The Bugle Limousin - Apr 2017 by The Bugle

The Guéret shop bucking the trend

As many local independent retailers struggle, one group of artisans have joined forces to go it alone >> Page 3 November 2016 - Issue #85

Limousin

Your local newspaper for life in France

April 2017 - Issue 90 - FREE!

France chooses its next president

INSIDE > > > Success for cancersniffing dogs - pg 3

The country heads to the polls on 23rd April to choose its next president, with Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel

Dream comes true for Mélanie - pg 9

Macron the current favourites çois Fillon, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and Benoît Hamon. Emmanuel Macron (En Marche !) - Despite his background as an investment banker, a graduate of one of France’s most exclusive colleges and his role as economy minister under Hollande, Macron has tried to define his candidacy as an anti-establishment, quasi-apolitical insurgency targeting the middle ground. When the former minister quit the government last year to launch his new centrist party En Marche ! (On the Move!), and later announced his intention to run for the presidency, most observers believed he had committed political suicide. “On paper, his ambition is pure madness. His chances of winning are minuscule,” wrote one Ifop pollster Jerome Four-

>> continued on page 10

New food labelling introduced - pg 12

iven recent world events, it should come as no surprise that this year's French presidential elections are shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable in the country's history. Scandal, intrigue, back-stabbing and a rank outsider coming from nowhere to win have been a common storyline in recent times, leading one major French daily, Le Parisien, to even stop using polls and give up trying to predict the unpredictable. So, with the shape of the next five years of the political landscape at stake, who are the runners and riders and which candidates look most likely to be taking up residency in the Elysée Palace come May? There are five main candidates in the first round of voting, which takes place on Sunday 23rd April: Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen, Fran-

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The Bugle Business Directory - pg 16-23

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

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Welcome to

The Bugle

ell, this year I managed to not forget to put the clocks forward. This is something of a personal triumph as I usually go to bed twice a year thinking “It’ll be fine, I’ll change those clocks in the morning” and then at some point the next day receive a rude awakening. I remember one time when I worked in the city, I only realised my mistake when I arrived at work an hour late on the Monday morning, much to the consternation of my boss (and the amusement of my colleagues). My bigger problem these days is explaining daylight saving to little people who can’t yet read a clock! My 2-year-old is a bit of a free spirit and couldn’t care less what the clock says at the best of times, so he has little truck for “I know you don’t think it’s bed time yet, but the rules changed last night and my TV programme is about to start”. To be fair, modern technology helps a bit by

automatically adjusting your phone/computer/tablet/watch for you… but do they? I’ve made that mistake before: setting every timepiece in my house to match my phone, only to realise that I had not activated the “Automatically adjust for daylight saving” option. I won't repeat what I called my phone, but let’s just say it contained the letters BST! It does seem a strange convention in the modern world, where so much of what we do is 24/7. I remember writing a piece a few years ago on the subject and one theory was that daylight saving was introduced by a powerful man that enjoyed a round of golf in the evening sun! Personally, I am not a morning person, so I am a happy man at this time of year when the evenings suddenly start to feel so much longer! I would say barbecue season is almost upon us, but it started a few weeks back in our house: my birthday fell on an unseasonably warm day in March so I dusted off the

M: 06 02 25 41 58

tongs and grilled myself up a lovely birthday treat!! It’s a shame that the news continues to be dominated by such negative headlines and I watched in horror as the details of the recent Westminster attack began to unfold. It feels like it is probably an unavoidable part of modernday large-city living, but equally, how depressing is it that attacks such as this could be dismissed as inevitable. I received many concerned enquiries from French friends, who I’m sure could empathise after enduring so many similar (and even more deadly) attacks on their own soil these last few years. And so it was a delight to cover such a life-affirming story as that of Mélanie, the lady with Down’s Syndrome who fulfilled a dream by presenting the weather live on national television (see page 9). The internet can be a disturbing and sometimes dangerous place, but it can also be used to achieve amazing things that wouldn’t have been possible a few short years ago. Almost every news story these days seems to end by quoting how many “likes” the associated Facebook page has achieved, but every now and then, people get behind a story like this and wonderful things can happen! With the French elections fast approaching, I will say what I always say: if you have the right to vote, use it!

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I can’t vote, but I am going to come down off the fence and court controversy by saying that personally, as a foreigner living in (and contributing to) France, I just hope that our next president is not Marine Le Pen. For me, that would be a step backwards, but the people will decide. Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

siret: 482 524 907 00011

INSIDE this edition

3-7 Local News

8-13 National News 14-15 French Life 16-23 Directory 24-26 Community 27-28 What’s On Copy deadline:

15th April for May's edition

CONTACT us Tel: 05 55 41 17 76 General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions@thebugle.eu

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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Pop-up shop becomes permanent 100% success for

cancer-sniffing dogs

A © John Clarence

ike many towns in rural France, the centre of Guéret has struggled to hold on to its small, independent shops in recent years. As franchise retailers continue to arrive and move into large, custom-built, out-oftown locations, the old quarter has seen more and more of its independent commerces roll down the shutters for good. This change is most evident on the Grande Rue in Guéret, the pedestrianised street leading down from Place Bonnyaud to the old town. Once thriving, this street has seen numerous closures over recent years as local businesses succumb to dwindling customer numbers, victims of the competition brought by these larger franchises on the outskirts of town. It is a familiar problem across the region and one that often requires innovative solutions. As part of their own battle, Guéret town, in association with the Chambre de Métiers and Chambre de Commerce, have introduced schemes to help new businesses to gain a foothold, with low rents and short-term contracts available in certain areas, such as the Grande Rue. Another initiative has been the introduction of “pop-up” shops, which open up for short periods in otherwise disused premises, often over the summer or around Christmas. One such pop-up shop, the Boutique Ephémère, which saw a group of local artisans collaborate to sell their wares together under one roof, has now led to the opening of a brand new shop in the heart of town, La Manufacture (12, Grande Rue).

This fully refurbished premises is now the permanent home to a collective of local artisans, offering everything from pottery to jewellery, eco-friendly linen to hand-made children's clothes, as well as locally brewed beers and other produce. Each of the artisans works independently, but shares the running costs of the premises as well as working a few days each month to keep the shop staffed. The driving force behind the initiative is Ann Dorge, and the collective has a distinctly British flavour, with three expats among the permanent exhibitors: Helen Clarence (jewellery), Christine Strickland (children's clothes) and Lynne Foster (embroidery). As well as the permanent artisans' displays, La Manufacture operates as a dépôt-vente, whereby other local producers can sell their goods through the shop for a small commission. And if

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that wasn't enough, there are also regular workshops that take place, such as a recent one for children to create art using recycled items. La Manufacture welcomed its first customers at the beginning of March, but was declared officially open by the mayor of Guéret on 21st March, by which time over 1,200 people had already passed through the doors. The project is a success mainly down to the hard work of a few entrepreneurs, with a helping hand from local authorities, who hope that other such initiatives will help to turn around the fortunes of this once thriving part of town. If you are a local artisan and would like to find out more about La Manufacture, please call Helen on 05 55 81 00 97. For more information on items for sale or upcoming workshops, see their Facebook page: “lamanufacturedegueret”. ■

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dog is man's best friend, or so the saying goes, and we may now have one more reason to be grateful to our canine companions after clinical trials have revealed that they can diagnose cancer through their sense of smell. After a 6-month trial in Magnac-Laval, Haute-Vienne, researchers have reported an impressive 100% success rate in diagnosing breast cancer in women. The non-invasive tests, carried out in a laboratory setting, involve the dogs sniffing a sample of cloth that has been worn inside a woman's bra. The patients never come into contact with the dog. “The test consists of two 'passes' of the samples by the dog, in other words two sniffing exercises of the same samples with a gap in between,” explained Isabelle Fromantin, part of the research team. “Of the patients that were analysed, 28 of the 31 samples were positively detected by the dogs on the first test, which gives a success rate of 90.3%. This was then improved upon when the dogs performed the second test of the same samples, giving an overall success rate of 100%. The dogs are able to fundamentally distinguish between healthy cloth samples and those carrying tumour markers.” Despite the seriousness of their work, for Thor and Nikios, the dogs involved in the Magnac-Laval tests, it is all one big game. Much like sniffer dogs used at airports, they are trained using a reward system. “The results are 100% accurate. The two Belgian Malinois I've trained have never been wrong,” explained Jacky Experton, a former dog handler with the military. “But it's a clinical trial. The method is being tested as thoroughly as any other medical procedure, so this is just the beginning. The next stage is to repeat the whole experiment with two more dogs of different breeds, trained by someone else, added to the team, to check that it's not a fluke, not just my dogs, not just this breed.” Following the unmitigated success of the first trial, the next phase, using four dogs and 1,000 volunteers, is now set to get under way in 2018. Whilst cancer screening programmes in France and the Western world are improving all the time, the equipment required is far more expensive than the training dogs. Furthermore, it is hoped that more and more people in the Third World will have access to screening in the near future, as sample cloths can be posted to wherever the dogs are based. ■

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4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

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Nine Friends - British Artists in Aubusson The Creuse has always proved fertile soil for painters, both amateur and those of international renown such as the ‘School of Crozant’. This happy tradition will continue with a major exhibition in Aubusson at the AM’carta Gallery, presenting the recent work of “Nine Friends”, British amateurs and professionals showing their work together for the first time. The Bugle asked organizer, retired architect Neil Parkyn, to set the scene for their May show.

hat’s in a name, or number for that matter? When planning this show familiar titles came to mind, depending on the roll call: The Fab Four, The Famous Five, Six of the Best or The Magnificent Seven, but there are nine of us, so perhaps The Notorious Nine? Eventually we settled on the simple “Nine Friends”, because that’s what we are. We’ve all been, as the local paper would put it – and I translate crudely from the French – “infected with the artistic virus”.

paintings – hence we invited Sue to be our artiste d’honneur for the show. At the same time, we wanted to include friends who produced ‘craft’ pieces of extraordinary quality, the turned bowls of Jeremy Watson and the fabric constructions of Maggie Young are prime examples on show, amongst the more familiar media of oil, gouache or watercolour. Where to show our work to best advantage? We needed to look no further than the purpose-designed AM’carta Gallery in Aubusson, which forms an integral part of the

Susan Dalladay, Autumn - Acrylic on canvas Our show came about in part because many of us were one-time or current pupils of Susan Dalladay (Neill)’s Art Class in Mainsat. Sue had inspired us to be more adventurous in our work – there was never a dog, cat, cow or Venetian canal in our

Museum of Tapestry Cartons by the Old Bridge in the fast emerging Quartier of La Terrade, which now features a fine restaurant, a café, spa and aparthotel. In its first season last year the complex attracted many tourists and locals, enjoy-

ing its prime location alongside the River Creuse. The Gallery offers excellent display facilities and has already hosted over 20 exhibitions in the four years since its opening. The ambience is warm and friendly, now enhanced by the prospect of a drink or a snack only feet away. Small wonder that potential exhibitors are never wanting. What’s to be on show? All of us offer a very personal approach to painting or to the making of fine objects. There will be plenty of figurative paintings of local scenes, some abstracts, certainly works which are attractive and should give you that “can’t-wait-to-get-it-home” buzz. We are making a special effort to offer a range of items, from postcards, through high quality reproductions to full size originals, because we know from experience that most gallery visitors look to buying smaller items as part souvenirs, part unusual presents and part tasters for the artist’s work. Spending, say, 200 euros on an original work of art is, we know, a serious decision, even in the case of love at first sight. We think our pricing policy makes for attractive presents, even self-awarded! We also know that the AM’carta Gallery is so well suited to social events tied in with openings of art shows, or friends meeting each other at the Gallery with the current show as a pretext. The Gallery has become an informal social centre for the town, where French and Brits can meet around some art – and small bites from the café alongside. In fact, one reason for our show is to provide a much needed excuse for out-of-town friends to meet up somewhere rather special. With the opening last year of the Cité internationale de la tapisserie in the old Art School the number of visitors to Aubusson has dramatically increased

Patrick Sydes, La Celle-Dunoise and the Quartier of La Terrade has really started to thrive, as it deserves to do. It’s all a great adventure, worthy of the Famous Five themselves, but then there are nine of us, so we hope for greater things. As we dust down our easels, stretch the watercolour

paper or turn on the lathe, there’s a palpable feeling of excitement and anticipation. We’d like all of you to share this with us in May. ■ “Nine Friends” will be open from 3-6 pm, Tuesday to Saturday from Saturday 6th May until Saturday 20th May

Sarah Latham, Vue d'Aubusson

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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RIFT: Brexit fear – How can we help? Background

When the Referendum took place in June 2016 a significant degree of anxiety was felt by citizens residing within the European Union (EU), from this RIFT (Remain In France Together) was formed. To highlight their aims and objectives, Ros Petherick a founder member of RIFT wrote to the Editor of The Bugle in August 2016 explaining how RIFT worked, why it was formed and what it was hoping to achieve. Since then many things have changed. The political climate for Brexit appears harder than ever, with Theresa May, Prime Minister (PM) set on the notion that a bad deal with the EU is better than no deal, and that she and her ministers alone can have the final say on the United Kingdom’s (UK) relationship with the remaining EU countries without recourse to Parliament. The EU citizens living and working in the UK, some for many years, have had their lives stuck in limbo. The UK government has refused to unilaterally declare that those already resident in the UK will have the same rights in

the future as they do now. They, as quoted by ministers, are ‘negotiating capital’ and ‘bargaining chips’. This is morally wrong and confirming their rights could have put the UK on the high ground when it came to discussing the future rights for those of us living in France and other countries. The UK government could also declare, without the need for any agreement with the rest of the EU, that they are going to guarantee that all UK citizens living in the EU will continue to receive S1 healthcare cover and annual old age pension increases. To date they have refused to do this. Where does RIFT come into this? We have over 5,400 committed members in the RIFT family (which continues to grow on a daily basis) and are also part of a larger EU coalition representing over 30,000 UK citizens living in all countries of the EU. As well as being an online support group giving advice to members about life in France – S1 healthcare, applying for a carte de séjour, citizenship, amongst other

things – we are also a sounding board for Brexit-related problems and more recently, we have become a powerful lobbying group. Thousands of letters, emails and Tweets have been sent to MPs and Lords, especially during the recent debates in Parliament regarding invoking Article 50, highlighting the plight of all citizens, EU and UK, not resident in their own country, and how the lack of any concrete statement regarding their future rights in their adopted homes is affecting them. These have been personal stories and have made the debates more human rather than talking statistics. We have made oral and written submissions to parliamentary select committees discussing exiting the EU and have had our recommendations included in their reports. This is an ongoing process, and it will not stop with the invoking of Article 50. We have also been lobbying the EU Parliament, in particular Guy Verhofstadt and Sophie in't Veld, both prominent in their views of retention of EU citizenship for citizens of ex-EU countries and the plight of EU citizens in the UK.

Our future needs to be resolved as soon as possible and we do not intend to let negotiators forget their promises. We also had a large presence at the recent Unite for Europe march in London on 25th March, where people of all nationalities, age and political persuasion marched on the Houses of Parliament to show their support for the EU and the UK’s place within that. What happens now?

Following the passing of the bill in Parliament giving permission for the Prime Minister to invoke Article 50 we are going to concentrate more on our local representatives in France, MEPs and French MPs. As many people in power need to know of our feelings, we are trying to make our stories as personal as possible, so there is a human focus in the discussions. The lobbying of MPs in the UK will continue as negotiations commence, they are our representatives after all, especially as the Prime Minister has promised to keep Parliament informed as negotiations progress. We must

not be forgotten.

How can you help? Becoming a member of RIFT is easy. You do not have to be a political activist to join – you just have to care about your future life in France. You do not have to do any lobbying, your views are just as important and others can explain them for you if necessary, although they are better coming from you! 1 letter/ email to an MP or MEP takes just 5 minutes of your time, but could add years to your life in France. For important issues we even provide a draft letter that can be personalised by individual members before sending. Your views are important to us, but it is also important that they are heard. To find more information about RIFT, go to our website www.remaininfrance.org. To join our family apply through our Facebook page RIFT (Remain In France Together). We look forward to welcoming you. Kalba Meadows, Leslie Stuart Gary Angell, Mike Harlow plus over 5,400 members

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

CSF founder Linda Shepherd dies Anger over Creuse school closures

inda Shepherd was an amazing lady. She moved to France at the beginning of the 21st century with her husband and at her first mammogram they found a tumour. She went through extensive treatment which she said was wonderful, but found that she needed to be able to talk about her fears and worries in her mother tongue and so Cancer Support France was born. She worked tirelessly for the group. She once told me that this was her mission in life. She became President of the then new National Committee and in 2014 she stepped down. She at that time had hoped to go into the church but was turned down, which was a source of great hurt and feelings of rejection. However, the cancer had returned with a vengeance and taking time to sort this out, we, Cancer Support Haute-Vienne, invited her to become our trainer. At our first training session with her, being mid-treatment, she greeted us with “I may feel like shit, but I am not going to look like shit!” And so she started on another journey looking at diet, lifestyle and make-up, enabling our Active Listeners (ALs) to have a closer understanding of this terrible disease. She co-trained with a number of trainers from other associations for H-V. She suggested for one of our ‘treat days’ for our ALs, to say thank you for all their hard work, a Colour Me Beautiful session with a friend of hers, Anne Slater, which turned out to be a really fun day for us all. She still had close connections with CSF National and was invited to the Trainers’ Training Day and was pleased to find that a number of her suggestions had been taken up in the Initial Training Course, as she still had so much experience to offer. She did her last training session for CSH-V at our AGM on 1st March. She was obviously very ill and when she

gave her Trainer’s report we all felt she was saying goodbye. Linda had enormous compassion, a true sense of faith and will be deeply missed as a friend, as our trainer and our guide. Her legacy lives on in the associations across France and I am sure the people CSF and CSH-V have helped over the years are so grateful to her for creating this amazing organisation. ■ Sue Ware, President, Cancer Support Haute-Vienne

You’re invited to our Spring Garden Event Saturday 27 th May 10am-4pm

here was outrage across the Creuse when it was recently announced that 20 school classes would be closed from the next academic year. When the list of schools affected was made public, people across the department gathered together to voice their anger. Action took place at a number of communes and parents, elected representatives and teachers united to protest against the closures. In Bussière-Dunoise a group of angry parents, the “Unsmiley Brigade” occupied the school (above) and local businesses symbolically shut their doors in support with the message “No school = No future!” With 6.64 teachers per 100 students, class sizes in the Creuse are far from being the smallest in France. “People expect a certain equality from their public services, and the protests of these last few days show that parents will not put up with this level of injustice,” said Fanny Tissandier from a local teachers' union. There was a small victory when Pascale Niquet, Academic Director for the department, announced that the number of closures would be reduced to 9, but the fight continues to protect the department's rural schools. ■

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Every Friday until November!

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Green is the colour above all others that we associate with nature. It’s intrinsically linked to blades of grass, to pastures and landscapes, to leaves and lawns, to fresh fruit and leafy vegetables. Our Spring/Summer 2017 collection is called ‘The Green Houses’. It’s our way of celebrating greenness and gardens, as we launch our new range of mugs, tea pots and other china, candles, cushions & new fabrics as well as our garden furniture range - it is more beautiful than ever. That is why we are inviting you to our Spring Garden Event*, where you can buy spring plants for your garden, enjoy a cup of tea and see our display of Neptune garden furniture and some of our Spring/Summer 2017 collection. * Plenty of parking in the field – so bring your wellies if it’s raining! Please bring your cash to support our wonderful plant & local produce sellers. Climbing frame & cold drinks available for the children.

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APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 7

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Bike helmets compulsory for children under 12

ince 22nd March it has become compulsory for all children under the age of 12 to wear a bike helmet, whether they are riding a bicycle or are a passenger on it. The law was introduced in December of last year, but has only recently come into force, giving parents time to properly equip their children. Failure to comply with the new law could see the accompanying parent charged with a class 4 road infraction - a fine of €90 (which can increase for delayed payment). “It is a question of raising awareness through a measure that is easy to accept,” explained Emmanuel Barbe, a governmental road safety delegate. “It's a small change, which will also have an educational benefit for parents. If a parent does not wear a helmet, the child will ask why.

We want to pass the message through the voices of children.” The government has been working hard to improve road safety figures in France in recent years, but 159 cyclists died in 2016, an increase of 7% on the previous year. A study by road safety guide Sécurité Routière showed that wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of a serious head injury by 70 per cent, the risk of minor injury by 31 per cent and the risk of facial injuries by 28 per cent. However, the French Association of Bike Users believes the new

law treats the symptoms of a problem and not the cause, arguing that a helmet does not prevent an accident and a better move would be for children at primary school to be given lessons on how to safely ride in traffic. “We are not against the move, but to suggest that this will change the road safety of the cyclist is nonsense,” said the association's president Olivier Schneider. “A real road safety measure would be to introduce cycling lessons in primary schools, so that children know how to ride a bike on

the street. It is not by wearing a helmet that you learn how to avoid an accident. What's more, it sends the message that cycling is dangerous. If you put a helmet on cyclists, why not impose it on car passengers and people taking the stairs? There are 400 people who fall every year on the stairs and have acute cranial trauma!” Helmets with the CE quality mark can be bought for as little as €10, but those tested for road use will also carry the “NF EN 1078” mark and may cost several times as much. ■

French growth pushes Eurozone economy to outpace the UK

he Eurozone economy has overtaken that of the UK, driven primarily by strong growth in France and Germany. Higher demand pushed up business output across all of the major Eurozone economies, according to IHS Markit’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a composite index which measures companies' trading activity. The PMI gives a good idea of how well the underlying economy is performing and rose to 56 for the Eurozone in February, its highest level in 6 years. Any score of above 50 indicates the economy is expanding and this relatively high number is consistent with first-quarter GDP growth in the Eurozone of 0.6 per cent. According to the report's authors the latest figures signal that the bloc's recovery is “surging higher”, adding that job creation was also at its best level for almost a decade. “The Eurozone economy's throttle opened further in March, with business activity and hiring surging higher,” said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. “Perhaps the best news came from France, where growth has risen above that seen in Germany, led by strengthening domestic demand. While elections remain a worry regarding the outlook, for now the business mood in France and across much

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of Europe is very positive.” By contrast, the UK’s dominant services sector has slowed down, dragging the PMI for the wider economy down to 53.8, a sharp fall from the 55.4 recorded in January and the weakest number since August 2016. “A further slowdown in UK business activity growth in February adds to evidence that the economy has lost momentum after the impressive expansion seen at the end of last year,” continued Mr Williamson. “Weaker consumer spending was a key cause of slower service sector growth, suggesting that household budgets are starting to crack under the strain of higher prices and weak wage growth. The ongoing steep upturn in costs suggests that consumer price inflation has significantly further to rise, adding to our belief that inflation will breach 3 per cent over the course of the next year.” While the French and German economies remain on track to grow by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of this year, Spain is expanding at an even faster rate of 0.7 per cent. There was also good news in Italy, traditionally the poorest performer among the major Eurozone members, which is set to grow by 0.4 per cent over the same period, a figure which matches the UK economy and represents its best growth in more than a year. ■

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n another depressing month of negative news, one positive story hit the headlines across the world when Mélanie Ségard fulfilled a lifelong dream and presented the nation's weather on France 2. The 21-year-old, who has Down's Syndrome, soared to prominence after French charity UNAPEI launched an awareness campaign ahead of World Down's Syndrome Day on 21st March, entitled “Mélanie peut le faire” - Mélanie can do it! “Salut tout le monde,” the associated Facebook page read. “Je m'appelle Mélanie et je veux présenter la météo à la télé.” The page reached its target of 100,000 likes within 36 hours. A short while later, the page had reached 200,000 and also caught the attention

of France 2, who agreed to give the young lady the chance to present the weather on 13th March. She received four days of training from France 2's weather team, including tips on presenting in front of the green screen where the graphics are digitally projected. “Melanie cannot read or write. The goal is to make her feel integrated,” said Nathalie Rihouet, head of the weather service of France Télévisions. Her story was covered extensively on traditional French media, shared widely on social media and her broadcast was subsequently watched live by a record 5.4 million viewers, a staggering 22.5% of the viewing public. Not only that, but a further 6.5 million people have since watched the clips on her Facebook page.

Mélanie presents the weather

“I am different, but I would like to show everyone that I can do plenty of things. I want to prove it by appearing on TV,” Mélanie said before going live in front of the nation. “It's work! But it's OK. My dream was to show people the weather. And this can open doors to other people with disabilities.” “Symbolically, it's a very strong message that

a young woman with an intellectual disability can come before millions of French people to do something that is close to her heart. This shows that these people have abilities,” said UNAPEI's president Luc Gateau. So what next for France's latest weather presenter? “Tomorrow I'm going back to work. I travel there by my-

- f r o m €16,000.

self,” Mélanie announced proudly, referring to the permanent job she secured after completing training with a medical institute. Despite this and numerous other media engagements in the days following her appearance on national television, her ultimate dream lies elsewhere: “To become a makeup artist and work with celebrities!” ■

London-Bordeaux train tickets on sale

here was a buzz amongst lovers of high-speed train travel as this summer's tickets went on sale in March, particularly over the new BordeauxParis route, which opens on 2nd July. The new stretch of high-speed track between Tours and Bordeaux means that the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region will be just 2 hours 5 mins from Paris, a full 1 hour 10 mins quicker than the current route. Furthermore, Brits with a penchant for the region's famous wine – or expats looking to travel back to the UK - will be able to book a Eurostar ticket direct from London to Bordeaux, with prices from just £110 return for those that get in early. Although the journey from London involves a change of station in Paris - between the Gare du Nord and Montparnasse - the new stretch of high-speed line will mean that Londoners can be sipping a glass of Bordeaux's finest in less than 6 hours! “There is a growing appetite for Bordeaux, as British travellers are drawn to the gastronomic and cultural attractions of the city and nearby regions,” said Eurostar's commercial director Nick Mercer. “With the new high-speed line, passengers will benefit from a more civilised way to travel with city-centre-to city-centre travel, a generous baggage allowance and superior comfort on board our new trains.” ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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>> continued from pg 1 quet at the time, saying Macron simply “does not have enough support to become king”. Four months later and not only does he have a chance, but he is currently thought to be the most likely to become the Republic's next president. If successful, he will be the first person to be voted head of state without the backing of a major political party and key to any victory would be the support he has garnered from disaffected members of both the centre-right and centre-left parties. Economically liberal and pro-business, he is firmly on the left on social issues, but has said that he hates the term centrist, preferring to call himself someone “of the left” open to ideas from the right. Marine Le Pen (Front National) – As nationalism and populism have swept across Europe, Le Pen has ridden the wave to become a serious contender for the presidency. Under her father, the Front National's founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, the party operated on the fringes of the political spectrum, although it did cause an earthquake when Le Pen Senior made it through the second round of voting in 2002, where he was comprehensively beaten by Jacques Chirac by 82% to 18%. In an effort to make her movement more palatable to mainstream voters, Marine Le Pen has moved away from her father's more extreme views, even expelling him from the party in 2015 over his repeated anti-Semitic remarks. Her “France first”, anti-immigration, anti-EU stance has proved a hit with voters across the country and several polls have predicted that she may even win the first round of voting this month, although she currently remains unlikely to win the resulting run-off a fortnight later. She has presented the election as a battle between the “patriots” ready to defend France and its values and the “globalists” whose support for immigration and open borders have caused economic and social chaos.

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François Fillon (Les Républicains) – Although the former prime minister has little chance of winning and has had to battle hard just to stay in the race, history may well show that Fillon had the biggest impact on the outcome of the 2017 presidential elections. When the primary season began last year, Hollande's governing Socialist Party were beset by infighting and languishing in the polls and the smart money was on the next president coming from Les Républicains. François Fillon subsequently caused an upset by knocking out former president Nicolas Sarkozy as well as another former prime minister and the man considered the favourite at the time, Alain Juppé. The presidency was Fillon's to lose... something he subsequently set about achieving, starting with Penelopegate, the scandal involving payments of €700,000 made to his Welsh wife Penelope for work his opponents claim she never did. In March, amid calls for him to withdraw from the race, other payments made to his children for allegedly non-existent holiday work surfaced and he was placed under official judicial investigation. Fillon claims he has done nothing wrong, and he may well be cleared, but enough political mud has stuck to see his supporters deserting the sinking ship. Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France insoumise) - Communist-backed firebrand Mélenchon is a seasoned campaigner and has been one of the harshest critics of Hollande's presidency. He is known for his fiery rhetoric and wants to abandon France's presidential system for a parliamentary one, as well as renegotiate EU treaties. Whilst he enjoys loyal support from the left, he is currently a long way behind the main contenders. Benôit Hamon (Parti Socialiste) – Just as François Fillon cleared the main contenders from the centre-right, so Hamon removed the big names from the centre-left, defeating prime minister Manuel Valls and for-

23rd April - France heads to the polls

Will 39-year-old Emmanuel Macron become France's next president in May? mer economy minister Arnaud Montebourg. François Hollande was so unpopular that he became the first sitting president in modern times not to seek re-election. Hamon has been described as France's Jeremy Corbyn, most noted for being a principled, leftist back-bench rebel, but many in his own party do not consider him presidential material and have switched their support to Macron. After Brexit and the election of Trump, many are looking at the French elections as a potential turning point for populism. UKIP's former leader Nigel Farage believes an election victory for Le Pen and her farright National Front would “bring down” the European Union. Following the defeat of the extremist Geert Wilders in the Netherlands' recent election, however, others argue that the tide has turned, “Trumpism” has had its day and the fire of populist movements across Europe will begin to fizzle out. According to Ian Bond, director of policy at the Centre for European Reform think tank, the upcoming election reflects “the battle between mainstream politics and populism”

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and will reveal whether populism “will take another step forward or if it has reached its peak, and if more reasonable politicians will be able to reassert themselves in Europe”. The five main candidates took part in a mammoth three and a half hour live television debate in mid-March - the first of three - which was watched by 10 million people. When the dust settled, whilst it was agreed that Macron looked slightly uncomfortable on stage - he has virtually no debating experience - the more seasoned campaigners failed to land any significant blows and he now remains the favourite to win the presidential race. One poll taken in the aftermath of the debate showed Macron and Le Pen neck and neck with just over 25% of the vote each, followed by Fillon (19.8%), Hamon (13.9%) and Mélenchon (11.3%). Most pollsters agree that Macron would comfortably beat Le Pen in a run-off. But in these turbulent times, political fortunes can change at the drop of a hat (or a Russian hack!) and it would take a brave person to confidently state who will be voted the next President of the Fifth French Republic on Sunday 7th May. ■

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fter the eighth person in six years was killed recently by a shark, two of the world's top surfers have accused France of not doing enough to keep the waters of Réunion safe. There are now so many man-eating sharks circling the French overseas dependency of Réunion in the Indian Ocean, that surfing is banned everywhere apart from two beaches that are protected by anti-shark nets. The island’s waves are considered some of the best in the world, however, and many surfers continue to take the risk. “I won’t be popular for saying this, but there needs to be a serious cull on Réunion and it should happen every day,” said Kelly Slater, 11-time world champion, speaking with Jeremy Flores, who grew up on the island. “There is a clear imbalance happening in the ocean there. If the whole world had these rates of attack nobody would use the ocean and millions of people would be dying like this. The French government needs to figure this out, asap.” Slater has previously been an outspoken defender of maritime life, so his comments provoked strong reactions. “Things are getting really serious

and we are tired of crying for our brothers,” said Flores after a shark recently killed 26-year-old body boarder Alexandre Naussac by biting through a major artery in his leg. “People are dying one after another and for some this sounds normal, but it really isn’t.” Since 2011, there have been a total of 22 recorded attacks on the island, which lies 1,000 km east of Madagascar and 175 km south of Mauritius. Surfing competitions only returned to Réunion in February of last year after a five-year absence triggered by a shark attack on local surf champion, Eric Dargent. The current problem possibly stems from a 1999 ban on the hunting of sharks for food on the island, after concerns that their flesh might be contaminated with ciguatera, a toxin that causes vomiting, nausea and, in rare cases, death. Locals say this has allowed bull and tiger sharks to take over the waters. “There are so many sharks in the water, it is traumatic,” said Gilbert Pouzet, 55, who has surfed in Réunion for 30 years. “Sometimes, I go down to the waves and I am not sure whether to go in the water or not; 80% of the time I go back home. Most of the time they strike

Calls for shark cull on French overseas territory

Tiger sharks and bull sharks have taken over the waters of Réunion from the side and take your hip and leg. They sever the femoral artery so you bleed to death in two minutes. The tiger shark will sometimes take an arm or a piece of leg and go away. But the bull shark becomes mad and finishes you off. When the bull sharks attack, they come to kill; they began to colonise because

there was nothing to stop them and now we have an invasion.” The Réunion authorities declined to comment on the surfers' demands, but did say that they already catch and kill 100 sharks per year. Meanwhile, conservationists and shark experts criticised any plans for a large-scale cull. “It’s insane,” said

Dr Ken Collins, senior research fellow in ocean and earth science at the University of Southampton. “There is a hierarchy in the natural world for a reason. If you kill all the sharks and the lions, the world would be a poorer place. Who has the right to be in the ocean - the sharks or the surfers? I side with the sharks.” ■

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Colour-coded food labels introduced Baguette

n recent years, repeated studies have been laying waste to the myth put forward by 2004's number one bestselling book “French Women Don't Get Fat”. The latest move in the battle against expanding French waistlines is the introduction of colourcoded nutritional logos on selected products in supermarkets. The idea was first revealed by France's health minister, Marisol Touraine, in May last year, and tests of different labelling systems have been carried out in sixty supermarkets across the country. The colourcoded system - called the “Nutri-score” - came out on top and will now be rolled out in April. The Nutri-score system will see selected foods and drinks ranked on a scale of A to E, with the associated colours ranging from dark green (A) to red (E). Unlike other systems, which show individual ratings for certain ingre-

postbox a big hit

I dients such as salt, fat or calories, the Nutriscore label gives a single, overall rating based on a variety of healthy and unhealthy markers. The principle behind the label is to allow consumers to be able to quickly and easily choose between two similar products, based on their relative health benefits: a Green A packet should look more appealing than a Red E

one. The labels will concern pre-prepared foods such as lasagne and cassoulet, as well as fresh pizzas, dishes in cans or jars, pastries and factory-produced breads. “A good diet is a part of being healthy,” the health minister told Le Parisien newspaper, highlighting that recent studies show that around 30 per cent of adults in France are over-

weight and about 15 per cent are obese. “The indicators on food today are often too hard to analyse. They need to be understandable at a glance. The idea isn't to make people choose between a yoghurt and a pizza, but to help them see which of the pizzas contains the lower amounts of fat and salt. I have already adjusted my own habits, choosing certain cereals over others.”

European law does not allow France to unilaterally force producers to change their labels and the new system will therefore be a voluntary one. “That is unfortunate,” explained the minister. “But I am hoping that pressure from consumers to be informed will force the hand of the industry. Once certain producers come on board, there will be a snowball effect.” ■

Burglar caught red-faced

bungling burglar was caught red-faced, as well as red-handed, when he was arrested by gendarmes after becoming stuck in the window of the jewellers he was attempting to rob. Local law enforcers had initially been called to the shop in Mauléon-Licharre, near the Spanish border in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, following a disturbance, but found no one present. It wasn't until later that night when further reports came in that they discovered the man stuck in the hole he had made in the window. Judging by the amount of loot subsequently found at the man's home, it is believed that he had made several trips back to the premises to fill his swag bag. The light-fingered larcenist may want to lose a little weight after his sentencing, however, as local fire fighters had to be called to enlarge the hole in the window to allow gendarmes to finally make the arrest. His night to forget was made even worse when the image was later shared on the Gendarmerie's Twitter account, although the arresting officers did have the decency to pixelate his face and save him from further shame. After a night in the cells, the man was due before magistrates. ■

t is an invention that could probably only exist in France, but so popular is the “baguette postbox” that its creator is having to expand his business to cope with the huge demand. The Boîte à Pain is a long rectangular polyethylene box with a cotton bag inside, which is designed to keep its precious contents safe from the elements... and any potential pain pilferers. The €80 box is the proud invention of 58-year-old Gérard Brun from the Oise department in northern France: “I never expected it to be such a success. When I drive past a house and see my invention, I am proud.” The system operates in a similar way to standard French postboxes. The owner has a key to their own box and the baker has a master key that opens all similar boxes, allowing them to deposit the baguette at any time of the day. His practical solution coincides with a recent resurgence in home-delivered bread. Traditionally, the local baker would perform a tournée of their commune every morning, announcing their arrival in each village with a loud honk of the horn. As more and more small, local bakers are closing down, however, this bread run is slowly becoming a thing of the past. The baguette postbox allows for a different model, with bread being delivered on a contract basis even if the customer is not present. One such business in Provence, Le Pèlerin Pain Pain, opened in 2016 and offers a fresh baguette delivered each day for €33.50 per month, with the rental of a baguette postbox a further €3 per month. ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 13

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

Organic seafood

by Julia Watson

f you’re a fan of the oyster, you may be pleased to hear that Huîtres Favier Earl on the Seudre River in south-west France and suppliers of oysters to Carrefour, in January became the first farm in France to gain ASC certification. Roughly explained, it means the methods for raising the 15 to 20 million bivalves in their Paimpol and La Tremblade farms have been judged sustainable, and meeting high standards in aquaculture. It’s important because oysters are the canaries of farmed fishing. As soon as water quality declines, oysters do too. Given that so much fish globally is now farmed, responsible environmental and social practices applied to every piscatorial species are vital. Food agencies globally are promoting greater eating of fish. They aren’t the first. It’s said that the reason behind Catholics’ consumption of fish on Fridays is due not to honouring Christ’s Friday death with the renunciation of warm-blooded flesh, but to a medieval pope entering into a secret agreement to prop up the fishing industry. True or not, extending the eating of fish beyond Lent is to be encouraged. It's high in omega-3s and all manner of nutrients from minerals to calcium yet low in cholesterol, and so much better for us and the environment than red meat. Almost half of all fish consumed worldwide is farmed. It’s a contentious business. The irony is that to produce 1 kilo of farmed trout, you need 2.4 kilos of wild fish as feed,

though not all of these are species consumed by humans. It’s the goal of French research institutions to lower this rate to 1 kilo by 2020. Increasing information about fish farming brings increasing public concern about possible side effects. These are wide-ranging, from the impact of escapes from offshore pens on wild fish (assessed by a 2015 report published in ‘Aquaculture’ on six European countries over three years to be nearly 9 million), to the consequences of concentrated fish faeces beneath fish cages, and the use of antibiotics to keep fish with restricted mobility free of parasitic sea lice. Organic farming of fish is being touted as a solution to preserving wild stocks while tamping down consumers' concerns over the safety of conventionally farmed fish. But there doesn’t seem to be much difference in the two methods of farming. In Scotland, lochs and rivers once teeming with wild salmon are now almost barren, and where fish farms abound off the country’s west coast, a conventional salmon farming cage may contain up to 70,000 fish. An organic farming cage could hold as many as 30,000. Parasitic sea lice are attracted to farmed fish of either type with limited mobility. Conventional or organic, feed and faeces fall through the cages to the ocean or river bed, polluting the waters. In the UK, the Soil Association is the certifying body behind all organic labelling. Under its certification guidelines, organically farmed fish, just like conventionally farmed

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

Hearty Crab Bisque 450g white crabmeat 1 medium courgette, finely chopped 1/4 head of cabbage, finely shredded 1/4 head of celery, finely chopped 3 carrots, peeled and finely diced 2 shallots, peeled and finely chopped 4 cloves garlic, peeled and finely chopped 1 large can tomato juice (750ml approx)

250ml fish stock 6 plum tomatoes 2 tablespoons olive oil (1 for soup, plus 1 for drizzling) 1 small wine glass of Monbazillac or other sweet wine Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Preheat the oven to 190°C. Halve the tomatoes, place the cut side up in a lightly greased pan, drizzle with a little olive oil and roast till softened and beginning to lightly caramelize (about 35 minutes). When slightly cooled, chop into bite-sized pieces. Heat remaining olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan over medium heat and add the courgette, carrots, cabbage and celery. Sauté them, stirring frequently, until they turn golden and soft, then lift them out with a slotted spoon and set aside. Add the shallots and garlic to the pan, stir and sauté to soften. Add the crab meat and stew them all gently together for two minutes. Return the reserved vegetables to the pan. Add the tomato juice and fish stock and the roasted tomatoes, stir and bring to a simmer. Then add the wine and return to a simmer. Adjust the seasoning and serve in warm bowls with a salad on the side and a crusty loaf to mop up its juices.. Can be prepared ahead of time.

fish, are allowed to be fattened on a feed that includes fish oil and matter from fish that haven't themselves been raised on an organic diet. To keep disease at bay, organic fish farms are allowed to employ the same chemicals as conventional fish farms (though only twice in the 30-month life of an organic salmon). If necessary, they can dose them with three courses of appropriate medicines over this time. As to Scottish organic salmon, the Soil Association gave over the job of assessing the organic fish-farming industry to an organization set up and manned by conventional salmon farmers.

In France, IFREMER (the French Research Institute for Sea Exploitation) and INRA (the National Institute for Agronomic Research) are researching into replacing raw sea materials like fish meal from wild fish and fish oil with feeding farmed fish on raw plant materials. If you want to check the latest news on responsibly farmed seafood, go to the Aquaculture Stewardship Council’s site at http://www.asc-aqua.org. ■ Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

No surprises in UK Spring Budget other than a sting in the tail for pensions

Blevins Franks

n Philip Hammond’s first and only Spring Budget, there was very little to surprise and not much that had not already been announced in the 2016 Autumn Statement. Personal allowances

The personal tax-free allowance will increase by £500 to £11,500 from April 2017. The threshold for the higher rate band will also rise to £45,000 (excluding Scotland, where it remains at £43,000). The budget proposed to increase the personal allowance and the basic rate band to £12,500 and £50,000 respectively from April 2020. National Insurance The government confirmed it will abolish Class 2 National Insurance Contributions (NICs) – a flat rate contribution paid by the self-employed – in April 2018. However, Hammond’s plan to increase the rate of Class 4 NICs – payable by the self-employed on profits – was dropped a week later amidst claims it broke a key Conservative party ‘tax lock’ election promise. While there will now be no change in Class 4 contributions, Class

2 contributions will still be scrapped next year. Currently, in order to top up their UK State Pension, expatriates who are self-employed within the EU can opt to pay the flat rate Class 2 contributions instead of the higher Class 3 voluntary contributions. As Class 2 contributions are under half those of Class 3, this makes the purchase of an extra year’s pension only around £146 per year instead of over £730. From next April this lower cost option will no longer be available. Dividend allowance Citing the current allowance as too generous, the government announced a reduction in the tax-free dividend allowance from £5,000 to £2,000 from April 2018. This measure is aimed at director shareholders but could also affect those with large portfolios of shares. However, for non-UK residents using the ‘disregarded income’ regime, dividends can still be tax-free in the UK. Although this approach may not be the most suitable way for expatriates to invest, this regime can still be used to tax-efficiently extract funds

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 15

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

In the garden - jobs for April

arch and April are really flirty months - promising good weather, then changing their minds, then going back to it again! But then, like all charmers, we forgive them their ‘caprices’ and enjoy their charm. Yes, you’ve still got to whip out there on a cold evening and get the fleece over the tender seedlings, yes there are cold grey days with pouring rain when you feel you’re back in November, yes you despair of those hot sunny days that so tantalisingly remind you how glorious the weather can be here, before swiftly disappearing. But the days are longer, the water means the growth is lush, and in good shape, and the warmth means that things have come well out of winter dormancy. Will the season be good for fruit? Well, it depends mainly on these critical months and whether the fragile blossom is damaged, or not.

by Michelle Pierce

The Limousin is, in my opinion, especially gorgeous in the Spring – with the ornamental prunus, camellias, magnolias, wisterias, lilacs, snowdrop trees, etc. all playing a central role. Every year their emergence reminds me how you can never have enough blossom trees in a garden, or urban landscape. Plant more, or encourage others to do so. It’s fundamental for the bees and other insects. Especially if underplanted with spring bulbs. Divine. So there’s plenty to do now. The greenhouse needs regular attention, with gentle watering of seedlings (ideally not late in the day, to avoid them suffering from the cold), and ongoing, regular sowings, pricking out, potting on, planting. The fast growers like the leaf greens, radishes, or garlic are especially good for getting production started, and how pleasant it is to be collecting your own salad leaves and fresh herbs

from UK companies. Corporation tax As set out in the 2016 Autumn Statement, the government will cut the rate of corporation tax to 19% from April this year and then again to 17% in 2020. This is to encourage outward investment in the UK from non-UK individuals and corporations, but can be tax-efficient for Britons moving abroad who retain UK companies. Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) In the most unexpected move, the government announced they will introduce a 25% charge on transfers to QROPS from 9th March 2017. This targets those seeking to reduce the UK tax payable by moving their pension wealth to another jurisdiction. However, some crucial exceptions will apply. If expatriates reside in and transfer into a QROPS based in the European Economic Area (including Gibraltar), transfers may still be made tax-free. Tax avoidance The government plans to introduce a new penalty for people who enable another person or business to use a tax avoidance arrangement that is later defeated by HMRC. They will also close a loophole in the Promoters of Tax Avoidance Schemes (POTAS) legislation, making it harder to circumvent the law through re-organising business structures. Taxation of non-domiciles There was no update on the government’s proposed changes to the taxation of non-UK domiciled individuals and offshore structures owning UK residential properties. Amendments suggested in the Summer Budget 2015 include introducing

now. Feed overwintered pots of perennials with nettle tea, diluted to 1:10. This reminds us to start picking the fresh young nettle tops. These are great for cooking - soup is the classic, with a dose of cream and nutmeg, but you can also use it cooked like spinach, in stir fries, in omelettes or in cheesy parcels much like the Greek spanakopita. You can, of course, make your own nettle tea very easily for feeding your garden and this is particularly good when made with the first flush of young growth. A friend also picked and air dried nettle leaves for use later in the year, crumbled round her tomatoes and other energetic croppers. Shops will start to have all sorts of lovely plants and bulbs for sale, but remember to harden them off correctly before planting out, in the case of plants, and plant in pots before later transplanting for frost sensitive bulb species.

UK inheritance tax liability for those holding residential properties indirectly through a company or partnership, and revised domicile rules for those resident in the UK from 5th April 2017. However, we will have to wait for the final version of the 2017 Finance Bill legislation to be released for confirmation of changes. ISAs For UK residents, the ISA limit increases to £20,000 from 6th April 2017, as announced in the 2016 Budget. This allows more tax-free savings to be locked away each year. While non-UK residents cannot add to or open an ISA, they may retain existing ones. However, income and gains from ISAs are generally not tax-free in the new country of residence. Other news The new 12-sided one-pound coin comes into circulation on 28th March 2017, so from then you can expect your change to look different on return visits to the UK. As the round pound will cease to be legal tender from October 2017, the clock is ticking on the chance to cash in any British piggy banks. If you are thinking of transferring your UK pensions to a QROPS, or you think any other of these Budget measures may affect you, take personalised, professional advice. An adviser with cross-border experience can guide you on both UK and French taxation and your range of options as an expatriate. ■

Cast an eye over your mower, although you might already be using it, and make sure it’s good to go for the season. The grass is growing, but aim to cut it progressively, with different areas at different times, to help the wildlife. There is still time to plant the last bare root shrubs, just about. Container grown plants aren’t so crucial, and can basically be planted any time as you’re not really disturbing their root systems, but April planting means better re-establishment and less watering for you than if you do it later. Also, transplanting or splitting up herbaceous perennials can still be done, but if they’re in significant growth, prune the top off to help them re-establish. Sowing can be done directly this month, in situ, with fleece kept handy to pop over in bad weather. You can also decide to sow seed directly in drills, with the intention of trans-

planting the seedlings elsewhere in the veg garden when required. Get your sun-loving things sown in hotter conditions, inside, or in a propagator – tomatoes, chillies, aubergines, peppers. The shop bought plants always look so very healthy and tempting, but often don’t perform that much better, if at all, in real garden conditions. Get your watering systems in place, and make sure your clean water butts are positioned to collect the lovely fresh rainwater of the Spring. Pull out the winter’s fallen leaves from gutters and ponds, too. Keep an eye on the young brambles, insidiously creeping in, and control them as you need, remembering to leave a few somewhere they won’t be a pain, for the butterflies, and your crumbles later in the year! So, loads to do. Good gardening! ■

1er mai, Fête du Muguet

he 1st of May brings with it the French tradition of the giving and receiving of small bouquets of muguets, or lily of the valley. Although the flower has become associated with Labour Day, which is the official status of the May 1st public holiday in France and across much of the world, it has its roots in the Renaissance court of Charles IX, nearly 500 years ago. Flowering as it does in the month of May and symbolising for many the regeneration of spring and the promise of a prosperous season ahead, it was given by Charles IX to those around him on 1st May 1561 to bring them good luck. Labour Day itself didn’t arrive in France until 1889 when the date was adopted as the Fête du Travail, following an international

congress in Paris in memory of those who had died demonstrating for an eight-hour working day in the Chicago riots. At a demonstration in Paris in 1890 over the eight hour day, workers wore a red triangle in their buttonholes to represent the three equal parts of what they saw as the ideal division of the day: work, rest and leisure. This triangle was subsequently replaced by the red rose and later still, the muguet: presumably because it flowered at around this date. It wasn’t until 1936, coinciding with the advent of paid holiday leave, that the muguet became available for sale commercially on and around 1st May. The modern tradition is to give your friends and loved ones bouquets of these fragrant flowers on this date to wish them

luck and happiness. So popular has this custom become that the flower is intensively cultivated, especially in the region around Nantes, specifically for this date. There is even a law that allows any member of the public to sell the flower commercially free of taxation and without a licence (so long as they do it at least 100 metres away from the nearest florist). ■

Jardinerie St-Légér-Magnazeix

& Café (87190)

Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Open Monday - Saturday 10.00 - 17.00 Sunday 10.00 - 13.00

Tel: 05 55 68 73 76

Siret 490 922 309 00011

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Champlong Chatterie

Animals & Pets

Caring, quiet accommodation just for cats JUNCT 22 off A20, Arnac la Poste

"Home from Home" A holiday for your dog (NOT KENNELS)

Family home in the countryside, between Linards/Châteauneuf-la-Forêt & Limoges (87) Walked twice a day plus enclosed garden

15€ / night Feel free to visit! Contact Jane:

05 55 00 34 79 / 06 71 15 15 65 waggingtails87@hotmail.com

Alison & Ray

Tel: 05 55 60 27 83

champlongchatterie@me.com www.champlongchatterie.com SIRET: 520 896 671 00010

Antiques/ Brocantes

Siret: 792 142 341 00017

Valhalla dog holidays

LA BRAUDERIE BROCANTE

Antiques Vintage Retro Lovely French finds from the Limousin Open most days on D15 4 La Brauderie, 23160 St-Germain-Beaupré

Small, friendly English-run kennels in Bétête (23270)

Tel: 07 80 00 46 23 UK Mob: +44 (0)7902 838 776

Open 365 days a year Call Leanne on:

05 55 80 42 47 or email

leaberry24@yahoo.co.uk

Auto Services

siret: 810 192 807 00016

La Tour des Chats Luxury holiday home for cats Château-Chervix (87380) 12 € / day Spacious rooms, outside space, video surveillance. Payment: CB, cheque and cash. Contact Jessica 06 31 94 63 87 / 05 55 58 86 52

www.latourdeschats.fr siret: 818 954 669 00013

RING BILL! Registered Car Mechanic

05.55.81.31.85

See Display Ad Below

European Vehicle Transport 06 23 29 24 70 - see pg 10

Animals & Pets Antiques/Brocantes Auto Services Building Services Chimney Sweeps Cleaning Services Computers/Satellites Food & Drink Garden Services Gifts & Crafts Handholding Services

Vehicle Repairs and Repatriation Can, van & motorcycle repairs and servicing Vehicle transport undertaken, both locally and from the UK Tyre fitting/repairs/balancing

bennett63andrew@aol.com

06 17 49 11 72 siret: 815 114 772 00016

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

Suppliers of Car & Van Spares & LHD headlights, anywhere in France JOHN SOWERSBY

+44 (0)1377 538 639

motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

New build? Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

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

FR: 0033 (0)6 05 56 42 81 UK: 0044 (0)7448 466 662

Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com Siret: 498 843 051 00018

see main ad - pg 8

Menuiserie23 Made to measure joinery

Staircases, doors, windows, barn doors, shutters, etc. uPVC windows and doors also fabricated. Covering 23, 87, 19 & surrounding areas. Call Matthew:

05 55 62 28 70 06 88 96 09 14

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France. From initial feasibility to completed dossiers. We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure your application proceeds smoothly. We are equally at home working with clients here in France or those living abroad.

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu

menuiserie23@yahoo.com siret: 793 679 440 00016

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Wood Work SHUTTERS/DOORS, STAIRCASES, etc.

Siret: 790 016 984 00011

Classical Carpentry

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions.

A. Wright

Carpenter & Joiner 06 35 12 10 66

www.classicalcarpentry.fr 05 55 65 15 31 / 06 02 25 41 58 see main ad - pg 2

Neuvialle Menuiserie

Mike Christie 05 55 64 35 11 / 07 55 20 42 90 see main ad below

MADE TO MEASURE

IN SOFTWOODS OR LOCAL HARD WOODS SIMPLE ORDERING / 10 DAY TURNAROUND Please explore our website for more info: www.scrollart.co.uk

05 55 14 12 43

Oradour Sur Vayres (87150) - siren 752 051 482

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

NEUVIALLE MENUISERIE JOINERY

no job too small - very competitive rates 30 Years’ Experience Joiner Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms Flooring & General 2nd Fix Finishing, Joinery & Decking Emergency Lock Services Granulés du Limousin

Mike Christie 05 55 64 35 11 (Home) 07 55 20 42 90 (Mobile) mgchristie2013@gmail.com

Siret: 802 265 728

■ ... much more Dept. 23 & surrounding areas

Renovating your French property?

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

05 55 81 31 85

SIRET: 494 617 798 00017

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

Building Services Carpenters/Joiners

Registered Car Mechanic

(contrôle technique)

Health & Beauty >> pg 21 House Clearance >> pg 21 Insurance & Finance >> pg 21 Language Services >> pg 21 Pest Control >> pg 22 Pools & Spas >> pg 22 Property Maintenance >> pg 22 Property Sales >> pg 22 Retail & Commerce >> pg 22-23 Transport/Removals/Storage >> pg 23 General >> pg 23

Building Services Architects/Surveyors

RING BILL! ■ Services ■ Brakes ■ MOT Prep

>> pg 16 >> pg 16 >> pg 16 >> pg 16-19 >> pg 20 >> pg 20 >> pg 20 >> pg 20 >> pg 20-21 >> pg 21 >> pg 21

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

La Noneix Construction and Property Services Limousin residents Paul and Joanne Rands moved to France with their two young children over a decade ago and established their successful construction company, La Noneix Construction and Property Services, offering a full range of building services, from a small job right through to a total renovation or complete new-build.

ere at La Noneix Construction we are into our 11th year of trading with an excellent reputation for our standard of work and the service provided. We are getting more and more repeat business from customers with whom we have built up an excellent relationship and new customers from word of mouth. The number of barn renovations, extensions and re-roofing jobs we are doing on old properties can only be good for the region, with old properties being given new life. When carrying out a large renovation, the customer needs to be sure that the company they choose is fully qualified, insured, reliable and has a good track record. We pride ourselves on meeting these criteria and for the attention to detail and level of customer service that we provide.

We are in constant contact with our clients; we effectively run a 24/7 business via phone and email. Often, our clients will be based offsite or overseas and we send weekly updates, with photos of how the work is progressing. They are able to get back from work in an evening and email us to find out how things are going - we will always respond. We find that this service is essential to our customers who do not live permanently in France, allowing them to remotely see exactly what has been happening in their absence. This not only provides peace of mind, but also avoids the need for constant, costly trips back and forth to make sure that the work is being carried out effectively and efficiently. Something that we unfortunately still see quite often are problems related to work undertaken by unregistered or improperly registered builders. This can lead to unsafe structures and if you are not careful, you can lose your money. When doing any kind of work, but especially when the work is structural, it is imperative that customers check that their builder is registered for the work they will be doing and that their insurance actually covers it. Just having a Siret number does not mean

you are covered for all building work! La Noneix Construction and Property Services is a professional enterprise that is registered at the Chambre de Métiers. We operate under a full, mandatory 10-year insurance (décennale) and we have an excellent customer service record. Don’t take our word for it, though, just listen to what our customers have to say about our business in their own words:

JONES ENTREPRISE

Qualified Electrician

Your advert here

Quality Workmanship Since 1986

Carpenter Builder Portfolio available to view at www.jonesentreprise.com email: jones23entreprise@orange.fr

Jeff Jones: 05 55 62 46 21 Mob: 06 38 25 74 62 siret: 810 322 123 00011

From wire a plug to a full rewire + Property Services: Gite Preparation, Key Holding Painting, decorating, Grass Cutting, Strimming, etc

Tel: Susan 06 41 81 63 96

All types Best Rates Available Immediately References available Call Mark:

06 45 82 34 03 Siret 798 692 778 00011

Building Services Electricians

Building BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ Services Fosses Septiques 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)

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

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

INSTALLATION23 SALAMANDRE - Electricity - Plumbing - Small renovations (bathrooms, kitchens, etc.) - Fully Insured Dutch and English spoken Creuse / Puy-de-Dôme

E-mail: installation23@gmail.com

Mob. 06 40 56 96 12 Tel. 05 55 67 57 64 Siret: 753 054 030 00014

électricité Keith SLOPER

Tel: 05 55 64 94 20 Mob: 07 86 38 09 61 * Qualified electrician * All types of electrical works carried out * Free estimates * Fault finding * Consuel certification arranged * Temporary and permanent EDF supplies arranged * Departments 23 and 87 No Siret: 494 916 760 00015

Mini Digger

with Driver for Hire

Landscaping, Ditching, Land Clearance etc. Hedge Removal and Stone Wall Construction John Bonella

87440 Marval

05 55 78 62 29

siret no. 523 183 580 00019

“We have used La Noneix Construction and Property Services twice and on both occasions have been delighted with the work carried out. Paul took a real pride in the jobs he was doing

05 55 41 17 76

Siret: 824 825 095 00014

Carpenter

“After being led up the garden path for 18 months by our French contractor we finally found Paul & Joanne Rands and asked them to pick up the pieces of the renovation of our property. This they did on time, on budget, on spec and at half the price of the previous 'artisan'. I have no hesitation in recommending Paul and Joanne Rands at La Noneix construction to other English buyers in the area especially if they are going to come up against the '+language barrier'as we did.” - Mark & Nicki

john.bonella@gmail.com

for us and with his attention to detail and the use of quality materials, the results certainly reflected that. From his initial preparatory visit to our property when he gave us good advice about how best the jobs might be done, until the work was finished, he always consulted with us and kept us fully informed. We were also impressed with his punctuality, as despite him living quite a distance from our property, he always arrived at a reasonable time in the morning and so was able to undertake a full day’s work.

Fosse Septique 23 Steve. JOHNS. SARL

Fosse Septique Specialists Planning permission arranged Design and installation Supply and servicing DIY and trade kits Free site visit and devis

Max Huggett

Experienced and fully registered builder with 10 year Décennale Insurance Offering a broad selection of building services in depts. 87, 19 & 23. From one off installations to complete renovations, construction, landscaping and ground works. E: info@maxhuggett.com

T: 05 55 69 37 64 M: 06 80 92 23 82

www.maxhuggett.com

English & French spoken - Siret: 518 511 340 00011

upvc-solutions uPVC windows, doors, porches & conservatories

Available in white, beige & oak woodgrain. Visit our website for more information.

siret: 824 706 444 00018

siret: 503 133 159 00015

LES VIDANGES LIMOUSINES

Scaffolding Hire

87800 Jourgnac Siret N° 750 725 780 00019

email: upvc-solutions@orange.fr

06 42 73 83 37

Experienced shopfitters required for installs all across France. Joiners, electricians and labourers also required.

Email: contact@reactive-resource.com

siret: 795 207 067 00013

General building Renovation , Roofing Reliable, good quality work 30 years exp Scaffold Hire Martin Sprague

05 55 61 93 07

martin_sprague_1@ hotmail.com SIRET: 531 768 182 00010

Paul Jones Renovation

Experienced and fully registered artisan, offering a high quality finish and service • 10yr Décennale Assurance • Full house/barn renovation • Plasterboarding walls and ceilings • Tape and Jointing • Kitchen Installation • Roofing works • Carpentry • Patios/Decking

Tel: 05 55 69 28 12 Mob: 06 73 18 63 47 Email: pauljones@orange.fr www.pauljonesrenovation.com siret no: 495 067 829 00020

Large stock Rapid response Good rates for long & short term hire Erected or self-erect Delivery or collection All areas covered Call Dave:

Wanted Experienced shopfitters

After

Masonry & More

Building Services General

www.upvc-solutions.webs.com

06 49 66 44 25

La Noneix Construction & Property Services Tel: 05.55.66.44.06 Email: paul.rands@orange.fr Find more information on: www.lanoneix.com

Before

05.55.64.11.73 06.70.47.52.96

▪ Emptying septic tanks ▪ Unblocking pipes ▪ Cleaning wells ▪ Group rates available between neighbours Call David - 24/24 7/7

We found that Joanne was also very helpful with the essential paperwork and emails and telephone inquiries were always dealt with very quickly and efficiently.” - Derek & Sandra

Alpha Locksmiths 24/7 Emergency call out service

Tel: 06 70 34 79 32 see main ad below

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

Alpha Locksmiths

24/7 Emergency call out service Lost your keys... locked out... keys locked in the car... give us a call! Lock changes of all types, external and internal UPVC & Wood - Windows & Doors - Safe opening - Non desctructive entry No call out charge - Hourly rate based on location and time of day or night 25 years’ experience - Fast, friendly & efficient - Free estimates

Tel: 06 70 34 79 32 - Email: kyriacosdemetriou701@gmail.com

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

Entreprise Hines Building Services All Internal & External Works, completed to a high standard.

We also supply KWIKSTAGE scaffold for hire - either DIY or full scaffold service provided. siret: 503 169 237 00016

See website for more info - www.entreprisehines.com - 05 55 89 69 46 - robert.hines@orange.fr

Building Services General WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES • house/barn clearance (pre sale / post sale) • garden/land clearance • dechetterie runs • rubbish removal

Specialist equipment available: • tractor with flail mower, rotavator, etc. • vehicle with 1.5 tonne crane

05 55 37 45 35

wasteremovalmultiservices@gmail.com siret 532 981 198 00015

Stephen Cullinane & Son From the foundations to the roof Established 9 years in France 05 55 81 00 53 - see pg 4

ANGLO SCAFFOLDING UK scaffolding supplied and erected here in France Qualified and fully insured FREE no obligation quotes Call Ian on

06 34 24 64 11 or see

www.lakesidebandb.net

Email: akbrunnstrom@yahoo.co.uk

KWIKSTAGE Scaffold Hire

Registered for 8 years in France

05 55 89 69 46

High quality work, excellent references available • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Tiling • Wood flooring • Loft conversions • Pointing • Windows • Plasterboarding Covering Creuse and Indre

DIY or Full Scaffold Service See our website or phone for details

www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

Dave Cardwell - Builder

05 55 98 24 12

See our Display Ad - pg 10 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Neptune by French Lily Kitchens & Interiors

SIRET: 799 067 939 00014

05 55 80 92 91 - see pg 6&9

Davis & Davis

GODSON

30 years' Experience in Construction, Renovation & Project Management Quality Workmanship Guaranteed Internal/ External Developments Barn conversions, loft conversions, new-build, drylining, plastering, rendering, spray rendering, tiling, installation of kitchens/ bathrooms, painting, carpentry, replacement doors & windows, velux installation, groundworks, landscaping, decking & much more...

No job too big (or small). Give us a call for a free competitive quote.

05 55 60 29 50 / 06 04 13 30 57 email: davis-davis@sfr.fr

Based Arnac-la-Poste - Covering depts 87, 23 & 19 Siret: 498 203 652 00017

Travaux Publics www.fossepro.com 05.55.62.61.12 - pg 3

Barry Haggerty

Paul Goldsmith Interior Renovations

e: lasout@live.com

t: 09 66 03 52 89 SIRET 494 123 847 00019

RSW Entreprises

Fosse Septiques/Micro stations

05.55.80.00.57

See our Display Ad - pg 11

Harlequin Developments est. 2007

All aspects of renovation and refurbishment, big or small, undertaken. Kitchens fitted and tiled Replacement doors and windows Parquet flooring Oak framed porches Plasterboard and Insulation

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

Property Maintenance Services

Qualified Tradesman 20+ years experience Offering extensive handyman and general maintenance services Small jobs a speciality, able to work with you on your renovation projects Affordable & reliable, a quality job every time Servicing 23 and surrounding areas. Call Jim:

05 55 66 23 97 06 27 25 07 78 Siret: 792 049 025 00010

Building & Property Services. Pointing. Patios laid. Brick/Stone & Blockwork. Daily rates available. Free estimates. 25yrs+ experience.

Your advert here

05 55 66 13 30 / 06 42 19 20 06 UK mob: 07778 156 754

05 55 41 17 76

Mason

siret: 807 664 263 00017

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76 Steve Johns Assainissement

fosse-septique23.com

05.55.64.11.73 - see pg 10

A. Wright

Carpenter & Joiner 06 35 12 10 66

Building Services Groundworks

MINI DIGGER With driver for hire

Work to High standard Contact Michael: Mob: 06 44 24 10 17

see main ad - pg 8

Email smeaton.diane@orange.fr Area 87, Bellac

Bricolage

Mini-Digger with driver

♦ Woodworking ♦ Kitchens ♦ Rail and plasterboard ♦ Shutters and gates ♦ Painting ♦ Over 10 years experience as a qualified joiner in the UK ♦ Based 87230 Call Michael Houghton:

john.bonella@gmail.com

All internal works

06 15 60 09 97

mrm.houghton@hotmail.co.uk Siret 823 466 768 00012

La Noneix

Construction & Property Services

Established, Professional and Personal Building Services. Fully registered with décennale insurance covering all works.

●Renovations ●New builds ●Roofing ●Stonework ●Carpentry ●Ground works

Large or small projects undertaken - please view our website. Contact: Paul or Joanne Rands

05.55.66.44.06 www.lanoneix.com Paul.rands@orange.fr SIRET: 501 144 596 00019

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

05 55 41 17 76

05.55.78.62.29 See Main Ad - pg 17

Marshall Terrassement Diggers and operator for hire for all aspects of groundworks: • Fosse installation • Ground clearance • Hedge & stump removal • Landscaping • Patios & driveways • House & barn clearances • Rubbish removal Limousin & Dordogne

email: lozm23@gmail.com

mobile: 06 04 67 40 81 tel: 05 55 66 24 35 siret : 819 984 774 00011

Building Services Painters/Decorators Simon Carter

Painter & Decorator Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK experience, now based in Haute-Vienne. Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting & decorating, wallpapering, plastering. 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

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Houses on Internet: A Global Property Network

ouses on Internet – Global Property Services (hereafter referred to as “HOIGPS”) is the internet/marketing company that has been helping people sell their French property to buyers worldwide for many years now. Richard Kroon, founder and director of the company: "The number of responses from prospective buyers and sales keep rising. No doubt one of the reasons is that we were able to increase our worldwide advertising budget and reach more prospective buyers than ever." Last year HOI-GPS sold to people from 12 different countries, such as Australia, Belgium, Holland, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada and, of course, France.

Richard continues: “Our continuous global marketing is definitely paying off and guarantees a worldwide exposure of your property to buyers wherever they live. "The actual work all starts with the presentation of a property. If that’s not good enough, all other marketing efforts are useless. Our photographers usually take 150 to 200 photos of a house and in addition copy any good (summer) photos our clients may have themselves. "About 50 to 60 of those photos are selected, enhanced and presented on the dedicated website we make for each property. "The texts don’t just describe the house, garden and outbuildings, but information about shopping, schools, airports and leisure is given too. "When the website for the

house is online, we first connect it to our main HOI-GPS websites which attract over 135,000 visitors from 40+ countries each month. Most of these people find us through Google and additional Google advertising. "To reach an even larger audience, a summary of the presentation of the house is also placed on several other leading property websites. These adverts are also connected to the dedicated website of the house, making it all one big global property network. "As the property market has become a global one, a prospective buyer can be on the other side of the world while the owner is in bed sleeping. With our approach, the buyer does not have to wait and can see the entire property whenever he wants, at the moment he is

CALL KATH

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Nathan Sherrard

Painting and Decorating Interior and Exterior Colour Consultations Room Re-designs Kathleen Willis

05 55 63 53 06

kathleen.willis@orange.fr siret 802 262 35200015

Building Services Plasterers CHRIS

THE PLASTERER A genuine plasterer French and English spoken Traditional Plastering Rendering, Stud partition dry lining Lime mortar stone pointing

CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION

05 55 63 53 06 06 23 29 48 19

Le Plâtrier du Limousin The friendly & reliable plasterer 10 year guarantee. Covering depts. 23 & 87. Call Stuart on:

Plumbing Central heating Electrics Maintenance contracts Winter check-ups All work undertaken

info@platrierlimousin.fr

02.54.34.14.57 06.72.61.31.79

Siret: 534 396 908 00012

Siret: 813 117 736 00013

05 55 80 92 91

Building Services Plumbing & Heating

POWERFLOW A Plumber that speaks your language Honest – Professional - Affordable Servicing, Repairing & Installing gas, oil & LPG appliances An expert in cleaning and protecting heating systems to make them run efficiently using modern cleaning pumps & Thermal Imagery Call the best, flush the rest

www.powerflowfrance.com

05 55 67 35 02 07 69 22 26 30

christopher.willis@orange.fr

info@powerflowfrance.com

Le Bourg, 23360 Nouzerolles

23260 St Maurice pres crocq

SIRET: 504 612 441 00015

SIRET 519 624 084 00017 (est. 2010)

Building Services Roofing Eurl Réno-Gén

ROOFING SPECIALISTS All types of roofing External insulation Carpentry work Dormer windows Velux windows Zinc guttering Chimney repoints Lead flashing, etc. Contact Phil Andrews:

Mob: 06 42 38 54 22 Tel: 02 54 30 11 20 Email: philip.andrews@orange.fr

interested in it." For more information on HOI-GPS or to market your property through them, visit their website. ■

Houses on Internet Global Property Services www.housesoninternet.com

Your advert here

PMC BATIMENT

+31 (0)6 41 20 73 69

Roofing Specialists

www.pmcbatiment.fr see main ad below

05 55 41 17 76

Building Services Sandblasting

MUMFORD TOITURE

Sand and Blast

25+ years roofing experience All aspects of roofing, large or small 15+ years experience plastering/boarding  Fully registered and insured Trading in France since 2007  Call Mark for a free quotation

service for wood, stone and metal. Perfect for stripping away years of grime or paint. Contact us for a free quote, or see our website:

Roofing & Plastering/ Plasterboarding Service

We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

www.sandandblast.com

05 55 76 31 59 / 06 77 40 95 92

06 78 60 96 16

bobby@sandandblast.com steve@sandandblast.com

mumford.toiture@gmail.com

SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

Siret No. 493 159 412 00011

Roofing

Your advert here

Repairs & Renewal

Slate, tile, sheet, etc. Zinc work Velux and dormers 35 years in the trade

05 55 41 17 76 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

Call Andrew on:

06 35 12 10 66

siret: 509 180 410 00011

539 210 542 00012

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76 50,000 sq ft of covered showrooms & 2 large external display areas - P5 18mm tongue and grooved water repellent chipboard. Available in 8ft x 2ft sheets. - C.L.S. stud work: 2.4, 3 & 4.8m lengths. - OSB 8ft x 4ft sheets, 9mm and 18mm in stock. - Plywood all in 8ft x 4ft sheets. External grade, suitable for construction use. - Skirting board & Architrave in stock. - Insulation earthwool, 100 & 150mm. R value for 100mm - 2.25. - Rigid board insulation Xtratherm R: 40/75/80/90 &120 mm. R value for 40mm - 1.73. Open Mon-Sat 8.30am to 6pm - www.reclamation-yard.com - Only 1km from Confolens on the D952 Ansac-sur-Vienne road

CONTACT : PAUL CHARLESWORTH TEL : 06 28 28 04 63

pmcbatiment@yahoo.fr www.pmcbatiment.fr

ROOFING SPECIALISTS

Insurance guarantee on all work. 15 years’ experience.

N PE

TI-

S MO

ZIN

Based St-Junien. Covering Depts 87-16-24. Siret : 531 655 231 00011

20 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

for all your tree requirements 30+ years experience Free quotes and advice We will not be beaten on price or standard of work Reliability guaranteed Fully qualiﬁed arborist - Fully insured Covering depts: 87, 23, 86, 36, 19 & 16

pawsonbeverley4@gmail.com

Chimney Sweeps LA RAMONEUSE

THE LADY SWEEP Established since 1986

Brush & Vacuum All types of chimney Fully Insured Call Ruth Clear

02 54 31 48 50 06 25 61 84 95 siret 504 218 454 00016

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76 TOUTE SWEEP Chimney Sweep Service

* All types of chimneys cleaned * Brush & Vacuum * Smoke Tested * Fully Insured * HETAS Approved and member of NACS * Official certificates of cleaning issued (Certificat de Ramonage) * Clean, tidy, professional & friendly service

Contact Barry Manning

Tel: 05 55 66 48 55 Mob: 06 31 59 81 08

barry@toutesweep.com

REMEMBER - BLOCKED FLUES AND CHIMNEY FIRES CAN BE FATAL... DON'T TAKE THAT RISK! SIRET: 534 351 754 00013

Chimney Sweeping • Flue ways cleared • Birds nests, vermin & debris removed • Smoke evacuation & gas tightness tests • Official certificates of cleaning issued (Certificat de Ramonage)

Cleaning Services

Nettoitout

Professional Cleaning Services Windows Conservatories Garden maintenance Offices

For a free and personalised quote please don't hesitate to contact us on:

07 81 39 21 49 MIMI HOME CARE Bilingual home care near Guéret (23) - Cleaning & Ironing - Grocery shopping - Tutoring (for children under 11) - Baby-sitting (for children over 3) - Pet-sitting - Help for elderly or impaired people (walks, meals, conviviality...) - English and French lessons - House maintenance during absence (watering the plants, emptying mailbox, looking after pets...)

Tel: 06 21 33 60 99 Email: mimihomecare23@yahoo.fr siret: 818 225 526 00016

Computers, Satellites & Web Design For all your TV and satellite installations and repairs (Sky TV, Internet etc.) Call Patrice:

06.79.07.91.56

Creusetec Satellite Systems

05 55 66 60 21

High speed internet via satellite from "tooway" & "SES Astra". TV Satellite Sales, Service & Installations. Dish alignments. Sky/Freesat/TNT/FTA. Most of depts 23,03,63,87,36 covered.

martin@creusetec.com http://www.creusetec.com SIRET: 510 117 328 00011

WEBSITE No6 DESIGN before

- Free quote / discussion / meeting / assessment of current site during

- Refresh / redesign your existing site - Create new one page / multipage / shop / gite booking system site afterwards

- Update your own site if you like! - Enjoy a fully maintained site - Enjoy full website support contact@no6.co

06 38 75 32 97

www.no6.co

siret: 453 067 910 00019

05 55 41 17 76 sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76 Food & Drink

Snack de Jack Tea Room

Tercillat, 23350

RESTAURANT

LA FEUILLARDIERE 2, Route des Roches La Gare 87230 BUSSIERE-GALANT

sales@thebugle.eu

Big Dish Satellite

Tel: 05 55 78 61 46

05 55 41 17 76

05 55 78 72 98

French restaurant - English spoken

www.bigdishsat.com see main ad - pg 12

Mobile Curry Take Away

English groceries, Fresh Beef & Steaks (to order only), Gammon Steak, Bacon, Sausage & Cheddar Cheese. Wide range of frozen items including vegetarian. Traditional English beers, Sherries & Wine. Cards for all occasions. Opening hours: Tue - Sat, 10am- 6pm Visit us and compare our prices

Allo Allo

1 rue Saint-Roch, Le Grand Bourg

For menus and venues:

Rés: 06 73 37 45 01

www.mandyscurry2go.com

see main ad - pg 6

Le Creusois

Parties 20+ & events catered for

Les Genêts, Azerables

m : 07 70 39 12 23

Bar/Restaurant

www.lecreusoisbistro.com

GOODWIN SATELLITE

Email: garygoodwin@wanadoo.fr

Mandys-curry-2-go

Visit: www.petticoatlaneshop.com E-mail: sales@petticoatlaneshop.com

EARL Les Fromentaux

Tuesdays: 12pm-6pm Wednesdays/Thursdays: 10am-6pm Fridays/Saturdays: 12pm-8pm Sundays (July/August): 12pm-5pm English Breakfast: Wednesdays/Thursdays Fish and Chips: Fridays/Saturdays

Tel: 05 55 62 05 61 Mob: 06 52 38 67 65

closed Wednesdays

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99

Your advert here

05 55 80 00 07

Dept 23 & surrounding areas

05 87 40 02 83

5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

Sue and Rob Manning

siret: 353 613 227 00035

SALES & INSTALLATION OF ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS & AERIALS. FAULT FINDING.

Marsac (23) • Cosy atmosphere • Speciality Crêpes • Large burger menu • Over 80 single malt whiskeys • Selection of bottled British ales • Book corner, pool table • "Mouclade" nights • Curry nights

Petticoat Lane

High quality British & French food at reasonable prices. Menu du Jour €12, Traditional Pub Food, Vegetarian dishes, Childrens & Snack menus also available

Siren: 502 409 949

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

Chez Jacques

siret: 498 199 306 00016

www.stovesellers.com

Based Séreilhac (87)

Try Something Different

siret: 530 840 958 00017

Siret: 80493524500014

libre.antenne87@gmail.com Fast dependable service

05 55 63 78 72

05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44

Mail: contact@lafeuillardiere.fr Fish & Chips every Friday night

BEEF and LAMB Excellent beef and lamb available from our farm direct to you. All are bred feed and finished here in Vilenne. All the lamb is free range and naturally finished off grass. A box of beef is 12-18 kg at €10.90 per kg

Tel: 02 54 25 34 73

10 Route de Vilenne, 36200 Celon Bar Bistro

Le Bon Appétit

4 rue des Tanneries, 23210 Bénévent-l'Abbaye Mon-Sat (closed sun) - Now open lunchtimes! (open 7/7 May to end of Sep) Themed nights (French specialities) Large beer garden - Groups welcome Homemade burgers - Eat in or take away For more info, see our website:

05.55.63.90.79 SIREN: 483 988 853

Restaurant AUX CEPES LA veytiZoU, 87130

Tel: 09 64 00 14 51 see main ad - pg 8

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Garden Services Jardinerie & Café St-Légér-Magnazeix (87190)

www.bistrot-lebonappetit.com

Tel: 05 55 68 73 76

or find us on Facebook: @BBBonAppetit23

see main ad - pg 15

26, Ecurat 23150

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

Le Restaurant Ecurat Atelier d'Art du Jardin

for all your tree requirements pawsonbeverley4@gmail.com 05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44

tel: 05 55 81 31 85

Your advert here

2km from Chénérailles and the Chateau Villemonteix.

05 55 41 17 76

Restaurant du soir. Our menu changes monthly. Special occasions and parties welcome. Fish and chips and mushy peas €11,50 the last Friday of each month. Open Mon - Sat * Reservation in advance please* For more information:

email: ecurat123@hotmail.com

see main ad above

DIRECTORY ♦ 21

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

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, built-in, 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, Solar-

Garden Services GARDEN SERVICES Paul Brown

All gardening work: Grass Cutting Strimming Hedge Trimming General Maintenance Dept 23 & Surrounding Areas

Tel: 05 55 89 57 40 brownpaul006@gmail.com Siret: 483 059 242 00030

T.A.D. 23 (Travaux d'Accès Difficiles) All aspects of garden maintenance • Tree Surgery • Garden Clearance • Strimming • Pruning

T: 05 55 81 14 51 M: 06 85 78 81 32 siret: 788 438 562 00019

Sherrie et Steve Jardiniers All general

venti 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

'ROUSSIS MAID'

Mon Chic Cottage

Tea Room

Le Dorat 87210 April Holiday Closures please consult www.monchiccottage.com Chalk Paint, Little Greene Paint, Fat Quarters, Annie Sloan Paint Workshops Wed-Fri 10h-16h

Tel: 05 87 77 95 59

Handmade Gifts Hand painted silk accessories, jewellery & much more. See website for market locations and dates

www.nsandifer.com Siret: 811 512 094 00020

Ivan Petley

3D Puzzle Maker Handmade, fully interlocking, multi-layered 3D puzzles from just €9. Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas. Customisation and personalisation possible. Come and visit the workshop by appointment.

Tel: 05.55.80.29.98

Gardening No job too small. Reasonable prices. Contact Steve or Sherrie

26, Ecurat 23150

M: 06 58 72 03 43 E: sherrieetstevejardiniers@gmail.com Siret No: 811 161 835 00001

Gifts & Crafts Très Jolie

Ladies fashion accessories 05 55 78 62 29 / 06 04 08 29 53 see main ad pg 10

Units start from €630 TTC. Several ex-demonstration models available at reduced prices, call for details.

HAND-CRAFTED CARDS AND APRONS

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

Undertaken

- 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. ■

Atelier d'Art du Jardin

Artisan art for your garden

2km from Chénérailles and the Chateau Villemonteix

tel: 05 55 81 31 85 email: ecurat123@hotmail.com

All products made in France. Cards also available at Carole's Hair Stylist at Le Buisson, near Saint-Bazile. Same prices as 2015!

Email for more details: ellinghamroam764@yahoo.com See Notice Board for details of where you can find us at local markets. Send an email to sign up to the newsletter

Tel: 06 86 89 81 02 siret 528 539 448

Handholding Services

Sophie Arsac

French lessons & handholding services 05 55 89 15 74 - pg 11

A HELPING HAND Translation/interpretation Dealing with utilities/banks Permis de construire Sourcing/supervising artisans 1-2-1 conversation classes

05 55 62 50 38 Jonathan Critchley jcritch.7@gmail.com

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

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76 House Clearance debarrasser87

House Clearance Specialists www.ferraille87.com see main ad - pg 9

Insurance & Finance

COUNSELLING Lesley Kidd MSc

UK Reg. Counsellor & Psychotherapist Senior Accred. MBACP 548379 • French Reg. Conseille de Vie & Coach • Based on borders of 87-19-23 • Meet in person or via skype • Initial appointment without charge

05 55 38 33 35

lesleykidd@hotmail.co.uk SIREN: 818 604 654

OSTEOPATHY & ACUPUNCTURE lindabodimeade@eircom.net paulbodimeade@eircom.net

09 52 32 34 87 - see pg 10

International money transfer

www.hifx.co.uk

Language Services

Ecole de Langue 86, Rue Nationale, 36400 La Châtre

All your language needs under one roof!

02 54 31 12 55

www.ecole-de-langue.net Jenny Homer BA hons, PGCE

Sympathetic French Tuition - Speaking and Understanding for life in France - Relaxed but purposeful - Confidence-building Free taster class (3hrs) Tel: 09 73 13 62 10

homer.jennifer@gmail.com 87120 Eymoutiers

siret: 792 285 025 00013

Health & Beauty

HiFX

Sophie Arsac

TONY FARRELL INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISER

The Spectrum IFA Group with over 20 years' experience advising expatriates throughout Europe on all aspects of financial planning. Represented in Creuse by Tony Farrell:

Tel: 05 55 89 57 94 Mob: 06 15 28 54 82

Email: tony.farrell@spectrum-ifa.com TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009 PARIS "Société de Courtage d'assurances" R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) Numéro d'immatriculation 07 025 332 - www.orias.fr SIRET No.: 500 064 183 00014

Blevins Franks International tax and wealth management advisers

www.blevinsfranks.com See our main ad - pg 14

French lessons & handholding services 05 55 89 15 74 - pg 11

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

22 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

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 €11.20/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 30,000 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 sales@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract €84

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€14/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€18.75/month)

12-Month Contract €134.40

(€11.20/month)

€112.50 €126

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€21/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€28/month)

€168

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

€180

(€15/month)

Small Directory Ad 46mm x 46mm

€201.60

(Actual Size)

30 words max

(€16.80/month)

€268.80

(€22.40/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.

Pest Control

Central France Pest Control Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com Email: info@applicateur3d.com Curative and preventative rats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

Limousin Spas Alongside the amazing "Rotospa" spa range, we are now able to supply the "Durasport" & "Strong Spas" ranges of quality spas.

Leggett Immobilier

Property Sales

www.leggettfrance.com

05 53 56 62 54 see main ad - pg 5

All our spas are manufactured to the highest standards & have full manufacturers warranty. These spas have relatively low power requirements & are very economical.

Houses on Internet www.housesoninternet.com

+31 (0)6 41 20 73 69

See our Display Ad - pg 3

Prices start from €3,750. Models seat 2 to 7 people. For more information on our range check out our website:

Cendrillon - Bourganeuf Bilingual Estate Agent in Creuse

www.limousin-spas.com or telephone: 05 55 63 26 20

www.limousin-bilingual.com

05 55 54 95 85 - see pg 3

Numéro Siret: 752 157 610 00011

Property Maintenance

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

Pools & Spas Self Install Pools naturalispools.com 06 31 17 25 60 see main ad - pg 4

Mind My Maison

Beaux Villages Immobilier

www.mindmymaison.com

Freephone: 08 05 69 23 23

Limousin Property Maintenance Services

05 87 19 58 99 - see main ad pg 2

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

SUDOKU - EASY

Retail & Commerce

Your advert here

www.beauxvillages.com see main ad - pg 8

Transaxia

Bourganeuf-Creuse-Limousin www.transaxia-bourganeuf.fr 0033 (0)6 83 66 83 09 - see ad pg12

05 55 41 17 76

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 27

Chez Amanda Depot Vente des Vêtements Dress agency and gallery, specialising in designer and high quality pre-owned clothes for women and children, together with accessories, footwear, jewellery, gift items, and hand made furniture. 8 rue Principale, St Mathieu, 87440

Email: soieetbois@gmail.com Web: www.soiebois.net Tel: 05.55 48.28.89 SIRET: 510 995 681 00010

Moulin de Tintin Furniture, interiors & gifts

www.moulin-de-tintin.com 05.55.79.57.60 - see pg 3

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Stove Sellers www.stovesellers.com 05.55.63.78.72

See our Display Ad - pg 6

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 23

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Online radio station for English-speaking expats Ex-patradio.com is an online internet radio station, which launched live on 21st March 2016. The station is designed for English-speaking expats around the world. The aim is to have a variety of shows, ranging from chat shows through to music programming, covering a full spectrum of musical tastes. Our shows include: • ‘The Golden Oldies’ with Mick Hennell, featuring tracks from the 50s and 60s • ‘The Beat Goes On’ with Steve Bell, showcasing new expat bands, musicians and singers • ‘The Blend’ with Ira, our American presenter, with the best of Creole and Swamp music through to rare blues cuts • ‘The All Day Special’ with station founder, Dave Hailwood • ‘The Roast Beef’ with Wayne Allen, also “Nashville Calling” • ‘The Retro Chart Show’ with Dave Mac • ‘In Bed with the French’ Talk Show with Christine Caldi • ‘Country Classics’ & ‘The Nostolgia Club’ with David Sibbald • ‘Bridget’s Mix’ with Bridget Waterhouse • ‘Classical Gems’ with Bridget Waterhouse • ‘Digital Blues’ with Ashwyn Smyth • ‘The Culture Gap’ with Vincent • ‘Soul Time’ with Max Morrison • ‘Essential Rhythms’ with Peter Simmons

Eco Entrepot 87230 Bussière-Poitevine

05.55.68.74.73 - see pg 11

French Lily

Kitchens & Interiors

05 55 80 92 91 - see pg 6&9

Whether you are a business or a household, we are here to make your storage a worry free experience at affordable prices.

FORTNIGHTLY SERVICES TO FRANCE FULL OR PART LOADS WELCOME WE COLLECT FROM ALL AREAS OF THE UK AND DELIVER TO ALL AREAS OF FRANCE Please CALL or EMAIL Stephen

Why not take a look at our website or give us a call... we are here to help you!

smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk

+44 (0)1253 725 414

www.smartmovesremovals.co.uk

siret: 821 846 318 00011

UK: 0333 022 0359 FR: 07 68 64 22 54

W: www.milenlighthaulage.co.uk E: info@milenlighthaulage.co.uk

MAN + VAN Peugeot Boxer

Man & Van Transport

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 VAN ROUGE Affordable Moves Europewide 18m3 Van / 4.5m load length 29m3 available on request Full loads/ part loads/ single items Regular UK runs.

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with 13.5 m3 Load capacity

Siret No : 523 955 151 00015

"Official Transporter of The Bugle"

Smart Moves For a fully insured, careful service

05 55 63 58 85

Please call Mick for further info

jonathanpiddock@orange.fr

Secure self storage units in Guéret

safegardegueret@gmail.com

• Man with a van service • Friendly, Mature Service, Ex-Police • Living in Limousin, specialising in moves between UK and France • Competitive Rates • Fully Insured

05 55 83 02 77 \ 06 30 90 58 90

Our live “Coffee Morning” chat shows with station founder, Dave Hailwood (an expat from the UK) and our regular guests from around Europe. We feature regular topics such as women’s issues, gardening, sport, travel, cooking and schooling... in fact anything that affects expats. Our audience is encouraged to join in via email or phone with comments, questions and requests. Ex-pat Radio aims to be an international station, with an approachable local feel to it. To our surprise we also won “Best Foreign Radio Station” in France as voted by the readers of Paris publication “Expatriates Magazine”, which we won with 75% of the vote.

www.safe-garde.com

Transport, Removals & Storage

Email us with requests, stories, jokes, local events in your area, sports groups, and anything else. We want to hear it all... So get typing to: expatradio.request@gmail.com Like us on Facebook: "expatradiofrance" Tweet us: @ExpatRadioCom And listen live now!

‘Musicial Memories’ with Sir Owen Gee ‘Sunday Bandstand’ with Chris Helme ‘Writers Salon’ with Hazel Manuel ‘The Message Kids’ with Expat Kids And lots more new shows coming soon!

SAFE GARDE

Get down The Shed

Collections \ Deliveries \ Brico Runs Transport and Small Removals France - UK - Spain - NL Monthly return UK trips available Based Nr Aubusson, Dept. 23

• • • • •

(+33) 07.61.21.85.15

Genuine/Reliable/Honest Local + Europe + UK runs Now also available for House/Barn clearances! 14m3 capacity 4.2m load length English & French Spoken

Central France Storage www.centralfrancestorage.com Dry, safe & secure storage to suit all needs Vehicle storage also possible

Tel: 09 66 03 52 89

MICHAELS MOVERS Removals

UK ↔ France ↔ UK Full & Part loads All size of vehicles, from Man & Van through to 18 tonne truck Storage facilities in Sussex UK free phone:

0800 840 3058 Mob: +44 (0)7808 338 386 www.michaelsmovers.freeindex.co.uk

www.watsoneuropean.co.uk

Siret 530 213 644 00012

European Vehicle Transport 06 23 29 24 70 - see pg 10

www.transitionremovals.com

www.buggscarhire.com see pg 2

Bergerac & Limoges Airports

General

siret: 494 123 847 00019

www.frenchvanman.eu

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Email: lasout@live.com

Watson European

Buggs Car Hire

see main ad - pg 2

Coming soon: "Treasure Hunting with Charles Hanson" If you have any treasures you would like valued send us in details and photos of your items to expatradio.request@gmail.com and Charles will value for you. We will also have a page on our website. If any valuable items are found, we can arrange to have them shipped to the UK to be auctioned off at Hanson's Auction house.

09 82 12 69 73

Transition Removals (+33) 05 55 34 19 46

www.ex-patradio.com

International Removals see main ad - pg 5

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Carrefour du Bois Limousin

www.chauffagebois-limousin.com

05 55 63 72 45 - see pg 16

BABY/INFANT EQUIPMENT FOR HIRE

To raise funds for the SPA dog rescue centre in Guéret. High chair, buggy, travel cot (plus mattress/bedding), changing mat, etc. Each item will incur a hire charge of 10 euros, plus a refundable 10 euros deposit. For more INFO or to HIRE Call Vanessa: 05 55 64 32 08 or email: eq6763@gmail.com

Cash paid for scrap All Limousin covered Anything considered Any quantity

Tel: 05 55 37 45 35 Mob: 06 74 21 47 71

Would you like to receive an electronic copy of The Bugle each month? We can deliver a copy to your inbox, hot off the press

Simply email - subscriptions@thebugle.eu For more details visit www.thebugle.eu

siret 532 981 198 00015

24 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

CLUBS, CHARITIES & ASSOCIATIONS 7th Annual Fund-raiser in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Landouge, Limoges The annual fund-raiser will be held this year on Sunday 16th July from 1 pm to 5 pm, at 17 ave du 8 mai 1945, Oradour-sur-Vayres. All donations of saleable items will be gratefully received. Please contact Roger & Christine Thomas, tel 05 55 78 83 05. Many thanks for your continued support for this worthwhile charity! Charities SPA Creuse The SPA Creuse dog refuge centre is based in Saint-Sulpice-le-Guérétois near Guéret and provides an invaluable service to the community by rescuing dogs that otherwise would have nowhere to go. Each year we re-home over 100 dogs which find themselves at the SPA though no fault of their own. We have dedicated staff who work alongside a network of French and British volunteers, all of whom have one aim in life, which is to do the best they can for the dogs until they find their forever homes. In order to do this they need to raise funds; along with walking the dogs every day, volunteers also organise fund-raising events and vide-greniers throughout the year. We are a friendly bunch and always on the lookout for more like-minded people and so if you are interested in becoming a volunteer, making a donation, or adopting one of our lovely dogs, then please visit our website www.spacreuse.com. Noah's Ark Noah’s Ark is a French registered charity run by Cindy and Lauren Maasik who have spent the last five years rescuing animals and caring for them on their farm near Saint-Mathieu. A warm welcome awaits you at their shop and tea rooms in Rochechouart, with home-made cakes, tarts, and quiches followed by plenty of tea or coffee. For more info visit www.noahsark.fr or Facebook: Noah's Ark Tea Rooms and Brocante, 6, Rue de Poitevin, Rochechuart. Open Tues - Sat 10h-17h. Tel: 05 87 41 26 16. Farm visits for animal adoption are welcome at La Ferme, Les Dognons, 87440 Maisonnaissur-Tardoire. Tel: 05 55 70 64 76. Email info@ noahsark.com Phoenix Association Phoenix Association is a registered charity that has existed since 2001 to deal with the sad plight of the ever-increasing number of abused and abandoned animals in France. Phoenix does not have a 'rescue centre' as such. Sadly, many of the animals it saves have only ever known confinement and isolation, so instead, the animals are placed in foster homes all over South-West France while they wait for their loving and permanent forever homes. This gives Phoenix a better chance of assessing the animal in the normality and comfort of a home which leads to the virtually 100% successful adoption rate. Phoenix is not state funded and so relies on fund-raising and donations to cover the very high re-homing and veterinary costs. Phoenix is formed of a committed but fun and positive team of volunteers, and is always on the lookout for more, so if you are interested in adopting an animal, foster caring or becoming a Member, please visit the Contact page of the website at www.phoenixasso.com and www.facebook. com/PhoenixAssociationFrance Church Notices Anglican Holy Communion St. Martin's Anglican Church, built 1096 (FCE, founded 1844, in France) in the hamlet of Moussac-sur-Gartempe, near Montmorillon 86500. Just off the D117 - route from Montmorillon to Bourg Archambault - on the Domaine de Moussac. SERVICES for APRIL, including EASTER: Holy Communion on the 1st Sunday of the month, 2nd April, at 3:00 pm. Good Friday service, 14th April, at 3:00 pm. Holy Communion for Easter on Easter Eve, Saturday night, 15th April, at 8:00 pm (20h00). NO service on Easter Day. Contact: revrobertleone@gmail.com Monthly Worship in English If your journey of life has brought you here to France, why neglect your journey of faith? We look forward to giving a warm welcome to everyone from whatever Christian tradition (or none) on the 3rd SUNDAY of the MONTH at 3pm. Where? At the Temple in Thiat (in the north of the Haute-Vienne) – we are part of the Parish of the Basse-Marche of the Eglise Protestante Unie de France. The Temple is on the main road close

to the Mairie. After worship there is tea/coffee and cake – and a chance to chat. If you want to know more contact Rev Derek Lawson on 05 55 68 53 03 or Rev Stephen Sawyer on 05 49 84 33 86. English-speaking church services Guéret Come as you are... This is an invitation to join us at our CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH. Whether you have a faith or would just like to attend a church service you are welcome at 3pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Eglise Evangélique, 9b Place Bonnyaud, Guéret, 23000. We welcome all who want to join a group of English-speaking Christians for a time of worship and learning together. Children are very welcome. For more details contact Jim & Pat Scott on 05 55 67 54 78 / email scott.james@neuf.fr Christians together in Limousin La Souterraine Area We hold a time of fellowship and Bible study every Tuesday afternoon. Barbara and Cedric look forward to welcoming you. Tel: 05 55 71 09 04 The International Free Church in Creuse The church presently meets at 10, La Chaudronnière, a small hamlet mid-way between Crozant and Eguzon. Sunday worship meetings are held on the first and third Sundays of the month at 10.30am. Fellowship meetings, for mid-week prayer, bible study and discussion are at the same venue every Thursday at 7.30pm. For further information contact Eric Sutton tel 05 55 89 26 62 Fitness & Fun Art Classes Mainsat The class runs every Thurs (term time) at the Salle du temps libre in Mainsat from 14h-16h. We do a little bit of everything: pencil, charcoal, watercolour, pastel, acrylics, oils and sculpture, etc. Contact Susan Neill for more info: Tel 05 55 83 12 18 / Mob 06 87 99 31 37 / Email thomassusan.neill@hotmail.com La chance de danser NEW!! Starting in September dance classes for adults in La Souterraine. Tue Bums & Tums - Stretch & Tone 10:00-11:00. Salle des fêtes Saint-Léger-Magnazeix; Tue Tap from 19:00-20:00. Salle des fêtes La Souterraine; Wed Beginners ballet from 10:30-11:30. Salle de danse La Souterraine. €5 per class. For more info contact Jan Pitwell on 09 66 96 44 85 or at lachancededanser23@gmail.com. Photo Club La Meteorite (87) Rochechouart All welcome, all levels; we meet fortnightly at 3-5pm on Sundays. Field trips, friendly critique, conversation and competitions (to contact and more details go to photoclubmeteorite.org). Chabanais Bowls Club With the arrival of winter and outside exercise becoming more difficult, why not join the many others who exercise indoors twice a week and at the same time enjoy an enjoyable game of short mat bowls? We even have time to stop for a cup of tea and a biscuit. Chabanais Bowls Club meets on Tuesday mornings, 10 am – 1 pm, and Thursday afternoon, 2 pm – 5 pm, at the Salle des Fêtes in the centre of Chabanais. And for those of you that enjoy your Summer boules, we offer indoor boules ‘boccia’ played with leather bowls with players either standing or sitting. Boccia is therefore also suitable for those with limited mobility. For further information ring Brian on 05 45 29 05 73 or simply turn up, we have all the equipment you will need. Drawing and painting classes At Saint-Junien with the CAPCC (art club). All levels welcome, every Monday and Thursday, English and French spoken, friendly atmosphere, materials provided by the club. 45€ / half-term. Contact: lindsaycox@club-internet.fr for brochure with full details. Keepfit (Bonjour La Forme) Held at Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs in the Salle Polyvalente: Mon evening at 19.45-20.45 for cardiac and muscle exercises; Thurs afternoon at 15.00-16.00 for gentle exersises. All are welcome to join us. Contact Jeanette 09 62 58 49 03 (Eng) or Catherine 05 55 66 67 30 (Fr) for more info.

Tai Chi, Pakua & Qigong Tai Chi, Pakua & Qigong classes organised by the ACAMIES (association culturelle d'arts martiaux internes et d'exercices de santé). Wed: Jarnages, 18h30-20h, Salle Polyvalente. Thu: Bétête, 19h-20h30, Domaine de Tournessac. Individual classes, courses, massage & treatments also available. Contact: 06 48 00 02 07 http://acamies.e-monsite.com Keep Fit Amazing abs, breathtaking buttocks! Come and join our group at the CAPE in Pontarion. We are all ages, all sizes, men & women, but are serious about keeping fit. Our “monitrice” is English and will happily provide bilingual instructions. We meet every Thursday at 8p.m. in Pontarion Town Hall, for a one-hour workout. Come for a free trial, or call 05 55 64 98 87 or 06 32 42 95 68 for more details. Indoor Bowling at Oradour-sur-Vayres If you already play or have never tried indoor bowling then come along to a meeting. It's great fun and easy to play. If you have never played it before we will show you how. We meet every Monday evening starting at 18.30 hrs at La Chapelle, avenue des Chapelles, 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres. Come and try it - it's free. If you require further information or directions to our venue please contact me - Email: OradourBowling@gmx.com or telephone: 05 55 08 41 75 Zumba! Regular zumba classes across depts 36, 18 & northern 23. For more info tel 06 58 37 17 04 email evezumba36@gmail.com and for details of classes visit www.zumbazumba.fr Indoor Short-mat Bowling at Cussac 87150.... and now Outdoor too! As the premier bowls club in the Haute-Vienne, we are going from strength to strength with members seeking us out and travelling great distances to continue their love of bowls or simply to 'try us out'. Our reputation as a "very friendly and welcoming club" goes before us. If you've never tried the game, just come along and take a look; there is far more to it than first appears! We are a formally registered association within the French system and benefit from assistance from our local commune by use of a wonderful indoor venue. AND NOW...the use of a synthetic outdoor court where Flat-green, Crown and Short-mat can be played. Just imagine the summer evenings with a drink in your hand, watching fellow bowlers enjoying the quiet of village, interrupted only by the 'click' or 'tunk' of bowl against bowl! Our regular sessions indoors are Wednesday evening at 8pm and Thursday Mornings at 10am. Outdoor sessions will be arranged as the spring arrives so keep in touch. Serious bowlers and beginners are welcome - club bowls are available for use. For further information contact cussacbowlsclub@gmail.com or telephone 05 55 78 66 45. Association Equilibre, le mouvement du corps Yoga for all levels: Tue 18:30 Aubusson, Pied au plancher (Espace Philips); Wed 18:30 Vallière, salle polyvalante. Pregnancy/Post Natal: Tue 17:00 Aubusson, Pied au Plancher (Espace Philips) For further information tel 06 83 24 62 72 or visit www.spaequilibre.yolasite.com Chinese Gym & Karate Mondays & Thursdays at the DOJO, Allée JeanMarie Couturier, Aubusson. Chinese gym 17h-18h15 & 18h15-19h30 and karate 19h3021h. For more info tel 06 08 92 30 53 Tai Chi at Boussac and La Châtre Tai Chi classes in Boussac (Tue 18.15 - 19.45) and La Châtre (Thu 18.15 - 19.45). The first two lessons are free, the subscriptions are 36 euros per month and members can go to both venues

having paid this fee. The style is that of Yang. All ages and abilities welcome, but folk must bear in mind that they will be on their feet, doing the equivalent of what one might classify as light exercise, for about an hour and a half. For more information contact 05 55 65 08 20. Gym Bien-être Would you like to be more supple? Come to our gym class on Thursday mornings from 10.30am to 11.30am, where we do gentle exercises to help all our muscles and joints. The classes are held in Rochechouart in the Capitole building, upstairs. Our group is part of a National Federation of Gymnastics. For information contact Pauline at pauline.maskell@sfr.fr Learn to Meditate Learn to meditate and meet other like-minded people. Simple mindfulness technique. Dechen Choling, Le Mas Marvent, St-Yrieix-sous-Aixe, 87700. Also, ongoing regular group meetings and events. Contact tel Christina 05 55 03 82 01 www.dechencholing.org Gardening

NEW Gardening Club, based around Aubusson We are looking to set up a new gardening club, with monthly meetings, in the Aubusson area. We hope to share ideas, swap plants and seeds and help and encourage each other and are happy to welcome experts and beginners alike. To register interest please email Lynn at Lynnmaryh@aol.com Les petits jardiniers du Limousin Getting out in the garden is one of life's pleasures for many people and there's a lot of satisfaction in seeing seeds and plants thrive and grow under your care. Our Association has a different, garden related topic each month and you are very welcome to come and join us in learning more about growing plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables and trees in this region. We also have visits to other gardens and an Annual Show in September. We meet on the third Thursday of each month (excl Feb) in the Mairie at St-Amand-le-Petit (between Eymoutiers and Peyrat-le-Château). Meetings start at 2.30 pm and visit timings will be advised. For more information contact Carolyn or Antonia at pjlimousin@gmail.com http://jardiniers-du-limousin.webs.com Agenda for 2017: 20 Apr Good and Bad. Friends and foes of the garden; 18 May Cuttings workshop; 15 June Visit to Les jardins de Mas Maury; 20 Jul Gardening to save the planet; 17 Aug Summer lunch; 3 Sep (Sunday) 5th Fruit, Flower and Vegetable Annual Show; 19 Oct AGM followed by House Plants; 16 Nov DIY Christmas decorations; 14 Dec (2nd Thur) Gardeners' Question Time and Christmas Party Club Liseron – Gardening Club Meets on the 2nd Mon evening of the month at 19.30 at the Salle des Fêtes in Massignac. We're a mixed bunch of English & French, who are united by a passion for gardens and gardening, sharing plants, seeds and information. This year the President is Véronique Granet and the Vice President is Michelle Pierce. For further information contact Michelle on 05 45 89 36 54 / unjardinenfrance@gmail.com Aux Plantes, etc. We are an association of independent, ethicallyminded and passionate plant producers. Our aim is to encourage consumers to know more about the plants they buy, how they were

produced and their needs, thereby avoiding the disappointments that so often come with mass produced plants. It’s not just about us selling you plants - we want them to thrive and do well for you! Current members include plantspeople specialising in unusual shrubs & trees, butterfly plants, heritage vegetables and flowers, irises, perennials and drought-tolerant plants. For more info contact Michelle Pierce 05 45 89 36 54 or visit: www.auxplantesetc.jimdo.com Les Jardins de Sirius Based in Pressignac, Charente, we are a small association of people who are keen on gardening. As well as finding plants an endless source of interest, we believe that the simple fact of gardening has numerous positive benefits for health, stress, social interaction - in other words, our daily lives - and we’d like to encourage this aspect. We run flower workshops on the first Saturday afternoon of the month. If you’d like to get involved, have more info on the association or become a member, please contact Michelle Pierce on 05 45 89 36 54 or at unjardinenfrance@gmail.com Integration Association Rencontres Franco-Britanniques The Association Rencontres FrancoBritanniques, based in Bourganeuf, was created in January 2012 and aims to help British people, resident in the Communautés de Communes surrounding Bourganeuf, to become integrated in their communes and local life. We organize a range of cultural and social activities for our members. The fortnightly conversation groups are an important part of our association. At these meetings British members can improve their spoken French, and our French colleagues may improve their English. We would very much like to welcome new people, both French and English, into the association. Our meetings and events are fun and take place in a happy and friendly atmosphere. We currently have 90 members. The annual subscription for membership is €12 per person. For further information on the association's activities contact: Christine Gee 05 55 64 22 25 - email: geeinfrance@gmail.com - www. francobrit.com Bessines-Accueil Bessines-Accueil is a group based in Bessinessur-Gartempe (87250) which seeks to welcome new arrivals both to the town and to the surrounding region and to assist them with integration in the community. The group is comprised both of French and English members and meets weekly, generally on Thursday afternoons, in Bessines-surGartempe, when various activities take place, all aimed at promoting a friendly and welcoming ambiance. Through these activities, which include visits, talks, entertainment and much more, the group aims to discover and promote an appreciation of the life, the history and the heritage of the area and to help new arrivals settle. For more details or to join please contact the President, Bernadette Ruffenach, on 05 55 76 11 19. Les Franglais de Banize (23120) French and English people meet every Wednesday at 2-3 pm in the mairie in Banize to share English and French language and lots of laughter. We all learn from each other, in both languages and about aspects of both cultures. In general the English try to speak in French and vice versa. As far as possible! The meetings have been going on for seven

German women in France found a small animal sanctuary Saba’s ears are flopping in the wind as she runs across the meadow. She hasn’t always been this happy, nor this mobile. Two years ago, when Saba came to live at our sanctuary, it was doubtful she would live at all. Her mammary cancer could not have been adequately treated at her place of origin. We are five German women who came to Moissannes in France to care for ageing, sick and disabled animals which otherwise would have been killed or left to die agonising deaths. With the kind support of local vets, we provide these rescued dogs and cats with a loving home and all the care they need during their twilight weeks, months or even years. In co-operation with Animal Eden, a German animal welfare organisation, we are dedicated to saving the lives of particularly vulnerable animals that would be classed as hopeless cases in their homelands. Nothing gives us greater joy than to watch these “hopeless cases” prosper and recover their happy

spirits, even in the face of incurable sickness, thanks to our nurturing care and the comforting presence of other animals.

Our registered organisation, Association Protectrice des Animaux “Les Doux Museaux”, operates on extraordinary personal commitment and is dependent on the generosity of compassionate donors. Please visit our website for more information and details about our work (animal-protection-la-tuilerie.jimdo.com). Anyone who would like to support our sanctuary can do so via Paypal. No matter how little or how

much you are able to give, we promise to use every cent for the benefit of the animals.

We also welcome any helping hand with the numerous outdoor chores on the sanctuary premises: lawn-mowing, shrub-trimming, fence repairs - you name it, we need it. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch! Tel: 07 81 31 45 47

COMMUNITY ♦ 25

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu years now but new arrivals are always welcome. For more information please contact Anne Chadwick at lesfranglaisdebanize@orange.fr or tel 05 55 67 53 60. Connect87 CONNECT is a group for English speakers of any nationality in the area of St-Yrieix-la-Perche. Our Objective is to help people make friends and exchange information. We hold fun events and a Monthly Coffee Morning on the First Friday of every month at Espace Ferraud, rue du Docteur Lemoyne, St-Yrieix-la-Perche. We are a non profit making group and we are run by volunteers, there are no membership fees. For Further information visit our website www.connect87.info or contact Nikki Evans at nikkifleurie@gmail.com or on 05 53 55 09 83. French Conversation Group at Les Billanges (87340) We are a small group who meet fortnightly for an hour and a half on Tuesday evenings during term time in Les Billanges, 87340, close to the Creuse/ Haute-Vienne border. We are accompanied by a retired French schoolteacher and a current French teacher of English. Discussion is informal, loosely based on everyday topics, including some grammar plus general discussion. We need a few more people to help keep it vibrant and to cater for inevitable absences. The only cost is yearly membership of the local Association, about €20, which brings with it other social opportunities. To find out more please contact Peter Metcalfe at petergmet@gmail.com Familles Rurales in Peyrat-le-Château Association Familles Rurales now offer assistance in English and Dutch to all non-French speaking people (British, Dutch, German, etc.) concerning all kinds of administrative steps. The service is available in Peyrat-le-Château and surrounding communes. We will try to provide information and help you find your way in social and administrative matters. We will also do our best to help you with practical matters such as language problems, payment of bills, hiring workmen, etc. Find Heleen Tichler-Botermans at the AFR office in Peyrat-le-Château on Mondays from 9 am to 12 pm and Wednesdays from 9 am to 1 pm. You are welcome to drop in or make an appointment. www.famillesrurales.org/peyrat-le-chateau E-mail: familles-rurales.infopeyrat@orange.fr Telephone: 06 41 20 06 83 Office address: 19 avenue de la Tour, 87470 Peyrat-leChâteau Familles Rurales 2 in St-Yrieix-la-Perche Weekly courses in French for foreigners (mainly English and Dutch) living in the area. Held at five different levels, all with the same native French teacher, so it is easy to move from one class to another if you feel out of place. Level 1 (beginners) - Mon 10h30-12h; Level 2 - Thur 10h30-12h; Level 3 - Tue 10h30-12h; Level 4 - Sat 10h-12h; Level 5 (top) - Weds 14h30-16h30. All courses are held in Familles Rurales' premises at 1 rue de la Piscine (former swimming pool), 87500 StYrieix-la-Perche. For more info tel 05 55 09 30 86, or Mark GRIEVES (English-speaking president) tel 06 76 64 89 94 will be pleased to answer any questions you may have. Aubusson’s Network - International Apero Reseau We have changed our name to “Aubusson’s Network” and are now meeting at the cafe “ Les Balladins” opposite Aubusson’s Gare Routière car park. We continue to meet between 11.30 am and 1pm every Saturday. You can contact us by phone, Catherine on 06 86 17 80 88 or email jan.senior@yahoo.co.uk We continue to meet to exchange views, make new friends, help and advise one another and help integrate newcomers. We are a friendly group of French and English who enjoy conversation in both languages. Learning Together – Apprenons Ensemble We are a friendly club based in Rochechouart and our aim is to promote good relations amongst the local French-speaking and English-speaking community. We offer courses of tuition in English and French as well as organising social and cultural events including visits to places of interest. For further information please visit our website www.learningtogether.moonfruit.com, email us at learningtogether87@gmail.com or telephone our President Alan Bretman on 05 55 49 08 75. We look forward to hearing from you. The Melting Pot We are a group of about 50 people who meet regularly to discuss and propose different ideas and activities with the aim of integrating more fully with the French community. Our meetings are held at the Ancienne Ecole in Darnac every Wednesday morning from 10h-12h, except on the first Wednesday of the month when we meet at

19h30. Our meetings are varied and include curry evenings, quizzes, plant swops, table tennis, pétanque tournaments, BBQs and more. Newcomers are very welcome. For more info visit: www.meltingpot-limousin.com CLE – (Charente Limousine Exchange) CLE is a not-for-profit organisation whose members form a valuable resource for the exchange of news, views, ideas and information. We lobby and work with key organisations to help protect our members' best interests, particularly when Government or other proposals threaten to impact the well-being of expatriate citizens. We organise a range of events, workshops and seminars throughout the year, plus social activities including coach trips, activity days and charity events. Our special interest groups include a Fishing Group, a Pudding Club and Gourmet Club which holds regular lunches at some of the region's better restaurants where we negotiate set menus a cut above the typical 'plat du jour' but still reasonably priced – all activities to help members make new expatriate and French friends. www.cle-france.com Email: contact@cle-france.com Tel: Barry Leech 05 49 87 19 85 Libraries & Books Sale of Second-hand Books, La Croisille-sur-Briance On the 18th of every month, during the monthly market at La Croisille-sur-Briance (87130), there is a sale of second-hand books (both English and French) from 9am to 12 noon, at the former restaurant in La Place, opposite the bar/tabac. All proceeds go towards the local school funds (for La Croisille-sur-Briance and St-Méard RPI). La Souterraine English Library and Information Centre Located in the historic Porte de Puy Charraud, at 10 rue de Portail, La Souterraine, we are a lively, well-stocked English language library with almost 10,000 books and media available to borrow. We have an attractive cafe which serves tea, coffee and a range of homemade cakes. There is also a regularly changing display of works by local artists and an interesting brocante area on the ground floor. The Library offers classes in French for English speakers with a professional teacher and also organises AngloFrench conversation groups in association with the Municipal Library in La Souterraine. There are also a number of thriving special interest groups, such as the Gardening Group, Camera Club, Friendship Group, etc. We also provide support & assistance in bureaucratic and administrative matters for both existing British residents as well as newcomers to the area. Whatever your interests don’t hesitate to pay us a visit and you will be made most welcome. We are open from 09.30 until 12.30, Mon, Thu, Fri & Sat. For more info tel 05 55 89 57 62 during opening hours or visit www.englishlibrary.fr The English Library, Dun-le-Palestel The English Library, which has now been established for over 5 yrs, is situated in the Route des Rateries, beside the Bibliothèque Municipale, Parc Benjamin Bord. The library is a very welcoming meeting place, where you can come and enjoy a cup of tea, or coffee, whilst you browse through our collection of around 7,500 books, DVDs and talking books. Our opening hours are Thursdays, 10h00 – 16h00 and Saturdays 10h00 – 12h30. Also, on the first Tuesday of every month, 10h00 – 12h00, you are invited to join us for our Club Franglais, which welcomes people from all nationalities, to chat in French, English or any language you wish(!) whilst enjoying a cup of tea, and a piece of home-made cake. We host a range of other activities too, including the Café Philo, and Club Scrabble. More information can be found on the Entente Cordiale website at www.ententecordiale-creuse.org or email us at library.ententecordiale@yahoo.com Music “Le Jeudi Meta Blues” Organised by the association Nessgig this takes place every 4th Thursday of the month, from 19h30 to 22h at “La Petite Charrue” pub, Le Bournazeau, ChâteauChervix (87). All music lovers who would like to share and exchange information and stories around blues, folk and rock, in French AND in English, or who might like to jam a little, are welcome. Free admission! For more information email nessgig87@gmail.com or tel 05 55 09 99 34. Open Mic Night If you like music and have ever fancied getting up and having a go, why not come along to our Open Mic Night at “Le Loch Ness” in La Souterraine town centre every Friday around 8.30pm.

L'Orchestre Philharmonique de La Souterraine If you or one of your family are interested in playing in an orchestra and think your standard might be adequate do get in contact with us. We meet weekly on Friday evenings in La Souterraine (apart from the summer holidays) to rehearse. Most of our concerts are around Xmas or May-July. Our members come from all over Limousin so lifts to and fro may be possible if necessary. Contacts: French language Marie-France Martinie 05 55 30 76 23 / English language Alan Kerr 05 55 56 34 52 The Harmonics This is our 6th season of singing as a group. Our music is varied classical, madrigals, spiritual, songs from the shows etc and we sing in French, English, Swahili, Latin - whatever the music demands. Our concerts are in support of a variety of charities including the British Legion, L'Oregon at Civray and Retina and thus non profit making. We meet Wed 14h – 16h in the Salle d'Annexe behind the Mairie in Civray. Interested? We'd love to see you so contact: David Lee tel 05 49 87 53 93 email dave.lee@cegetel.net or Dolly Ait Boualou email sylvia.murray@wanadoo.fr Support

PACHA – a 2-year-old Calico (tortoiseshell and white) girl

Pacha was found on the doorstep and taken in by a kind French girl. This beautiful cat was rail-thin and had obviously been living wild for some time. Worse still, her breathing rate was abnormally fast and she seemed exhausted... something serious was wrong. An X-ray showed that her diaphragm had a large tear in it - probably the result of a car accident - and her abdominal organs had passed through into her thorax and were pushing on her lungs. Phoenix paid for an emergency operation and luckily the vet was able to save her life. However, now she needs a permanent, loving home, because unfortunately she can’t stay where she is longer than 21st March. Despite being of no fixed address for some time, Pacha is very affectionate and loves to follow you around for cuddles! Her operation was a success and she has no health issues. She is fine with other cats, but frightened of dogs. We feel Pacha has already used up enough of her nine lives and truly deserves a happy and secure future! If you feel you can give her this please contact Jenny Brahma on 05 53 89 59 35 or at jennatphoenix@gmail.com Pacha is sterilised and will be chipped and vaccinated on adoption.

www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

Alcoholics Anonymous If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there are now English-speaking meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous at Limoges, Périgueux and the recently opened meeting at Civray. Alcoholics Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership and A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. For details of the meetings or other information contact Roger 05 55 76 22 65 (Limoges), Ewen 05 53 05 76 62 (Périgueux) or Angela 05 49 87 79 09 (Civray). Other meetings in South-West France can be located on our web-site at www.aafrance.net English-speaking council surgery ...for residents of the commune of St-LégerMagnazeix. Every 2nd Weds in the month, an Englishspeaking council surgery with councillors Manuela Stroescu and Patrick Johnson will take place at the Mairie between 11am and 12pm. Elizabeth Finn Care 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. 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 L’Association France Alzheimer Dordogne Charitable organisation offering English-speaking support and guidance to anyone dealing with the day-to-day difficulties affecting those with dementia, their families and their carers and assistance with how to access the best provisions of care. English Helpline (available on Tuesday mornings between 10am and midday): 09 64 21 40 86. For more information email alzheimer.dordogne@ orange.fr or visit www.francealzheimer-dordogne. org Cancer Support France, Charente Plus Free confidential support for English-speaking people touched by cancer in departments 16, 17 & 86. CSF 24 hour helpline: 06 45 35 32 30, Email csfcharenteplus@ gmail.com, Facebook: Cancer Support France Charente Plus Cancer Support Haute-Vienne We offer free and confidential support to English speakers affected by Cancer in the Haute-Vienne (87) and Creuse (23). Our helpline number is 06 04 43 39 87. If you would like more information or would like to become a member or help in any other way, please contact Sue Ware 05 55 00 31 15, helpline@ cshautevienne.org or visit www.cshautevienne.org

Appeal for permanent foster home for Syrrius Syrrius is a lovely 9-year-old Labrador cross and one of the many black dogs that find themselves overlooked at the refuge. He is a very gentle dog and was lucky enough to be placed in a permanent foster home last September, but was, sadly, returned on Boxing Day as his foster family was not ready enough to make such a commitment. He was understandably quite bewildered and sad to find himself back at the refuge, after living in a warm house for months and was very depressed for some time, but has now resigned himself to life at the refuge once more. Syrrius is handsome, very calm, young at heart, absolutely loves his walks and to his credit, despite spending many months at the refuge, is still house trained. He can be a bit possessive over 'things', but this can easily be managed with a bit of common sense. For this reason, a home without small children is preferred but on the plus side, he does get on with most other dogs, especially females, so another doggy companion in the family should not be a problem. Syrrius' chances of adoption are pretty slim, as first of all he is black and secondly, he was recently diagnosed with an under active thyroid gland which means he will be on medication for the rest of his life. His medical condition does not cause him any problems and he can enjoy a normal life like any other dog. However, because of this condition, Syrrius will only be placed in a permanent foster home, where all his medical fees are paid for by the SPA. Taking on a dog like Syrrius is a big commitment and it is important that we find him the right home to ensure that he does not find himself back at the refuge following another failed re-homing, as it is just too heartbreaking for him. This dog has a big heart and a lot of love to give and if you give him a chance, he will repay you a hundredfold and be a loyal and loving companion. As always, if you would like to know more about Syrrius then please contact the SPA de Creuse (Guéret), 21 Le Clocher 23000 Saint-Sulpice-le-Guérétois, tel 05 55 81 99 31 (www.spa-creuse.com) or if you would like to speak to an English-speaking volunteer about Syrrius or indeed any of our other lovely dogs at the refuge then please email Faye at faye.jones23600@gmail.com

An Appeal for Volunteers Le Puy Batard, a non-profit organisation which welcomes the disabled for their holidays at their house in Sainte-Feyre, Creuse, is looking for helpers from 1st to 28th June. Accommodation can be provided if necessary and it is possible to help out for just a part of this period. To find out more about Le Puy Batard visit www.puy-batard.org and if you think you can help please contact Jean-Pierre Déchoz: tel 05 55 81 12 05 or email accueil@puy-batard.org There are no special skills required and it is a great way to meet French people and speak French. Don't worry if your language skills are not perfect, Jean-Pierre speaks excellent English!

26 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

Bar Bistro

Le Bon Appetit 4 rue des Tanneries, 23210 Bénévent-l'Abbaye

EASTER WEEKEND

Sat 15th April (evening) - Couscous - €12pp Easter Sunday 16th April Open for lunch and dinner!

Easter Monday 17th April

Open for lunch and dinner! (menu €15 pp, drinks included, or à la carte)

Our new decked garden is now officially open!

26, Ecurat 23150

Bugle Notice Board

For more details, see our website: bistrot-lebonappetit.com or Facebook page: @BBBonAppetit23

Le Restaurant Ecurat Atelier d'Art du Jardin

2km from Chénérailles & the Château Villemonteix Open Monday to Saturday for: English Breakfast Lunches Salon de Thé Restaurant du Soir Fish, chips & mushy peas €11.50 All by advance reservation please For more information

tel: 05 55 81 31 85 email: ecurat123@hotmail.com

Reservations: 06 80 43 83 51

Très Jolie Fashion Accessories Where to find me:

Mandys-curry-2-go www.mandyscurry2go.com

Dates for April Please note some areas are chilled pre-orders only. All venues are weather permitting. Gouzon, Chilled orders only! (place de l'Eglise) - Wednesday 5th (3.30pm) Boussac, Chilled orders only! (place de l'Hôtel de Ville) - Wednesday 5th (4.30pm) Aubusson, (place Maurice Dayras) - Thursday 6th (6pm) Le Grand-Bourg, (place du marché) - Friday 7th (5.45pm-7.15pm only) Marsac, (Chez Jacques) - Friday 7th (8.15pm) Bourganeuf, (place Martin Nadaud) - Wednesday 12th (5.45pm) Peyrat-le-Château, Chilled orders only! Thursday 13th (12.30pm) Sardent, (Auberge du lac, Masmangeas) - Saturday 15th (5.30pm) CHILLED DELIVERIES, Thursday 20th & Friday 21st - various areas, contact us for details Please check website & facebook for updates.

Tel: 07 70 39 12 23

Email: mandyscurry2go@gmail.com

Wanted

Gardener - We are looking for

a skilled landscape-gardener for a large estate in 87430 Verneuil

Cleaning lady - wanted for a large manor house, must have previously worked in an upscale household. Call 06 27 62 55 73 RESTAURANT

AUX CEPES

Every Wednesday - Piégut Market Please see my facebook page... search 'Tres Jolie Milhaguet' to see what's new. Mail order available, email for more details. Most items now stocked at the 'Coeur et Etoile', St-Mathieu

05 55 78 62 29 / 06 04 08 29 53 tres.jolie1@orange.fr

~~~~~~~~~ For more info on any of the above, contact Sue: email: auxcepes87@gmail.com or Tel: 09 64 00 14 51

Find us at the following markets:

Piégut - Every Wednesday Brantôme - Every Friday Chasseneuil - Sat 22nd April If you cannot wait till then please email us and we can do home delivery. New this year: Vintage Waistcoats If you require any cards contact us either by e-mail or mobile ellinghamroam764@yahoo.com

06 86 89 81 02

Mon Chic Cottage

21 Place Charles de Gaulle, Le Dorat

April Holiday Closures - please consult www.monchiccottage.com for full details Tea Room serving home-made scones / cakes Official Stockist for Chalk PaintTM by Annie Sloan & Little Greene Taking bookings now for our Spring Annie Sloan Chalk PaintTM Workshops. To learn the basis of using Chalk PaintTM & ask questions, join us on a workshop. All materials included. To book contact Jay. Opening hours: Wed-Fri - 10h-16h

05 87 77 95 59

info@monchiccottage.com

WANTED

Part-Time Housekeeper required for new Guest House in 87340 Contact leschenes@mallety.com or call 05 55 56 62 75

La Veytizou

On the main road (D979), Between Limoges & Eymoutiers ~~~~~~~~~ SAT 8TH APR - OPEN MIC NIGHT Come along and enjoy the music! ~~~~~~~~~ SAT 15TH APR - QUIZ NIGHT Just for fun... nothing too daunting! ~~~~~~~~~ SUN 16TH APR - EASTER SUNDAY - BOOK NOW! ~~~~~~~~~ SAT 22ND APR - MUSIC NIGHT

Roussis Maid

Petticoat Lane

This month we will be at the following market: Saturday 1st April – Aigre Tue-Sat: 10am to 6pm

sales@petticoatlaneshop.com http://www.petticoatlaneshop.com/ 5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99

Animal Sanctuary Seeks Volunteers...

Our small, private Animal Sanctuary in Moissannes (87400) needs kind volunteers to help with outdoor chores such as lawn mowing, shrub trimming and light general maintenance. We speak English, French, German and can’t wait to hear from you!

Tel: 07 81 31 45 47

Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Monthly circulation: 14,500 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.

Directeur: Steve Martindale Rédacteur-en-chef: Steve Martindale Siège: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Imprimé par: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Tirage mensuel: 14,500 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.

WHAT’S ON ♦ 27

APRIL 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

WEEKLY MARKETS MONDAY Evaux-les-Bains

TUESDAY

Auzances Bénévant-l’Abbaye Bussière-Poitevine Champagnac-la-Rivière Genouillac Gouzon Laurière Limoges (Le Vigenal) Peyrat-le-Château Rochechouart Royère-de-Vassivière Saint-Sulpice-les-Feuilles

WEDNESDAY

Ahun Bourganeuf Chambon-sur-Voueize Cognac-la-Forêt Clugnat Isle Le Dorat Limoges (pont St Martial) Luchapt (5-7pm) Nantiat Séreilhac

THURSDAY

Boussac Coussac-Bonneval Dun-le-Palestel Guéret Limoges Bastide et Corgnac Magnac-Laval

Oradour-sur-Vayres (except 3rd Thu) Peyrat-le-Château Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs Saint-Victurnien La Souterraine

FRIDAY

Aigurande Aixe-sur-Vienne Ambazac Bessines-sur-Gartempe Bosmie l’Aiguille (16h - 19h30) Bujaleuf Châlus (except 2nd Fri) Châteauponsac Châtelus-Malvaleix Couzeix (16h30 - 19h30) Le Dorat Felletin Limoges (place des Bancs et Beaubreuil) Nexon Pierre-Buffière Rochechouart St-Etienne-de-Fursac Saint-Sulpice-Laurière Verneuil-sur-Vienne(15h18h30)

SATURDAY

Aixe-sur-Vienne Aubusson Bellac Bonnat Bussière-Poitevine

Châteauponsac Condat-sur-Vienne Eymoutiers Feytiat Flavignac Guéret La Châtre La Jonchère-St-Maurice La Souterraine Limoges (place des Bancs et place Marceau) Le Palais-sur-Vienne Mainsat (4th Sat only) Nantiat Peyrat-le-Château Rochechouart Saint-Junien St-Léonard-de-Noblat Saint-Mathieu Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche

SUNDAY

Bessines-sur-Gartempe Blond Crocq (1st and 3rd Sun) Jarnages Panazol Peyrat-le-Château

Saint-Paul St-Sulpice-le-Guéretois (3rd Sun) Saint-Vaury (2nd Sun) Veyrac (2nd Sun)

Got an event for The Bugle? notices@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Fri 31st Mar to Sat 1st Apr LE DORAT Elvis comes to Le Dorat! Multi award-winning, world champion Elvis tribute artist Pete Storm will be playing live at La Petite Fontaine on 31st March and 1st April. Pete has been performing his spectacular and heartfelt tribute to Elvis Presley for over 10 years and has meticulously studied his craft to present one of the best Elvis shows out there. Whether it's the look, the moves or most importantly the voice, Pete has it all! Tickets are 15 euros for either night or 25 euros for both nights and are available from La Petite Fontaine or the Salon de thé, 68 ave de la liberation, Bussière-Poitevine or by email at elvisinledorat@gmail.com Concerts start at 7:30 pm. Fri 31st Mar to Sun 2nd Apr LIMOGES Reading in Limoges Festival This is the month of book fairs, and Limoges is no exception to the rule with the Lire à Limoges (Reading in Limoges) event. It features over 300 authors of general, regional and children's literature as well as comics. Book signings and conferences will punctuate a weekend full of literary discoveries. Esplanade du Champ de Juillet. Free entry. Fri & Sat 9h-19h30; Sun 10h-19h. Sat 1st Apr CHARRON Concert/spectacle Concert-show organised by the association Taskin with

EASY

The Royal Air Forces Association is a membership organisation of serving and former members of the Royal Air Force, their families and dependants and all those supporting the aims of the Association. It is the largest single-service membership organisation in the United Kingdom and has around 65,000 members and over 400 branches in the UK, Europe and overseas. The Association provides help and advice, assistance, comradeship and, where required, welfare and care for the whole of the RAF family. The Royal Air Forces Association Sud-Ouest France Branch was formed over 35 years ago by the Marquis d’Amodio and serving RAF officers who were supplying the Jaguar Force with equipment from Mérignac air base. The Sud-Ouest Branch covers a vast area of SW France from the Loire Valley to the border with Spain and inland to include the Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées. To find out more visit http://goo.gl/ut80T, tel 05 46 95 38 89 or email rafasof@orange.fr. Our main activities are in the Bordeaux area but we are hoping to set up a sub-branch in Limousin. Any interested parties can contact Brian Kemp on 06 01 16 14 56 for more information.

actress Julie Petitrenaud and pianist Mark van Nispen. Programme: The Story of Babar the Elephant, for piano and narrator, Francis Poulenc 5 Esquisses (sketches) for piano, Johan Sibelius Scenes from Childhood, Robert Schumann Salle des fêtes, Charron (23700), 17h. Entry: voluntary contribution Sat 1st Apr SAINT-MARTIN-DE-JUSSAC Concert: Philomèle Concert at the Eglise de Saint-Martin-de-Jussac at 20h30. The vocal ensemble Philomèle (directed by Bruno Lenoir and accompanied by Brigitte Bancaud) will receive the choir "Les choeurs de la Loue" (directed by Chris Norris). Entry: €5; free for Under 12s Sat 1st Apr VIDEIX Quiz Night Cancer Support Haute-Vienne is holding a fund-raising Quiz Night on Saturday 1st April from 7 pm at the Salle des Fêtes at the Mairie, Videix (87600). Teams of 4 people at 10 euros each including Ploughman's supper. Please email to book: quiznightcshv@gmail.com Sun 9th Apr MAGNAC-LAVAL 7ème Fête des Plantes Organised by Les Amis des Fleurs et des Jardins. Takes

MEDIUM

HARD

place in the grounds of the Château at the Agricultural College. Buy from 40 plant and garden related stands. 10h-18h. Free entry. Contact: fleursmagnaclaval@gmail.com Sun 16th Apr MAISONNISSES 22ème Foire aux Fromages Annual cheese fair. 8h30-13h. Sat 29th Apr CAMPSEGRET - DORDOGNE Phoenix Book Fair The Spring Phoenix Book Fair will be held on Saturday 29th April, in Campsegret (24140), just north of Bergerac. Over 17,000 English and French books and thousands of DVDs/CDs, all in category or in alphabetical order, will be for sale from one euro and up! Doors open at 9:30 am (9 am for people with limited mobility) and close at 3 pm. The famous home-made catering will be on offer, with lots of scrumptious goodies. If that's not enough, kids' books and toys, puzzles and Bric-a-Brac bargains will be there too! Please bring your donations of books, home-made cakes, unwanted gifts and pet paraphernalia on the day! All the proceeds will go to the Phoenix Association... caring for and rehoming animals in need (http://phoenixasso.com). Sun 14th May SAINT-LÉGER-BRIDEREIX 8ème Fête de la nature et du jardin Organised each spring by garden and nature enthusiasts this year's Les Printanières Garden and Nature Festival will include: sale of plants, seeds, vegetables, herbs; troc jardin; land art; artisanal stands (sculptor, wood turner, basket maker); produce market (bio bread, cheese, apple juice, medicinal plants, chocolate, wine); exhibitions; workshops; demonstrations; children's area... Last year welcomed 90 exhibitors and 4,000 visitors! All day. Free entry. This year's theme is "Permaculture - it's just common sense". For more information visit: http://lesprintanieres.wordpress.com/

28 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ APRIL 2017

The Bugle Film Club Thursday 13th April

What? The Girl on the Train - in English Where? Cinéma Sénéchal, 1 rue du Sénéchal, 23000 Guéret When? 18h00, Thursday 13th April (2nd Thursday of every month) How much? JUST €4

(mention The Bugle when purchasing your ticket) For details of the Cinéma Sénéchal, visit www.cinema-senechal.com Details of each month's screening will be included in The Bugle, but to receive emails about upcoming Film Club nights, please send an email to editor@thebugle.eu quoting “Film Club” in the subject line, and we will add you to our contact list. (We promise not to send you any spam!!)