is the nutritional failure of some foods, says Weill.

The micronutrients, once abundant in fresh food have virtually disappeared. Products retain the calories, and some of the protein content but little else.

Over the last 50 years, intensive agricultural practices have

Not all fast food can be considered malbouffe

The food industry, its marketeers and the big supermarkets are Pierre Weill’s target. He has been working for over 20 years on this unholy trinity, publishing top-selling books in 2007 and 2010. “Eat up” is just out and presents a new line of attack on behalf of French consumers.

Oddly enough his first target is the supermarkets’ war on prices.

The ordinary man on the Billancourt bus might suppose that low prices are what everyone wants.

“Yes, indeed,” agrees Weill, “but not at the cost of prices driving down quality and driving out wholesomeness”.

Weill points out that excessive industrial processing of healthy foods to extend, modify, and create a spurious added value is to the detriment of the health of the general population. He claims

resulted in the wide variety of fresh vegetables once available in the shops disappearing from France’s fields, to be replaced by sunflower, maize and soya monocultures.

The result, says Weill, is an approaching epidemic of general loss of well-being in France, producing a rising toll of heart disease, obesity, cholesterol, diabetes and cancer.

Weill writes of scientists seriously suggesting that statin drugs should be distributed free with the fat and sugar-saturated foods in supermarkets. Poison and antidote on the same shelf!

Whilst pharmaceutical giants prosper it is the monsieur and madame in the street who pay for it all through social charges and taxes, and the health mutuals’ funds are forever in deficit.

A label will not tell you anything about the taste or nutritional value of a product

Weill regrets the French consumer’s obsession with provenance. The supermarket sign “élevé en France” has nothing to say about quality, only geography. To know that your beef came from a cow 15 km away tells you no more than that you and your steak may have met previously.

He points to the AOP and IGP designations: Appellation d’Origine Protégée, which replaced the previous AOC scheme, and Indication Géographique Protégée.

Backed by the EC, they mean no more than what they say, “Place of origin guaranteed”.

REAL does not mean the same as GOOD. We have all come across indifferent cheese and nasty wine, both with impeccable geography.

The Red Label (Label Rouge) has the same weakness, insists Weill, in its lack of ability to guarantee taste and quality.

Mainly found on the poultry and fish counters, the label embraces the very best but also some of the worst products within the production standards certified by a private certifier.

The certificate is a tick-box arrangement which cannot cover the essential, but highly subjective matter of taste. For Weill, the boast of provenance or certification by a label scheme is often just a part of the marketing strategy, rather than any serious indication of gastronomic quality and wholesomeness.

The future, and the remedy, suggests Weill, lie with the peasantry of France.

José Bové, leader of the peasants’ alliance against globalization is the fiery champion of the peasants, the small producers, with jail time for guerrilla warfare against OGM (genetic modification). He currently holds a seat in the EC parliament in the Europe-Écologie alliance. Under George W Bush, Bové was refused entry to the USA in 2006 for his “moral crimes”.

Bové’s slogan is “Un paysan pour l’Europe”.

There is a big difference between the English word “peas-

ant” and its French equivalent, “paysan”. In Britain, to be called a peasant is a term of abuse. In France, to be “un paysan” is a matter of pride.

It gathers together notions of independence, solidarity, honesty, sincerity, an unbreakable work ethic, all ferociously rooted in the land.

The “paysan” is more often referred to these days as an “agriculteur”. This new title unfortunately fails to communicate the idea of “le pays”.

This word, “le pays” in its full sense, is the fundamental element missing in large-scale agribusiness.

The words, “le pays”, carry a real identity, not just a place on a map. “Le pays” has a sub-text referring to the people who live there, how they live, what they grow, the topography, geology, climate, history.

According to Weill, it is in “le pays” that France’s mal-

800 per year, a tragic state of affairs in itself. Small growers, squeezed by agribusiness and the supermarkets are in despair.

The peasant farmer’s status, prestige and confidence must be restored, says Weill. Only they are able to reverse this national disgrace by doing what they always used to do, which is to produce the right food in a proper manner.

And if you think about it, it is these small, independent producers who, over the centuries, created France as the epicentre of the world’s finest foods in the first place.

The Republic, however, is finally on the case, spurred on by the frightening growth in nutrition-associated health costs.

French Agriculture Minister, Stéphane Le Foll, is in the process of launching an initiative which links producers’ profitability to ecology and respect for the environment.

France is facing a growing obesity problem

bouffe crisis can be ended.

He calls for the levels of quality assurance provided in the motor industry, for example, by the Mercedes Benz brand. With a Mercedes Benz you know exactly the kind of quality you are getting. This quality-related branding should be extended to food. Weill claims that France’s peasant farmers can still be the salvation of the country’s reputation as a gastronomic world power.

Rural suicides are peaking at

That sounds about right and not a moment too soon.

Writing in Marianne magazine, Périco Lagasse, Basque writer on environmental issues with a deep passion for gastronomy and real food, welcomes Weill’s book, quoting Churchill, “This is not the end.

It is not the beginning of the end, but it is perhaps the end of the beginning.”

Give that pan a good scrub, you may be needing it again soon! ■

14 ♦ PRACTICAL

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

Collaborative Law: an alternative to court The Bugle’s resident Lawyer in the Dordogne, Prune CALONNE, looks at what collaborative law is and how it can be used within the French judicial system.

1. Definition Collaborative law is a way to solve conflicts without having to go to court. In France it is one of the ADR - “solution alternative de résolution de conflits” - i.e. alternative conflict remedies without having to go before French Courts.

2. Difference with the participative procedure Collaborative law is different from the French participative procedure; it is a new method to handle legal matters created in 2011 and in

place since January 2012.

The main difference is that the participative procedure is a sort of preamble to going to court. Lawyers of both parties attempt to find a solution to the conflict but counsels may continue to assist both parties if a petition or a summons is submitted. In this instance the documents used before the trial may be used again in court.

3. Origins and advantages Created in the US in the 90’s, this way of solving conflicts is a good solution

to avoid a long and costly lawsuit that would irrevocably damage family members reputations… (as in France, hearings are generally public) It can be used to deal with any legal affair, not only family law matters.

This procedure is reserved for people who wish to find a solution that is suitable to them, made to measure, so that a French judge does not impose a standard solution to their personal conflict.

This solution has a major advantage - it has a success rate of 85% because the solution is found by both parties and is not imposed by a judge.

4. Prerequisites and disadvantages Parties are assisted by their

own lawyers throughout the process.

If this legal process fails, each individual will have to seek new counsel (someone that speaks English, that they feel comfortable with and that practises in the area, given that several meetings at the firm or elsewhere have to be scheduled to reach an agreement).

Documents used during this process cannot be utilised again if a lawsuit cannot be avoided, as the ones produced during the collaborative process will be mentioned as confidential.

If a party was to try anyway, the opponent could claim the documents to be disloyal In practice, be aware and careful. If evidence is scarce,

there may be a risk in starting the collaborative law process. If no solution is found and a party would like to make a claim in court, it could be dismissed due to a lack of evidence. ■ For more information, please do not hesitate to contact: Prune CALONNE, Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse, 117 route d’Albi, 31200 Toulouse Phone: 05 34 30 51 33 Email: scpcalonneadouedugast @hotmail.fr My firm can arrange appointments in CAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.

Do you have "70 GB" on your driving licence...?

A

recent enquiry from a reader about their French driving licence proved to be very enlightening and revealed a few facts that not everyone may be aware of. The question was simple enough: “On my driving licence, under ‘Restrictions’, it says ‘70 GB’. Does that mean I can’t drive at more than 70 miles per hour in the UK or that I can’t drive over the age of 70 in Britain…?”

A good question, but not one with an easyto-find answer. A trip to the forums (not exactly renowned for accuracy and impartiality) revealed a split in the 2 camps.

Many people confidently asserted that because a British driving licence is only valid until a certain age, that restriction is carried forward onto your

French one. The other camp are convinced that it is reminding you of the speed limit in the UK.

The reader was concerned about a planned trip back to the UK in which they were intending to hire a car.

Would the hire company refuse to rent them one because the principle driver had recently turned 70…?

After some research, the answer is that it has nothing to do with speed or age and is actually not that exciting. In the “Restrictions” column there are a number of codes that are explained on the reverse of the licence. For example 74 means you can drive a category C vehicle or one up to 7,500kg. It happens that 70 means that the current licence replaces one from a different country. In the case of the

vast majority of British expats, this would be Great Britain – GB. So “70 GB” means “this French licence replaces a British one”. On the reverse of the licence, next to the code 70 you will see “ECH”, an abbreviation

for “échangé” (or exchanged), followed by your old British driving licence number.

From September 2013, France has now officially adopted the standardised, European plastic driving licence, replacing the

Easter lamb

Bringing you news, views and events from across the Dordogne & surrounding areas.

This slow cooked, chilli glazed lamb shoulder is perfect for an Easter Sunday roast. Serve with roasted new potatoes and traditional vegetables or maybe go for a healthy quinoa salad or couscous with roast vegetables and mint yoghurt. Either way it will make your mouth water!

Ingredients

2-2.5kg Lamb shoulder 3 Fresh rosemary sprigs, plus extra to serve 2 tbsp Olive oil 250ml White wine 1 Garlic bulb, divided into cloves, unpeeled 4-5 tbsp Chilli jam

Method 1) Preheat the oven to 160°C/fan 140°C/gas 3. Put the lamb in a roasting tin. Make incisions all over the meat, then pull off and insert small sprigs of rosemary into them. Scatter the remaining rosemary around the lamb.

2) Drizzle the lamb with olive oil and season with plenty of sea salt and black pepper. Pour the wine around the lamb and

‘pink paper’ licences previously issued here.

The plastic, credit cardsized permit is replacing the roughly 100 different types currently in the wallets of the 300 million registered drivers in Europe’s 27 member

states.

Existing licences are not affected, but will be changed to the new format at the time of renewal. All licences will have to be replaced by the electronic version by January 2033 at the latest. ■

Recipe provided by Brett from Le Moulin du Breuil (23140 Pionnat) www.lemoulindubreuil.com - 05 55 80 37 70 cover the tin with a large sheet of foil.

Roast for 3 hours.

3) Remove from the oven, lift the foil and scatter the garlic cloves around the lamb. Close the foil again, return to the oven and cook for a further half an hour.

4) Take the lamb out of the oven, remove the foil, then pour off the juices into a bowl. Spread the lamb with the chilli jam, then return to the oven for a further 30-40 minutes until tender and sticky. Remove the lamb and the garlic to a warmed serving platter to rest for 20 minutes and garnish with rosemary sprigs.

5) Meanwhile, skim the fat from the reserved meat juices, then pour into a pan. Bubble over a medium heat until thickened, then serve with the lamb.

LEARNING FRENCH VIA INTERNET

Perhaps you would like to learn French in comfort at home or from your office? You are not in France and you wish to communicate with a native French person for one hour per week?

LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING is the answer. You only need internet access and a free Skype account.

It can be a one-to-one lesson or you can share the lesson with a person of the same level.

TRANSLATION SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE

Please contact Sophie Arsac for further information – 05 55 89 15 74 - scarolinea@yahoo.fr

William Webb Ellis and the history of rugby

R

ugby is a game played across the world, but is especially popular in Europe. France currently has over 350,000 registered players, although the sport is played far more in the south of the country than in the north.

The story of how rugby was created begins in England.

According to the legend, a schoolboy invented the game of rugby in 1823. William Webb Ellis was a pupil at Rugby School where football was a popular sport at the time. He became bored by the slow nature of the game and one day “with a fine disregard for the rules of football as played in his time, first took the ball in his

arms and ran with it”.

This variation of football, which allowed players to run with the ball in their arms, became increasingly popular. It spread, first across England and soon into neighbouring countries. Although the truth of the Webb Ellis story is disputed, his school soon gave its name to this new sport. Later in his life, Webb Ellis moved to France, where he died on 24th January 1872 - he is buried in the town of Menton, near the Italian border. His story was first documented after his death by a school friend and could therefore not be verified, which is why many believe it to be false.

The new game of rugby started to grow in popularity

around the world. The first international rugby match was played between England and Scotland in Edinburgh in 1871, a match that was won by the Scottish. France played its first official international match in 1906 against the All Blacks of New Zealand. They lost, but the national team has grown to become an important team in world rugby. Les Bleus have won the Six Nations (in its various formats) 25 times and have reached the World Cup final twice, in 1987 and 1999. They have never won (not yet anyway!) and so have never lifted the famous prize in rugby - the Webb Ellis Cup - named after the boy who invented the game. ■

The Bugle thanks French teacher, Sophie Arsac, for the translation of this month's bilingual article on a topical aspect of FrancoBritish culture.

Bilingual Crossword Clues in English - answers in French

Rugby School - where the modern game was invented

Across:

L

e rugby, sport pratiqué dans le monde entier, est tout particulièrement populaire en Europe. En France, le jeu remporte beaucoup plus de succès dans le sud du pays et compte plus de 350 000 joueurs licenciés au niveau national.

Selon la légende, le rugby serait originaire d’Angleterre et daterait de 1823. William Webb Ellis était écolier au collège de Rugby où le football était un sport très populaire à cette époque. Trouvant le jeu trop lent à son goût, “lors d’un match, il dérogea légèrement aux règles en vigueur, prit le ballon dans ses bras et se mit à courir».

Cette entorse aux règles du football, autorisant ainsi les

joueurs à courir avec le ballon dans les bras, connut d’abord un succès phénoménal en Angleterre puis rapidement dans les pays voisins.

Bien que la véracité de l’histoire soit contestable, l’école de Webb Ellis, le collège de Rugby, donna son propre nom à ce nouveau sport. Plus tard, Webb Ellis partit pour la France où il mourut le 24 janvier 1872. Il fut enterré dans la ville de Menton, près de la frontière italienne. Après sa mort, c’est l’un de ses camarades d’école qui raconta le premier son histoire.

Sa version n’ayant jamais pu être vérifiée, beaucoup la jugent peu crédible.

La popularité de ce nouveau jeu gagna peu à peu le monde

entier. Le premier match international de rugby fut joué entre l’Angleterre et l’Ecosse à Edimbourg en 1871 et les Ecossais en furent les vainqueurs.

La France joua son premier match international en 1906 contre l’équipe néo-zélandaise les All Blacks. Les Français perdirent mais l’équipe nationale occupe désormais une place importante sur la scène du rugby.

Les Bleus ont gagné le tournoi des Six Nations 25 fois et sont arrivés deux fois en finale de la Coupe du Monde, en 1987 et 1999. Ils n’ont jamais gagné (pas encore!) et n’ont donc jamais obtenu le célèbre trophée «Webb Ellis» qui porte le nom de l’inventeur du rugby. ■

SIRET 502 409 212 00011 – APE 8559B

BILINGUAL ♦ 15

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Down:

5. old (5) 1. bed (3) 6. pasta (5) 2. hurricane (7) 8. bacon (5) 3. mast (3) 9. street (3) 4. to refuse (7) 12. tow trucks (11) 7. cash (7) 13. cape (3) 10. petals (7) 14. shin (5) 11. fuse (7) 17. woman (5) 15. friend (3) 18. flower (5) 16. juice (3) Bilingual crossword solution can be found on page 23

Bringing you news, views and events from across the Dordogne and surrounding areas.

16 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

VILLARS RESTAURANT LEADS CULTURAL FESTIVAL

A

nyone not local could be forgiven for not knowing the village of Villars, on the edge of the Parc naturel Perigord-Limousin.

With just over 200 inhabitants, it is just a dot on the map between Nontron and Négrondes - a tiny place, but one with an immense history. This is the site of the Grotte de Villars, a magnificent network of caverns discovered only 60 years ago with paintings dating back over 18,000 years. Nowadays, made safe and highly visitable, the caves attract thousands of visitors each year to see some of the world’s oldest artwork in its original state and setting.

Villars also boasts the extensive ruins of a 12th century Cistercian abbey, a fortified church of the same period and the magnificent Renaissance Château de Puyguilhem.

In the heart of Villars stands a 19th century château, the Château de Villars, which has become the focus of a new period of renaissance for the village.

In 2007 the château was bought by Bill Davies and Kevin Saunders.

Kevin is British, a lawyer by calling, but spent over 25 years in the US. On retiring from the law in 2001, he gained renown as a photographer and his work exhibited widely in the south-east USA. In 2007, Kevin and Bill came to France. Searching for a B&B or gîte business, they trawled across France from Bordeaux to Lyon and finally settled on Villars.

“We never thought of having a château,” says Kevin. “But we decided quickly this was for us.”

They then began the transformation of the château, starting with B&B and table d’hôte, specializing in catering for sufferers of gluten intolerance. This enterprise has evolved into a B&B with a restaurant and a fast-growing reputation, with Bill as starchef, who insists on the freshest produce and exclusively in-house preparation and cooking. People in the know appreciate the quality of the cuisine and the availability of top-class vegetarian and gluten-free dishes as well as the daily, fixed, classic menus.

The ambiance is intimate - there are never more than 20 diners at a time, either on

by Brian Hinchcliffe

the terrace or in the dining room, so reservation is essential for the Friday and Saturday dinner and Sunday lunch.

For Bill and Kevin, busy as they are, this was only a beginning.

In 2009, Kevin got together with four local residents to try to make more of the village’s incredibly rich cultural heritage, making use of the ruins of Boschaud Abbey for cultural events. By 2011 the programme had become more ambitious, aiming to deliver at least 3 major cultural events per year. Internationally-known musician and friend, Eric Sobczyk, created a musical programme from specially invited artists through his personal contacts.

Through him, this tiny commune is able to attract performers who would normally be outside the scope and beyond the minuscule budget of Villars. Programmes generally reflect classical, jazz and world music and 2013 included an open-air Shakespeare evening at Boschaud. “Much Ado About Nothing” was a resounding success and the abbey proved a marvellous setting for the talented troupe and a hit for the audience, out-doing the Glyndebourne experience.

In 2014 the Château de Puyguilhem will host a renaissance music concert for the first time. As chair of the FestiVillars Association, Kevin is always concerned about financing these events. “We get support from our local mairie, the Communauté de Communes and the Conseil général,” he explains. “But it is always touch-and-go.

Our audiences are 50% French and 50% Dutch & British. The really big expense is publicity. Just reaching people is not easy in the countryside. We have to rely on the internet and social media to get tickets sold.”

For 2014 the organizers are offering membership of the association for €25 per person. This entitles the members to €2 off all performances, plus the chance to meet the artists after the April concert at the château and an invitation to the AGM and champers evening in autumn at the Château de Villars.

For more information go to: www.chateaudevillars.com

FESTIVILLARS 2014 Saturday 26th April at 20h30 in the church in Villars FestiVillars en Périgord Vert presents its first cultural event: a recital by the Trio Ariosto with a programme which includes: Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Berlioz, Britten, Bernstein.

The Trio: Karina Desbordes - soprano - www.karinadesbordes.com Sylvie Lechevalier-Bartoli - piano Igor Kiritchenko - cello - www.igorkiritchenko.com Tickets: €15, free for children under 16.

Sunday 15th June at 19h30 at Boschaud Abbey Jazz Concert and Picnic with Dany Doriz & the Pat Giraud Trio with Sévérine Caupin. (Dany Doriz is a world-renowned jazz artist and proprietor of the Latin Quarter’s Huchette jazz club in Paris) The artistes: Dany Doriz (vibraphone), Didier Dorise (drums), Pat Giraud (organ), and Sévérine Caupin (vocals) Tickets: €12, free for children under 16.

There will be a bar but bring your own picnic.

Friday 15th August at 15h30 - World Music Concert - Latin American guitar duo The artistes: Jorge Cardoso and Sylvie Dagnac with guest Eric Sobczyk - www.duocardosodagnac.com Full, rich programme including Khatchatourian, Mendelssohn, SaintSaëns, Cardoso, Garcia, Heraclio-Fernandez Saturday 13th September: Concert of 16th century Renaissance music Château de Puyguilhem, Villars Commemorative concert for the death of Pierre de Bourdeilles, pen-name Brantôme, author of “Les Vies des dames galantes”, chronicling the life of his epoch, Abbé de Brantôme 1614. In partnership with Les Amis de Brantôme.

Concert of music from the reign of Louis XIII, by Etienne Moulinié and Antoine Boësset given by: Les Festes d’Euterpe www.lesfestesdeuterpe. com The Artistes: Jean-Miguel Aristizabal (harpsichord), Mathilde Vialle (Viola), Celine Destruhaut (recorder), plus vocalist.

Tickets: €15, free for children under 16.

For more information go to: www.festivillarsenperigordvert.com Villars is on the junction of D82, D3 & D98 45° 25′ 17″ N 0° 45′ 21″ E

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Accommodation

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Animals & Pets

06.04.17.80.93 www.thelindenhouse.eu info@thelindenhouse.eu

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

05 55 41 17 76 Auto Services

The Linden House Self-catering gîte in the Limousin Sleeps 6-8 Prices from €250/week

Your advert here

Cats and Dogs Boarding Kennels

Purpose built kennels - dept 16.

45 years animal care experience.

Fully insured and vet approved.

Individual kennels plus family pens.

Walking off lead twice daily.

Michael and Wendy Aldrich

05 45 66 14 62 Siret: 494 030 919 00018

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Building Services Architectural Services www.masterplans.eu We offer a comprehensive Architectural Drawing Service for your projects.

Supplying all the necessary drawings, elevations & photo realisations for your application. We also offer a floor plan service. Dossiers compiled for: ● Certificat d'urbanisme ● Déclaration préalable ● Permis de construire

05 55 80 72 83 / 06 33 07 29 72 info@masterplans.eu siret: 790 016 984 00011

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

Suppliers of Car & Van Spares & LHD headlights

Direct to France at big savings! also Mower Batteries and drive belts!

www.motorpartscharente.com Delivery via Parcelforce Worldwide to your door in France

JOHN SOWERSBY +44 (0)1377 255470 / +44 (0)7830 170761

motorptscharente@aol.com

ADVERTORIAL

ElsaConception

(Architecture/ Design/ Decoration) Need interior design advice?

Planning a project? Giving a space a makeover?

Need to submit a building permit or a declaration?

I can support you in all your makeover, renovation or construction projects.

Sarlat and surrounding areas (up to 100km)

Tel: 06.87.09.38.94

Web: http://www.elsaconception.com

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE Renovating your French property?

New build?

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05 lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.com SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys.

Verbal & written reports.

Structural calculations & drawings.

Redevelopment ideas & solutions.

Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

05 53 56 72 59 / 06 05 56 42 81 +44 (0)7448 466 662 Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com Siret: 498 843 051 00018

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

ADVERTORIAL

SAT-ELEC - Satellite & Broadband solutions

W

ell, all the speculation is over; the new satellites are in place and in the future there will be further new satellites coming online as all the old fleet is replaced. If you still have all your BBC stations then your dish is adequate. If you have some programmes missing, lose pictures when it is wet or in the evening, then you need a dish upgrade. Down as far south as Limoges, a 60 cm dish correctly aligned works well. However, as you move farther to the south then a much larger dish may be required.

If you have reception problems then give Mike a call on 06 30 28 81 43. We also install terrestrial aerial systems.

Many satellite installers charge for coming to give an estimate. At Sat-Elec our estimate or quotation is FREE within 150 km of our office at Sauviatsur-Vige (87400); for greater distances we will endeavour to give you an estimate over the phone.

At Sat-Elec we do much more than just

Building Services General

install Satellite TV. We are official resellers for Satellite Broadband and have full demonstration facilities. There are some very good offers on broadband at the moment both with TOOWAY and SES.

TOOWAY starts from €27.90 per month + installation and setup fees for the basic rental package, or if you just want everything rolled into one package then starting costs are €34.85 a month + installation.

If you feel competent, then why not install the system yourself. WE WILL SHIP IT DIRECTLY TO YOUR ADDRESS complete with a full installation kit. If problems arise then we will install it for you.

SES, which is probably the better option for iPlayer use, starts at €10.95 per month with set-up costs of €89.95, and a further €15.00 per month for 24 months to pay for the kit. Obviously, the data allowance is low for these basic packages but if you are only an occasional user they are perfect. For the heavier user with SES, a

• Velux Windows • Roof Repairs • Tiling • Plumbing • Plaster boarding • Garden Projects & Maintenance For more info please call Barrie

05.55.02.66.58 / 06.76.09.68.37 Or visit my website

www.bw-renovations.co.uk SIRET: 501 338 230 00011

Harlequin Developments All aspects of renovation and refurbishment, big or small, undertaken.

Harlequin Developments are a Distributor and Installer for Solarventi, solar dehumidifying and water heating products, as well as a range of other renewable energies

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

harlequindevelopments@live.com www.harlequindevelopments.com SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

SAT-ELEC - where knowledge and experience provide the complete solution for the customer.

Call

06 20 38 81 43

or join us on Facebook at “Expat TV in France”.

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Building Services

Building Services

Painters/ Decorators

Skilled Workman Building Renovations & Small Jobs

20 GB allowance per month would still only be €29.95, or with TOOWAY €47.90.

There are lots of variations between the two systems and different users have different requirements. For example CCTV over TOOWAY is far more cost effective than SES, however SES is better for iPlayer.

Don’t forget you can add Wi-Fi to the system or we can create a data network for you.

The two Mikes are happy to prepare a custom package for you. ■

Simon Carter

Electricians BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Available for all types of electrical work Small jobs, new builds, renovations, rewires Consuel assistance and certification service available Fully insured with 10 year workmanship guarantee Based near Châlus (87230) Covering departments 87 and north 24

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com Siret: 794 282 368 00016

Leigh Dodd

ELECTRICIAN O5.55.48.95.86

www.saraleigh.com

Rewires, renovations and all other electrical needs Fully insured, 25+ Years experience Based near St-Yrieix-la-Perche Depts covered: 24, 87 & 19

contact@saraleigh.com Siret: 507 643 336 00013

Montluc Painting & Decorating Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK experience, now based 24/87 border Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting, wallpapering, plastering & boarding, floor restoration, tiling.

FREE QUOTES

Tel: 05 87 19 91 50 Mob: 07 81 26 88 65 Web: www.sjcmontluc.fr Email: sjcmontluc@yahoo.fr siret: 792.130.932.00017

For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email: sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

A recent temporary 2.4m installation by SAT-ELEC

Food & Drink

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine.

Themed nights each Friday: 1st Friday - Curry night 2nd Friday - Quiz night 3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!!

4th Friday - Live Music night Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Saturday 6pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditional English roasts served For further details call Steve:

Karen’s Kitchen Catering for you in the Dordogne

Specialising in home-made pastries: Sausage rolls, Pasties - Cornish, Cheese & Onion, Steak & Stilton, Vegetarian & Chicken.

Eccles cakes. Scones made to order.

All prepared and baked daily on the premises you cannot get fresher!

Bacon, cheese, bread, tea bags & tinned produce all in stock.

Find me at your local market: • Tue - Le Bugue • Thu - Eymet • Fri - Le Buisson • Sat - Villereal • Sun - Issigeac

www.karenskitchen24.com email: karenskitchen24@gmail.com

05 53 74 01 91 or 06 01 31 07 47

Garden Services

05 53 80 29 54

or email: steve.francis24@gmail.com or facebook: Beaupouyet La Poutre siret 537 415 903 00013

The Dordogne Chippy Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm (except Villereal which is at Lunch time) Tuesday: Monsegur or Tremolat Wednesday: Issigeac Thursday: Eymet Friday: Lauzun Saturday: Villereal (Lunch time) See our website for full details:

www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 30 02 46 67 siret: 444 925 630 00014

Gardening & Property Services Stuart Fieldhouse All aspects of garden maintenance: hedge cutting, mowing, fencing, etc as well as property maintenance.

References provided.

Coussac-Bonneval - 05 55 70 59 75 email: smincky@yahoo.com

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

FRENCH PROPERTY MARKET ON THE UP

Gifts & Crafts

Ivan Petley

and 70, everything is described in three languages, translated by professionals, and the information given is not just about the house, but also about shopping facilities, schools, airports, etc.

The most important thing is to reach the buyers. Richard: “An excellent Google ranking is crucial and so we keep optimizing our website and advertise all over the internet, literally worldwide.

As we advertise each property on other large, international sites as well, the total exposure is enormous.”

Their main website attracts over 130,000 visitors each month from more than 40 different countries and so far they have sold French property to people from over 25 countries, which includes most of Europe, but also Australia, Russia, China, United Arab Emirates, South Africa, the

For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email:

3D Puzzle Maker

sales24@thebugle.eu

Handmade, fully interlocking, multi-layered 3D puzzles from just €9.

Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas.

Customisation and personalisation possible.

Postal delivery options across France.

05 55 41 17 76

Tel: 05.55.80.29.88 Les Bregères, 23150 St-Martial-le-Mont alison.petley@wanadoo.fr

Transport, Removals & Storage

BUY YOUR BRITISH GREETINGS CARDS ONLINE!

E: ANGI@CARDBUBBLE.COM FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER €10 WORLDWIDE siret: 751 978 917 00019

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Parking For Limoges Airport Efficient parking for all types of vehicles Book now!!

www.parkinglimoges.com

06 13 38 59 68 05 55 14 49 45

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 General

WWW.CARDBUBBLE.COM QUALITY CARDS AT UK PRICES!

USA and Canada.

Richard: “The feedback we get from these buyers is important to us. It shows that they not only appreciate the very complete presentations which are instantly available to them in any time zone, but also that they get replies from us in their own language and, if required, we keep translating between them and the owners all the way to the actual sale.”

Throughout France, Houses on Internet has over 90 photographers who visit their clients when they decide to sell their property through them. And of course, any summer photos these clients already have themselves can be copied too, in order to make the best possible presentation.

Signing up to sell your house through Houses on Internet is easy. Just go to their website which is available in four lan-

Man & Van Transport Genuine/Reliable/Honest Local + Europe + UK runs Goods In Transit Insurance 14m3 capacity 4.2m load length French Spoken

05 55 33 21 59 Based southern 87, Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

01 46 21 46 46 3 - 11pm daily Confidential & Non-profit

guages and fill in the form on the page called “Selling a Property”.

One of their staff will then call you personally to start the process. ■

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning

PROCHEM trained and Qualified

10 years UK experience - Covering depts 24/47/33

06 32 32 64 54 / 05 53 58 00 98 email lucidservices24@gmail.com siret: 512 614 306 00011

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Houses on Internet www.housesoninternet.com 05 55 65 12 19

Eco Entrepot aka The Shed

32,000ft2 of great products incl.

British Groceries, DIY, Housewares, Furniture, Clothing, Toiletries plus loads more!!

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

sales24@thebugle.eu

H

ouses on Internet, the successful, fast growing internetmarketing company that helps people sell their French property without using an agent, have seen a serious increase in the number of enquiries, viewings and sales.

Over the past 6 months, compared to the same period last year, enquiries from prospective buyers have doubled and sales have risen by almost 60%, says Richard Kroon, founder and director.

The key to their success is without doubt the extensive global network which enables them to reach prospective buyers wherever they are. Another strong and unique quality of Houses on Internet is the way they present each property. The number of photos, depending on the type of house, is usually between 50

www.soshelpline.org

To advertise in The Bugle 05.55.41.17.76 / sales24@thebugle.eu

20 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

A

simple solar energy system that runs on its own, even when you are not there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter.

The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the backing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s energy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with discomfort, lots of work and expense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/ or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi

model came together.

How it works The principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, builtin, solar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a control unit and an on/ off switch.

Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour.

The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season.

Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th

generation Solarventi have exceeded all expectations.

In Southern Europe, Solarventi is not only used for ventilation/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement. Several technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C. A DIY Solution?

The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours.

All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product in Scandinavia it still is.

There are no electrical or

water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off.

With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!!

Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■

SOLARVENTI - Available in the Dordogne From Harlequin Developments Tel: 05 55 68 67 56 Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 20,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 05 55 41 17 76 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract €108

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€18/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€24/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€27/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€36/month)

€144 €162 €216

12-Month Contract €162

(€13.50/month)

€216

(€18/month)

€243

(€20.25/month)

Large Directory Ad 46mm x 71mm (Actual Size) 45 words max Small Directory Ad 46mm x 46mm (Actual Size)

30 words max

€324

(€27/month)

Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format.

Directory adverts may only contain text - no logos, images or artwork are allowed. The minimum contract length is 6 months.

Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

SUDOKU - EASY

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

SUDOKU - HARD

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 22

To advertise in The Bugle 05.55.41.17.76 / sales24@thebugle.eu

WHAT’S ON ♦ 21

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

WHAT’S

ON in April

For the first time, families can celebrate Easter at the Château de Bridoire, with three days of special events.

Among the planned activities are: Two great Easter egg hunts - one for Under 6s (starting at 10h30, 14h and 16h) and another for 7-12-year-olds (starting at 11h, 14h30 and 16h30); traditional games; an exhibition of ornamental chickens and Easter bunnies; Easter recipes in the castle kitchen.

The castle (situated 12 km south of Bergerac) will be open non-stop from 10h-18h. Entry costs €8 for adults & €5 for 4-16-year-olds. No reservation is required and picnics are welcome. Don’t forget to bring a bag or basket to collect your eggs in, as well as boots if it rains.

For more information visit www.chateaudebridoire.com

JAZZ au PRINTEMPS - Wednesday 16th April at 21h “The Leeds University Union Big Band” are performing a concert again this year at the Salle des Fêtes de St-Vivien (Saint-Eutrope-de-Born, between Villeréal, Monflanquin and Cancon, Lot et Garonne).

Please come to listen and dance, always a wonderful ambiance.

Entrance €6. Wine, beer and soft drinks available.

For more information contact Alain Frutoso 06 73 25 67 17 (French) or Liz and Michael 05 53 36 47 99 (English).

Got an event...? notices@thebugle.eu

Easter Egg Hunt at the Château de Bridoire - 19th, 20th & 21st April

Easter Concert by the Variations Vocal Ensemble 4th & 5th April

Programme: Faure’s Requiem and Mozart’s Coronation Mass.

Friday 4th April: Église Saint-Georges (heated), Périgueux. 20h.

Saturday 5th April: Église Notre-Dame de la Paix (heated), Ribérac. 20h.

Tickets: €15; 12-16s €5; Under 12s FREE. Reservations tel 05 53 90 62 03.

For more information visit www.variationsfrance.com or facebook.com/ variationsfrance Variations Ensemble is a friendly group of approx 50, both British and French and several other nationalities, who enjoy singing and bringing a high standard of music to the audience.

22 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014

The Great Phoenix Book Fair Saturday 26th April, Campsegret The largest Anglo-French fund-raising event in south-west France will return on Saturday 26th April, 2014.

Over 18,000 books, CDs and DVDs will be ONE EURO only!

Come along and support Phoenix’s animal rescue work by browsing our very large collection of paperbacks and hardbacks (including French books).

Our catering team will be providing an impressive and tasty array of food and drinks, so stay and have lunch, a snack or even a tipple with us, and meet the Phoenix team!

Salle Municipale, Campsegret. 9.30am to 3.00pm.

Book Donations: Your donation of books will be very welcome on the day itself, or if you would like to drop off books at one of our collection points in advance, please contact Anne at anne.avery@wanadoo.fr Your support at these events is greatly appreciated by the Phoenix team on behalf of the animals in need.

Thank you! www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

8th Annual Plant Sale in aid of Bansang Hospital Appeal Sunday 4th May at 2-5pm, Seguinaud 24360 Well, it has stopped raining, for a while at least, and some of us are now thinking about our gardens. I am madly potting up for our Annual Plant Sale which we will be holding on 4th May this year. It’s a little earlier than previous years, but actually if we continue to get this beautiful warm and drier weather all the plants are going to romp away so we need to get them in early before the hot season is up on us.

Le carnaval des animaux Tuesday 29th April

An outing for the whole family: Saint-Saëns’ The Carnival of the Animals, a musical suite of fourteen movements, each representing different animals, performed by musicians from the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine (ONBA) and narrated by Pépito Matéo.

Centre Culturel Michel Manet, place Gambetta, Bergerac. 20h.

Tickets: €15; CAB €8; family tariff (bring livret de famille) €6.

For more information and bookings tel 05 53 57 71 51 or email billetterie-centre-culturel@ville-bergerac.fr

EASY

MEDIUM

We are having the same format as last year with tea, coffee, cakes and a tombola on behalf of Bansang Hospital Appeal. The Plant Sale takes place at Seguinaud 24360 (near to Nontron and 5 mins outside Piégut).

For more information tel Linda Nicholson on 05 53 56 73 86.

If you would like to donate plants, please could we have them the weekend before and also could they be potted in pots of 1 litre and above as we specialise in herbaceous plants.

For more information about Bansang Hospital please take a look at our website: www.bansanghospitalappeal.org

HARD

Got an event for The Bugle...? notices@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

WHAT’S ON ♦ 23

APRIL 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

It’s Kitten Time Again!!

At the time of going to press, Phoenix was bracing itself for the anticipated calls about abandoned kittens, expected to be even more numerous this year as the French cat population spirals out of control.

If you would like to put your name on the list to adopt a kitten, please contact Lynda on 05 53 81 30 44.

We understand that life can be difficult for expats living away from the UK and that sometimes assistance is needed. We will listen and try to help when that help is needed. As I am sure you realise, there seems to be this popular misconception that expats living outside of the UK live in large houses with hectares of ground and that nobody ever has problems. As we all know this is far from the truth and even the best laid plans can fall apart due to sudden changes in health, bereavement, family breakdown or a host of other unforeseen problems.

Thank you, The Phoenix Team: www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/ PhoenixAssociationFrance

Registered charity Elizabeth Finn Care is able to offer direct financial assistance to British and Irish nationals or residents who live overseas. We ensure that our help does not affect any means-tested payments.

Briefly we can consider assisting those who: 1. Are British or Irish residents or nationals.

2. Are living on a low income or means-tested benefits.

3. Have formerly been employed in one of a wide range of qualifying occupations. Have, or have had, a partner employed in a qualifying occupation.

We are able to consider assisting financially in numerous ways.

For more information contact: Mary Hughes - Case worker France, Elizabeth Finn Care tel: 04 68 23 43 79 or visit: www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk and: www.turn2us.org.uk

Market Days

Monday Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

Tuesday

Beaumont du Périgord Bergerac Brantôme Cénac-et-Saint-Julien Lanouaille Le Bugue Mareuil Neuvic Ribérac Salignac Eyvigues Trémolat Villefranche-de-Lonchat

Wednesday

English speakers can now turn to L’Association France Alzheimer Dordogne for help and support. A group led by English speakers now meets weekly in Bergerac. As a charitable organisation the Association cannot provide medical care or treatment. But as a social network we can offer support and guidance to anyone dealing with the day-to-day difficulties affecting those with dementia, their families and their carers and assist with how to access the best provisions of care. Our anglophone group meets on Tuesday mornings in our centre at 2, rue Emile Counord, Bergerac. Please feel free to drop in without appointment on any Tuesday morning after 10am to meet others who face the same challenges. If you are unable to attend the group you can also access our assistance through our English Helpline between 10am and midday on Tuesday mornings: 09 64 21 40 86.

L’Association France Alzheimer Dordogne 2, rue Emile Counord, 24100 Bergerac Mail: alzheimer.dordogne@orange.fr Website: www.francealzheimer-dordogne.org

Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins

23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre

16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France Monthly circulation: 11,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited.

Dépôt légal à parution.

Bergerac Hautefort Jumilhac-le-Grand La Tour Blanche Montpon-Ménestérol Montignac Périgueux Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

Thursday

Domme Excideuil Eymet La Coquille Lalinde Monpazier St Astier St-Julien-de-Lampon Terrasson

Directeur: Steve Martindale Rédacteur-en-chef: Steve Martindale Siège Les Quatre Chemins

23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Imprimé par: Charente Libre

16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France

Tirage mensuel:

11,000 copies

Tous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite.

Dépôt légal à parution.

The Bugle cannot accept responsibility for the claims of advertisers or their professionalism. We strongly advise readers to verify that the company you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France or elsewhere in the world.

Friday Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Sigoulès Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord Belvès Bergerac Lalinde La Roche Chalais Le Bugue Montignac Mussidan Neuvic Nontron Périgueux Razac Sarlat St Aulaye Thiviers Verteillac Villefranche du Périgord

Sunday

Bergerac Couze St Front Daglan Issigeac Pontours Pressignac-Vicq Rouffignac Sarlat Sorges St Cyprien St Génies St Pardoux la Rivière

24 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2014