The Bugle Limousin - August 2021 by The Bugle

France's only female panda pregnant again Staff at the Beauval Zoo have been celebrating following the news that their resident female is >> Page 7 due to give birth this month.

Expat residency permit extension

Expats living in France before this year now have a further three months to apply for a Brexit residency >> Page 10 permit

November 2016 - Issue #85

Limousin

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Health pass for cafés, bars & restaurants

>> continued on page 5

Macron target of phone spying plot - pg 7

Fallout over Algerian nuclear tests - pg 8

the TousAntiCovid app on your phone, or as a printed document. The pass is available to anyone who is fully vaccinated, which is one week after your second dose of an EU-approved vaccine (or two weeks in the case of the single dose Janssen vaccine). A temporary pass can also be obtained by providing a negative PCR test less than 48 hours old, or medical proof, issued in the last seven days, that you have had Covid-19 in the past six months and recovered. It had long been known that the pass would be required to attend large gatherings in sports stadia or music concerts, etc.,

Rainbow makeover for Limoges crossings - pg 3

France and Russia at war in battle of the bubbly - pg 6

In the face of a rampant Delta variant, the government has declared that health passes will now be required to enter to bars, cafés and restaurants. n 23rd July, following a debate in parliament that went on until 6 o'clock in the morning, the French Senate voted to extend the “health pass” to restaurants and bars and to make vaccination mandatory for 70 healthcare professions. The surprise move had been announced earlier in the month in a televised address by President Macron as cases of Covid-19 began to rise following the lifting of most restrictions and the arrival of the far more contagious Delta variant. The health pass takes the form of a QR code that is either stored in

INSIDE > > >

French authorities fine Google €500m - pg 9

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6 pages packed with local, English-speaking businesses where you can find anything from a Handyman to a Hairdresser. See pg 14-19. Also online: www.thebugle.eu/directory.php

2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

have always been a big sport fan, and not just the mainstream stuff. Back in the days of four-channel television, Trans World Sport on a Saturday morning was compulsory viewing and if any sport was on, I would circle it in the listings and make sure I didn't miss it. If it was competitive, I would watch it. I spent many a happy hour staring at, and gradually learning, the rules to Aussie rules football, kabaddi and American football, all generally at unsociable hours. I was lucky, therefore, that the advent of my teenage years coincided with the arrival of satellite TV and, more importantly, Sky Sports. As a huge football and cricket fan, my Dad was an early adopter and while I loved watching the big events, I spent far too much of my childhood watching what my cousin and I would term “minority sports”. We didn't care how obscure, so long as it was competitive, and working out what the heck was going on was half the fun. In the

early days of Sky Sports, there was a lot of dead air to fill and you could regularly catch such gems as swamp buggy racing, tractor pulling or lumberjack competitions. Which is perhaps why I love the Olympics so much. I was reminded of this today by a Tweet from one of my favourite political commentators, Ian Dunt. “I find it quite frustrating when football, rugby, tennis, etc. are shown at the Olympics. We see that stuff all the time. I want the weird shit!” I found myself completely agreeing with this sentiment, if not the Anglo Saxon way with which he often delivers his opinions. His subsequent Tweet would read: “Hang on, they've got the fu**ing dancing horses on.” As I write this, I suspect a great many of us would express mild shock that anyone wouldn't know the scoring rules of taekwondo. I was filled with dread as the Games kicked off that the lack of crowds would result in the whole thing feeling like a bit of a damp squib, but I must admit that so far I haven't really noticed. I can only assume that over the

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last few years, broadcasters have become very adept at piping in crowd noise. The atmosphere is genuinely exciting in most cases and with or without crowds the drama of a tight finish or a lastminute score is infectious. I also love the fact that the Olympics, while not exactly open to “everyone”, does still allow for just getting there to be a triumph in and of itself. It is the pinnacle of all but the most commercial of sports and to represent your country at an Olympics must give you a pride I could not even begin to imagine. And you never know. Who can forget the Australian speed skater Stephen Bradbury winning gold in the 1,000 metre event at the 2002 Winter Olympics. After scraping through his quarter final following the disqualification of another racer, he decided his tactics would be to hang back, stay out of trouble and profit from the mistakes of others. As the oldest skater in the race and at his fourth Olympics, he recognised he could not match his far younger rivals for raw speed. In his semi-final race, he was in last place, well off the pace when the South Korean defending champion and two other competitors all crashed. He took first place and advanced to the final. In the final, Bradbury was again well off the pace when all four of his competitors crashed out at the final corner while jostling for the gold medal. This allowed Bradbury, who was

around 15 metres behind, to avoid the pile-up and take the victory, becoming the first person from the southern hemisphere country to ever win a Winter Olympic gold. He would later say: “Obviously I wasn't the fastest skater. I don't think I'll take the medal for the minute-and-a-half of the race I actually won. I'll take it for the last decade of the hard slog I put in.” And that is the point. He happened to win that day though a combination of luck and judgement, but he had worked hard and struggled for over a decade just to be there, even breaking his neck in two places during a 2000 training accident but never giving up. Those are the moments that make an Olympics. We will all forget in a few short weeks that

a Gam-jeom is a penalty point in taekwondo and we will almost certainly need to be reminded next time around of the difference between a frontside and a backside grind in skateboarding. But for a few short weeks, it is nice just to wallow in the sheer joy that sporting triumph can bring, however minority the sport and whether that's gold, silver or simply getting there. Until next month... Steve Martindale, Editor www.thebugle.eu facebook.com/The BugleFrance

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FRENCH NEWS ♦ 3

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Private mobile radar cars in service in Haute-Vienne

or several years now, unmarked police cars equipped with speed cameras have been patrolling the roads of France, dishing out fines to those who only slow down for fixed radars or when oncoming motorists warn them of an upcoming patrol. As technology has advanced, the practice of mobile speed cameras looks set to become more entrenched on the roads, and the Haute-Vienne is no exception. After rumours began circulating earlier this year that contracts had been sold locally to operate a fleet of privately run mobile speed camera vehicles, the prefecture of the Haute-Vienne confirmed that trials were indeed ongoing, but that they were simply part of a feasibility study and that no fines were being handed out. “These vehicles are not operational,” they insisted at the time. “In the Haute-Vienne, the State has taken steps to see whether, theoretically, a solution can be found... we are not currently testing on motorists.” After coming under increasing pressure to be more transparent, the department has now confirmed that the private cars will be fully operational from 1st August, although not all details are known. Earlier rumours had suggested that the contract allowed for four vehicles to operate, but while it is known that at least one will be in service from August, officials have not yet confirmed exactly how many will soon be criss-crossing the department's road network. GSR, a subsidiary of the GEOS security company is believed to have paid €16.5 million for the licence to operate in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.

Authorities have maintained from the start that these private contracts are simply aimed at improving road safety and reducing the number of deaths. “The objective of these mobile radars is to save lives,” insisted Sébastien Brach, an official at the prefecture. “Excessive or inappropriate speed is a factor in almost all of our serious road accidents.” At the same time, however, detractors argue that the vehicles are simply cash cows. Unlike those operated by the Gendarmerie, the private vehicles, which are unmarked and identical to standard saloon cars, will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Thanks to front and rear cameras, the cars will be able to sanction drivers travelling in either direction, unless there is a central reservation. Officials have claimed that the private cars will only monitor pre-defined stretches of the road network with higher accident rates. Opponents fear that in reality, once the private operators have a licence, nothing can stop them targeting wide, straight, fast and relatively safe sections of the road network where they are more likely to silently flash speeding drivers... and make a tidy profit! ■

Limoges crossings given rainbow makeover

uthorities in Limoges have painted a number of pedestrian crossings at key junctions in the city in the rainbow colours of the LGBTQ+ community. The five crossings, situated close to the mairie and prefecture buildings, were unveiled by the city's prefect and mayor as part of a day of events organised to raise awareness of LGBTphobia. The project was undertaken in association with Lim'Bow, a local group of like-minded organisations fighting to protect the rights of the LGBTQ+ community in the Limousin. “We have already organised a number of events since we formed in 2011,” explained the group's coordinator Sylvain Rouilhac. “This is something that will make a real impression because it is not ephemeral, it is permanent and will remain in the long term.”

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“It is very moving for me to see these colours,” said a local student who says he just recently discovered his sexuality. “I never thought I would see these colours in Limoges. Sometimes in bigger cities like Paris, it is easier to express yourself, but here it can be more complicated. I hope that people will accept our message of kindness and inclusion. With these symbols in our city, we are saying don't ignore us, we are part of society.” “We are not looking to preach, we are just asking for respect,” said another participant in the day of celebrations. “We will be working to further encourage discussions around better protecting victims of LGBTphobia,” concluded Sylvain Rouilhac. “It's a long journey, but with this symbol on the pedestrian crossings, it's a concrete gesture towards the entire community.” ■

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4 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

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Marquis de Sade scroll bought by France

he original scroll of the Marquis de Sade’s infamous erotic tale “The 120 Days of Sodom” has been acquired by the French State following a campaign to keep it in the country. The controversial story was written by the aristocrat in 1785 while he was in prison in the Bastille and tells the tale of four middle-aged libertines who abduct, torture and murder teenage victims in a search for ultimate sexual gratification. So graphic are the depictions of sexual violence and extreme cruelty, the book has been banned numerous times over the years and de Sade's name would become the origin of the term “sadism”. The UK banned the book in 1950, but in recent years the work has been reclassified as an important element of literary history; in 2016 an English translation of it became a Penguin Classic. The 12-metre long scroll is made up of 33 individual pages glued end-to-end and is covered in writing so small that it is barely legible. De Sade hid the scroll in the walls of his cell,

but the story was never finished. Perhaps knowing that he might not be able to complete the book, the latter chapters are written in draft form with numerous notes from the author to himself. De Sade was moved from the Bastille to an insane asylum 10 days before it was stormed by revolutionaries, and the author assumed that his work had been destroyed in the ensuing violence. Describing the story as “the most impure tale that has ever been told since the world began”, de Sade later wrote that he “wept tears of blood” in his grief at losing the scroll. In fact, it had been taken two days before the Bastille was stormed by Arnoux de SaintMaximin, about whom very little is known, but de Sade would never see it again. The story was eventually published for the first time in 1904 by a German psychiatrist who used a pseudonym to avoid recriminations. The work would then be bought by a descendant of de Sade's, before it was stolen from her and sold to a Swiss collector, sparking a legal battle lasting decades.

It was eventually acquired by Gérard Lhéritier for €7 million and placed in his Museum of Letters and Manuscripts in Paris. When Lhéritier was found to be operating a Ponzi scheme and put under investigation, the manuscripts in his museum were seized by the French State and scheduled to be put up for private auction.

In December 2017, days before the sale, the French government declared the scroll a National Treasure. This gave the government 30 months to raise the money to keep it in the country, which was achieved following a donation by Emmanuel Boussard, a former investment banker and co-founder of the Boussard & Gavaudan investment fund.

“It has profoundly influenced many authors”, the French Ministry of Culture said after securing the manuscript and confirming it will be kept in the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal in Paris. “Boussard wanted to demonstrate his special attachment to the Bibliothèque de l'Arsenal, where his grandfather served as curator between 1943 and 1964.” ■

FRENCH NEWS ♦ 5

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Health pass needed for bars and restaurants >> continued from pg 1 but the move to include bars, cafés and restaurants came as a surprise and has led to tens of thousands taking to the streets in protest. Many other countries have plans to introduce similar measures, however, including the UK which is looking at the potential of “vaccine passports” for large gatherings and hospitality. Macron announced that the move was not aimed at “making vaccination immediately obligatory for everyone, but at pushing a maximum of you to go and get vaccinated”. Despite the vocal protests of some, the public does appear to largely back the safety measures. According to one poll, 76% of the French people back mandatory vaccination for health workers and travellers, while 58% support it for cafés, restaurants and other public places. Overall polls show more than 65% of the public support the range of measures contained in the bill. “The choice is between another lockdown or the health pass - this is not punishment, nor blackmail,” said the health minister, Olivier Véran. In response to claims that the move

is an affront to civil liberties, the president summed up the situation by saying: “We cannot make those who have the civic sense to get vaccinated bear the burden of inconvenience.” Under the new rules, from 21st July anyone visiting a theatre, cinema, sports venue or festival with an audience of more than 50 people must provide a valid health pass. The same requirement will be extended to bars, cafés, restaurants, shopping centres (though not supermarkets), hospitals, long-distance trains, coaches and planes from 1st August for all adults, and for children aged between 12 and 17 from 1st September. While the stricter rules are aimed at slowing down the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant, authorities have not shied away from the fact that they are also aimed at incentivising vaccination. Despite a fast start, vaccination rates in the UK have plummeted in recent weeks and the majority of Europe has now either overtaken the UK or is catching up fast. France is hoping to avoid a similar slowdown. There will always be a stubborn minority who refuse to get vaccinated,

but once you have protected the willing, the question of how to reach the hesitant remainder is one that all countries will soon be facing. France appears to have chosen the carrot and stick approach... and it would seem to be working very well. Tell the French they can not holiday abroad without a vaccine and not much changes. Tell them they can't go to a café and millions could not book their jabs fast enough! Following Macron's announcement, as many as 20,000 people per minute were booking appointments via the Doctolib website and within 72 hours, more then three million had secured a slot for a jab. Towards the back end of July, doses were being administered at a rate of almost 5 million per week. In a further use of the stick rather than the carrot, PCR tests taken without a prescription - previously free - will cost €49 each from September, a move aimed at deterring people from simply taking a PCR test every time they want to go out, rather than getting vaccinated. In passing the new laws, the upper house - the Senate - did make a

large number of amendments to the text sent to it from the lower house, the National Assembly, some of which will not be popular with the government, such as exemptions for terraces and shopping centres. When officially approved again by both houses, Prime Minister Jean Castex plans to send the bill to the Constitutional Council, the highest constitutional authority in the country, which ensures that constitutional principles and rules are upheld. This additional step, which is not required under law, is being taken in order to avoid accusations of any infringements of civil liberties, but it is not expected to hit any major hurdles in this regard. “The constitutional imperative of preserving public health has already necessitated the greatest assault on individual liberties since the Second World War: lockdown,” noted one constitutional scholar. “As far as the law is concerned, there is no constitutional obstacle. The public interest is at stake and that justifies these arbitrations between safety and liberty.” ■

Robot pizza restaurant Why so many flies?

Room 76 / Getty Images

he advent of summer often coincides with an increase in the number of flies, but at the start of July, many people were reporting larger numbers of the nuisance than usual. One area that suffered a particularly bad invasion was the Lot-et-Garonne department where residents reported regularly catching 100 insects on a fly strip in a matter of

PazziPizza (Instagram)

here is a new chef on the scene in Paris causing quite a stir. The kitchens of Pazzi pizzeria in the capital, which began serving customers recently, is staffed entirely by robots. Customers place their order electronically and watch as the robot arms prepare, garnish, cook, slice and box the fresh pizzas before their eyes. The Pazzi robot is the culmination of eight years' work to painstakingly perfect the process and “teach” the robots how to handle the delicate dough. “Because the dough is alive, you don't work with frozen dough. The machine must constantly adapt to the evolution of the dough,” explained three times world pizza champion Thierry Graffagnino, a consultant at the restaurant. “So we had to give the robot the means to make these corrections on its own... some pizza makers can't even manage that themselves.” “It is a very fast pro-

cess, with perfect quality control because of the consistency of the robotics,” explained co-inventor Sébastien Roverso. “It's a really cool and relaxed environment. The idea is to spend a few pleasant minutes watching the robot while you wait for your pizza to be

made.” Disappointingly for some, the robotics do not extend to spinning the pizza bases flamboyantly like the classic pizzaiolos of Naples, although that has not stopped locals flocking to the restaurant to check out the chefs in action. ■

minutes. According to experts, one of the main reasons for this – like so many phenomena in recent years – is the weather and a large increase in flies can indicate that bad weather is on the way. “If you find you have lots of flies at home, it’s a sign of storms to come,” explained Michel Collin, from the insect specialists le bureau d'études en entomologie. “With the stifling heat of the last few days before a stormy period, fly maggots develop more quickly and therefore, the proliferation of the insect is higher.” Fortunately, despite being a pain in the proverbial, flies are not dangerous and the phenomenon will usually abate as the insects are not able to reproduce effectively during the bad weather that follows. The expert did have a word of warning, however, highlighting a new type of “bloodsucking” fly that has been populating parts of the country. “Flies pose no danger, however it is important to identify which type of fly you have. Occasionally, for example, you get horseflies, which can give a nasty bite, or bloodsucking flies which will cause irritation.” The Aube and Marne departments had an infestation of these vampire flies earlier this summer, leaving their victims with bites that, while they did not swell up, had a small hole in the centre. The result, after two days, were small scabs at the centre of a welt that will be familiar to anyone that has had chickenpox. While they may sound like large mosquitoes, residents reported that no repellants appeared to deter the hungry flies. ■

6 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

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f you want to get the French wine industry in a tizz, then tinker with their fizz. That is exactly what happened recently when Russia decreed that the Champagne name belonged to them and could no longer be used by the famous French region. Instead, they must instead mark their exported bottles as “sparkling wine”. The move was met with outrage from the world-famous champagne houses and a diplomatic spat ensued. The argument began when President Vladimir Putin signed legislation requiring all non-Russian producers to mark their products in Russia as “sparkling wine” and declared that only locally made Shampanskoye is worthy of the prestigious and previously exclusive name. Shampanskoye is the post-USSR version of what was previously known as Soviet champagne, a cheap but popular sparkling drink created in the Stalin era, designed as a version of the elite wine that was available to the masses. Today, most of the country's sparkling wines come from the recently annexed Crimean peninsula, and the move is believed to be a gesture from Putin to his close friend and associate Yuri Kovalchuk, a billionaire oligarch who owns the Novy Svet and Massandra wineries in Crimea. As the dispute escalated, Moët Hennessy - part of the LVMH luxury group

that also includes Veuve Clicquot, Ruinart, Mercier, Krug and Dom Pérignon – briefly suspended exports to Russia in protest. Leonid Rafailov, the director general of AST, one of Russia’s main wine distributors, acknowledged Moët’s move, telling AFP: “I can confirm I have received notification of this, and it’s justified.” “Depriving the people of Champagne the right to use their name is scandalous. It’s our common heritage and the apple of our eye,” said Maxime Toubart and Jean-Marie Barillère, co-presidents of the Comité Champagne. “The Champagne name is protected in more than 120 countries.” Despite the move generating numerous headlines, champagne drinkers in Russia did not seem to think the largely symbolic change would do anything other than ruffle a few French feathers. “We have spent a long time with our guests, educating and explaining to them that only a wine made in the Champagne region of France can be called champagne,” said Elena Lebedeva, the head sommelier for Perelman People, which runs a number of popular bars in Moscow. “Many of our guests actually only drink champagne. If we are selling namely French champagne, it’s going to remain in the champagne section, we are not going to change the menu.”

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“Undoubtedly, the supply of sparkling wine from other countries will increase, but that certainly won’t be a replacement for champagne. If champagne really won’t be delivered to Russia, and that is possible, only Russia and our guests will be losing out.” France produces around 231 million

bottles of champagne a year and the export market is worth around €2.5 billion euros annually. The UK and US are the biggest consumers of champagne outside France; Russia imports 51 million litres every year, worth around €35 million to the industry, making it the 15th largest market. ■

FRENCH NEWS ♦ 7

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President Macron targeted in spying scandal

resident Emmanuel Macron has been forced to change his phone after he was named as one of the targets in an international spying scandal. The government has also ordered a thorough overhaul of security protocols following reports in Le Monde that the president, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and 14 other ministers were put under surveillance by Morocco. Moroccan authorities have denied any involvement, calling the allegations “unfounded and false”. The scandal revolves around the Israeli-made spyware Pegasus, which infects iPhones and Android devices, allowing hackers to extract messages, photos and emails. Calls can also be recorded, and microphones and cameras can be activated covertly. The numbers of the French politicians were among some 50,000 that appeared in a database leaked to news agencies around the world. NSO Group, the Israeli-based company that owns Pegasus, has denied any wrongdoing and claimed that the database has “no

relevance” to their organisation. The company said it may be part of a larger list of numbers that might have been used by NSO Group customers “for other purposes” and that the phones have not necessarily been targeted or successfully hacked by Pegasus clients. Following forensic analysis, however, the phone of François de Rugy, who was environment minister at the time of the alleged hack, showed digital traces of activity associated with the Pegasus spyware. “The media investigation attributes a role to Moroccan intelligence services in this operation,” said the former minister. “This information surprises me. I have asked for an audience with the Moroccan ambassador to France.” The Pegasus spyware is intended for use against criminals and terrorists and, according to NSO Group, is only made available to military, law enforcement and intelligence agencies from countries with good human rights records. In recent years, however, the company has been accused of

allowing repressive governments to hack innocent people, including those close to Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi who was murdered by Saudi Arabia. Morocco is a former protectorate which gained independence from France in 1956 and has a longstanding and extremely warm diplomatic relationship with Paris.

The two countries closely cooperate on intelligence and counter-terrorism, particularly since the 2015 terrorist attacks in the French capital. The relationship has strengthened further under President Macron, but this scandal now looks certain to raise tensions between the two nations. Morocco said in a statement that it “categorically rejects and

condemns these unfounded and false allegations”, adding that it was “erroneous” and “false” to say the country had infiltrated the phones of national or foreign public figures. “The government of the Kingdom of Morocco has never acquired computer software to infiltrate communication devices, nor have the Moroccan authorities ever resorted to such acts.” ■

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panda. When Yuan Meng first entered the enclosure at five months old, visitors queued for hours to see the baby panda, who today weighs a healthy 100 kg. There is therefore understandable excitement after the zoo announced that Huan Huan (meaning 'happy') is pregnant once again, with the baby due sometime in early August. “An ultrasound taken a few hours ago has confirmed the presence of an embryo in our resident female,” a spokesperson for the zoo said in a statement. “The veterinarian team found what they were looking for: a tiny embryo just less than two centimetres long.” Pandas have tiny babies, which are born hairless, toothless and blind, and only weigh around 100 grams. At one eight-hundredth of the size

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of an adult female, they are proportionally the smallest of any placental mammal in the world. Vets at the zoo will carry out regular checks on the new embryo, up to twice a week if possible and Huan Huan will likely spend the rest of her pregnancy sleeping as much as possible. Breeding programmes such as the one at Beauval have not only proved to be good diplomacy for China over the decades, they have also helped reverse the fortunes of the iconic bears. There are currently around 500 pandas living in captivity around the world and a further 2,000 living in the wild in China. Such has been the success that while the species remains a vulnerable one, it was removed from the endangered list in 2016. ■

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he biggest attraction at the Beauval Zoo is the pair of giant pandas, which are among the just fifty or so living outside of China. The male and female bears arrived at the zoo in January 2012 on a 10-year loan from the Chinese government following intense, high-level negotiations between Paris and Beijing. When the breeding couple gave birth to a baby panda in 2017, it was a major event; births in captivity are rare and baby Yuan Meng was the first ever to be born in France. Under the rules of “Panda Diplomacy”, as the first lady of France, Brigitte Macron was made the baby's godmother - along with the wife of the Chinese president - and the presidential couple attended a ceremony to name the young

France's only female panda pregnant again

8 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

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n 1960 France began a series of nuclear tests in the Algerian desert, the fallout of which is still polluting the relationship between the two countries to this day. On the morning of 13th February, Blue Jerboa, a Plutonium bomb three times more powerful than the one dropped by the US on Nagasaki, exploded with such force that it melted the sand, transforming it into black shards. Just 45 minutes later, thenPresident Charles de Gaulle sent a message to his army minister which read: “Hoorah for France. This morning she is stronger and prouder. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you and those who have achieved this magnificent success.” The location in the remote desert of its then North African colony was chosen due to “the total absence of all signs of life”, but just a few dozen kilometres away, the inhabitants of the town of Reggane begged to differ and have spent the last 60 years battling the French government for recognition of the health impacts they still suffer to this day. The French would go on to perform three more atmospheric tests, to increasing criticism from the international community, before moving their tests to an underground location 700 kilometres

away where they performed a further dozen tests in the picturesque Hoggar mountain range. These would only serve to increase the pollution being caused. On one occasion, radioactive matter was spewed into the atmosphere because the underground shaft at the blast site was not properly sealed. With the mountain range shaking, monitors quickly urged the officials away from the zone as the bomb had opened fissures in the mountain and nuclear waste seeped into the air. Nine soldiers were heavily contaminated by the experiment, as were a number of government officials who were invited to attend a viewing of the blast. Nuclear fallout was detected as far away as Senegal, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Sudan. All future tests would be held in French Polynesia in the Atlantic Ocean. Local researchers estimate that thousands of Algerians have suffered the effects of nuclear radiation across the Sahara, and many of the sites are yet to be decontaminated. France has claimed that it is committed to working with the Algerian government to clean up the test sites, but has yet to even provide complete maps of the test sites. Algerian General Bouzid Boufrioua launched a scathing attack on his French counterparts. “France must come to terms with

Archive CEA (WikiCommons)

Fallout continues over Algeria nuclear tests

its historic responsibilities,” the General said. “This is the first time that the international community has asked the nuclear powers to rectify the mistakes of the past.” In 2010, the French parliament passed the Morin law which theoretically paved the way for victims of nuclear radiation in Algeria to claim compensation. In practice, the law required claimants to have been residents of the region while the tests were taking place and only recognises certain illnesses. Many who suffer today moved to the region after the tests. “In 1960 when the bomb detonated, there were more than 6,000 inhabitants. Reggane was not in the middle of nowhere,” said Ab-

derrahmane Toumi, whose family moved to the oasis after the tests in 1965 and are therefore ineligible for compensation. “From what we are told by researchers, long-term effects started around 20 years after the first bomb was detonated and they will continue to last for decades. Many of those who were contaminated have already passed away due to unknown medical causes. They were told they had rare illnesses but they didn't really know the specific nature of their illness.” Toumi is just one of a number of people campaigning for the French government to accept its responsibility for the lasting effects of the tests on the local

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populations, and he claims he has helped document more than 800 eligible cases. Despite this work, only one of the 545 cases where compensation has been paid under the Morin Law was to an Algerian - all of the others are from French Polynesia. The issue of compensation is high on the agenda at the moment as the French and Algerian governments recently announced plans to establish a commission to propose measures that would ease relations between the two countries, which are still shaped by some 132 years of colonisation before Algeria finally gained independence in 1962. ■

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FRENCH NEWS ♦ 9

AUGUST 2021 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Google fined half a billion by French watchdog

nternet giant Google has been fined €500 million by France's competition authority for failing to comply with the regulator’s orders to negotiate with the country’s news publishers “in good faith”. The dispute centres on copyright issues surrounding news snippets returned through the Google search engine and on its news feeds, a battle that is ongoing between major tech companies and governments across the globe. In 2019, France became one of the first countries in the EU to introduce a Digital Copyright Directive, which dictates that publishers and news organisations must be financially compensated by search engines when their articles are displayed in feeds or in response to an internet search. Initially, Goog-

le decided it would simply not show content from EU publishers in France, unless those publishers agreed to let them do so free of charge. Infuriated by what they saw as bullying and an abuse of power, a group of organisations representing press publishers and the Agence France-Presse (AFP) complained to the competition authority. In a major victory, Google were then ordered last year to enter into negotiations with the group to strike a deal to allow them to show extracts of articles in search results, news summaries and other services. The half-a-billion euro fine has been handed down as authorities believe that Google has failed to do this in good faith. Should the two sides now fail to reach an

agreement in the next two months, the company could face additional fines of €900,000 per day. “When the authority decrees an obligation for a company, it must comply scrupulously,” the competition authority's head Isabelle de Silva said in an accompanying statement. “Here, this was unfortunately not the case.” For their part, Google have rejected these claims, stating: “we want to turn the page with a definitive agreement”. “We will take the French competition authority’s feedback into consideration and adapt our offers,” a spokesperson for the US tech company said. “We have acted in good faith throughout the entire process. The fine ignores our efforts to reach an agreement, and the reality of how news works on our platforms.” ■

€100m for fag butt clear-up Aubusson tapestries

lthough smoking rates continue their decline in France, the problem of cigarette butts has not gone away. According to the Ecology Minister Barbara Pompili, one cigarette butt can pollute 500 litres of water, as well as being eaten by fish and taking years to decompose. The government estimates that the cost of clearing up the 23 billion cigarette butts thrown away each year is around €100 million and has pledged that the majority of this cost will be now be passed on to the tobacco manufacturers under the “polluter pays” principle. “We will put in place a polluter pays scheme which, via a separate organisation, will collect money from them to finance the collection of cigarette ends, the distribution of ashtrays or even communication operations,” explained the minister, speaking on French radio. “This will not be reflected in a rise in the price of cigarettes. It is quite normal that it is the polluter who pays for the waste their industry produces and not our taxes.” There are an estimated 75,000

awarded another high-profile contract

A deaths from smoking every year in France, accounting for 13% of all deaths, although overall levels of smoking are falling, particularly among women. The most recent statistics available show that some 34.6% of men and 26.5% of women were still smoking in 2020. Elsewhere, local authorities are also taking matters into their own hands, with one mayor in the Bas-Rhin department signing a local decree introducing an immediate €1,000 fine for anyone failing to pick up their own cigarette butt, or any other litter, including dog mess. “Enough is enough, I’m fed up,” said Bernard Fischer,

the mayor of Obernai. “This is a beautiful town of 8,700 inhabitants who are exasperated by a very small percentage of individuals, not necessarily from Obernai, who leave waste. They poison the lives of everyone else. When the gendarmes trace the chain, the perpetrators are given a small fine of €130 euros, which is not enough. Despite several awareness campaigns and education, too much waste, too many cigarette butts, dog mess and other rubbish such as tyres, building materials or rubble are illegally dumped in the city or in nature, with perpetrators feeling little guilt.” ■

ubusson is famous across the world for the quality of its tapestries, and the industry was once again in the news recently when the royal Danish castle of Koldinghus placed an order for 12 of the sought-after works of art. The significant order is being paid for by the Nouvelle Fondation Carlsberg - created by the brewery of the same name - and will keep the town's artisans busy for several years. The Queen of Denmark bought a large number of French tapestries in the 1990s, and the latest order carries on a perhaps surprising link between the two countries. “There is a kind of tradition there because the husband of our Queen was originally French,” explained Christine Buhl Andersen, president of the New Carlsberg Foundation. “It's extraordinary for us to be able to work with such well-known manufacturers. We think it is incredibly important to support culture, local traditions and true artists, especially since the Covid crisis.” The order is a huge boost to

the local economy in south-east Creuse, and without revealing the exact value of the contract, the Carlsberg Foundation did confirm that it was the largest they had ever placed. The welcome news comes after a high-profile few years for the local industry. It comes hot on the heels of the global attention garnered for a series of tapestries featuring the artwork of J. R. R. Tolkien which were displayed around the world, as well as a separate project for Japan featuring the work of legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki. ■

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Nazi gold stash obsession

rench authorities have extended the 30th June deadline to apply for residency by three months. The Interior Ministry confirmed that applications are now being accepted until 30th September “for the whole country” after several departments independently announced an extension for British residents. “I can confirm that the deadline for applications for Withdrawal Agreement cartes de séjour has been extended until September 30th, 2021,” a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry confirmed. “This extension concerns the whole of France. During the extension period, applications for residency can continue to be submitted on the online portal.” According to the British Embassy, 135,000 Britons living permanently in France have so far applied for postBrexit residency. The British government estimates the total number living in France at 148,300, meaning at least 13,300 were at risk of losing access to healthcare, pensions, property rentals, jobs and mortgages at the end of June. Unofficial estimates have previously

put the actual number of Brits in France at between 400,000 and 500,000. The actual number of permanent expats may well be much higher as, unlike countries such as the Netherlands, expats here were not previously required to register in any way. Not only does this create difficulties estimating numbers, it has also made it harder for the authorities to track down and encourage expats to register. This can be seen in the Creuse department – among those to have independently announced a deadline extension - where the prefecture said that they had been expecting around 800 applications, but had already processed in excess of 2,500. Under the terms of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, UK citizens who were legally resident in one of the EU’s 27 member states at the end of the Brexit transition period - 31st December 2020 - are eligible for permanent residence, protecting their basic rights. Expats arriving in France since this date face stricter rules when applying for a titre de séjour, such as taking out private medical insurance and proving minimum income levels. ■

Space crêpe

French astronaut Thomas Pesquet may not be appearing on Masterchef any time soon, but he can claim one culinary accolade: the universe's first ever space crêpe. Pesquet is the first French astronaut to command the International Space Station, and recently released a video showing his “pancake” creation floating in zero gravity. Ingredients are in short supply more than 400 kilometres above the Earth's surface, so Pesquet can perhaps be forgiven for using a tortilla as the base of his crêpe. The toppings of chocolate spread and strawberries are arguably slightly more authentic. “Unfortunately for my crew mates, my culinary skills do not live up to my nationality,” Pesquet Tweeted alongside a video of the space crêpe. “At least Shane and Oleg, with whom I have lived before, were warned this time.” Pesquet, who admits that his culinary skills are virtually zero, claims that his tortilla pancake is his “best creation” to date. As

the video made the rounds on social media, many were amused by the astronaut's creativity although it is safe to say that gastronomic purists were less than impressed! ■

French man has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for murdering four members of his own family in a quest for stolen Nazi gold. Hubert Caouissin killed his brother-in-law and his wife in 2017, along with their two children, believing they had a hoard of treasure and that they had cheated his own wife – the sister of one of the victims – out of her share. Despite there being no evidence for any gold existing, Caouissin, who was described as an “ordinary” man, became obsessed with the idea of stolen treasure. He believed it to be part of a rumoured €50 million hoard that Banque de France had hidden from the Nazis in Brest during World War II. He had begun spying on the family at their home in Orvault, near Nantes, even using a steth-

oscope to try and listen in on their conversations. On one occasion he was discovered spying and beat his brother-in-law to death before then killing the other three members of the family; the 21-year-old son and 18-year-old daughter were killed in their sleep. Caouissin then dismembered and buried his victims around the farm, with police eventually finding 379 individual body parts in the surrounding areas. Caouissin's wife Lydie was

sentenced to three years in prison, one suspended, for helping her husband dispose of the corpses. During the trial, Caouissin confessed to the murders, but claimed that they were an accident and not premeditated. The attorney general, Charlotte Gazzera, told the court: “Mr Caouissin caused the death of four people in a terrible bloodbath. He is too dangerous. There is no question he should ever be released.” ■

FRENCH NEWS ♦ 11

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Confusion over quarantine rules and batch numbers

Christian Emmer (WikiCommons)

t has been a confusing few months for anyone planning international travel as governments across Europe change and update entry and exit requirements. Of particular interest to expats here have been the rules for crossing the Channel, but adding to the confusion in July, France found itself as something of a pawn in ongoing tensions between the UK and the EU. When it was announced that double-vaccinated Brits could travel to France without a “compelling reason”, many were relieved that they could finally confirm their holiday travel plans. Shortly afterwards, however, it was revealed that several batches of the Astra-Zeneca vaccine manufactured in India were not being recognised by the EU. This meant that anyone who had received one of the estimated 5 million doses administered in the UK could not travel to Europe. The problem appeared to be a largely bureaucratic one, as the affected batches were identical to other Astra-Zeneca vaccines. The only difference was that those produced in India had not initially been intended for sale in Europe and had not been submitted to the European Medical Agency for approval. A number of countries across Europe announced that they would still recognise the Indian-manufactured “Covishield” vaccines, but initially France did not. There were even reports of travellers to Malta being turned away at the airport due to having the affected batch numbers on their vaccine certificates. Anecdotal evidence on the ground suggested that the French were not paying much attention to batch numbers, but after much confusion and worry, the government confirmed on 17th July that France would officially recognise the Covishield Astra-Zeneca vaccine. France also removed the need for a negative test pre-travel for fully vaccinated travellers arriving in France, making summer holidays possible for tens of millions of Brits. Then on 19th July - so-called Freedom Day in the UK - the British government made the shock announcement that while quarantine would end for travellers returning from amber list countries, they were creating a special

status of amber plus for France, due to concern over the Beta variant, and 10-day quarantine would remain. The decision caught many by surprise, scuppering holiday plans for working families that could not afford to take ten days off on their return. It also caused a furore in France and from within the travel industry, who were quick to condemn the British government for playing politics: the amber plus quarantine story dominated the headlines on a weekend that saw the Covid situation rapidly deteriorating in the UK while Prime Minister Johnson was forced to isolate on “Freedom Day”. At the time, France was recording fewer than 5,000 cases a day, with around just 3% of these caused by the Beta variant, down from 7% two months previously. This compared to more than 50,000 cases per day in the UK. Furthermore, many of the recorded Beta cases being reported came from France's overseas territories. Almost all cases on the Indian Ocean island of La Réunion are the

Beta variant, but these are included in the country's daily statistics. Mayotte, Martinique and Guadeloupe also have high rates of Beta. Analysis also showed that both Spain and Greece had a higher proportion of Beta cases at the time than mainland France. “We don’t think that the United Kingdom’s decisions are totally based on scientific foundations. We find them excessive,” European Affairs Minister Clément Beaune said. The situation was made all the more ridiculous by the fact that the quarantine requirements were only for travellers returning from mainland France: travellers from La Réunion could connect to London via nearby amber list Mauritius and not need to quarantine! “It’s always possible the UK government just needs some geography lessons to understand that La Réunion is a French department so its Covid numbers are included in French numbers and that La Réunion is not part of Metropolitan France,” said UK-based lawyer Lynn Shaw.

The British government has maintained it stands by its analysis of the situation, but as we go to press, there have been hints that France could well be moved back to the amber list when the rules are next reviewed on 5th August. The latest U-turn looks likely to occur following an angry backlash from ministers within Johnson's own cabinet. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps was reported to be furious that he had not been consulted about the amber plus decision and on July 23rd Environment Secretary George Eustice gave the clearest indication yet that the move could be reversed. “There was a reason at the time that the advice was we should put France on that amber plus list, it was concern about the Beta variant and the fact that the vaccine might be slightly less effective against that,” the MP said in a radio interview. “But as those rates come down obviously the evidence will change and it can be reviewed and we will want to be putting countries like France back onto the amber list in the normal way.” ■

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12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2021

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

AUGUST 2021 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Protect your “home away from home”

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Osso buco - slow-cooked summer food by Julia Watson

f the goal in summer is to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, turn towards slowcooked ingredients that release their richness after hours in the oven so you can release yourself for hours outside. The pulses and legumes like dried beans and chickpeas, so ubiquitous in the dishes of the Middle East, make dependable summer fallbacks that can be set in motion the night before with a soak. But these can also be quite heavy to digest. Not that this is a drawback - in that part of the world there is great respect for the afternoon siesta if you’re serving them at lunch. For an evening meal, a slow-cooked meat might serve your digestion better. Certain cuts are particularly handy at this time of year. American men, apron-clad, know the value of brisket, slapping it with secret sauces standing at the barbecue. The French know this with the pot-aufeu. The Italians know this with osso buco. Osso buco is a slow-cooked Lombard speciality, usually served with risotto alla Milanese. The rice comes from the Piedmont, the area west of Lombardy, but the dish will shine if you only serve a salad and perhaps a bowl of potato purée. The cut comes from across the shank, which gives you the chance to eat the bone marrow, an opportunity I encourage you not to avoid. Slather it over a slice of toasted tourte and sprinkle it with gremolata. This is the fine mincing together of garlic, parsley and lemon zest that an osso

buco is served with. It may make the main course of my last meal on earth, if I’m given any choice in the matter. I certainly won’t need my teeth for it - it’s so soft. Veal rightly fell out of favour when we learned what inhumane tortures calves were subjected to. In order to achieve flesh as white as pork, they were confined to crates, often unable to stand. But responsible farmers raising calves without cruelty produce a meat called ‘rosy’ veal. It’s less likely that you’ll find this kind of veal at a supermarket. Instead, find a living, breathing butcher with whom you can discuss how theirs has been raised - not a question you can ask a cellophane package. Farmers’ markets are a reliable source. In South-West France, farmers check on the health of the calf by looking first in their eyes, then in the intimate area exposed by raising their tails and spreading their buttock cheeks. Any red veins revealed at either end are an indication the calf has not been raised sous la mère (milk-fed), or possibly of sickness. Osso buco goes in the oven for 1½ hours, a bonus when you want to be out of the kitchen and with your friends. Julia Watson has been a longtime Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK. She writes 'Tabled', a weekly food blog at juliawatson.substack. com

Ingredients (serves 4) Flour for dredging the meat, seasoned with pepper only (salt will dry the meat out) 4 cuts of veal shin, 4.5cm thick 60ml cup olive oil 55g butter 2 medium onions, peeled and finely diced 2 stalks of celery, finely diced 2 small carrots, washed and finely diced

2 tablespoons tomato paste 145ml stock 400g fresh tomatoes, blanched, skinned and chopped, or 1 400g can peeled tomatoes 1 large sprig fresh thyme Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Bunch of flat leaf parsley, stalks discarded 1 lemon, scrubbed 1 large clove garlic, peeled

145ml white wine

Preheat the oven to 175C/350F Dredge the meat in the flour and shake off the excess. Brown the pieces in 3 tablespoons of oil. Set them in a pan you can put in the oven, close together to prevent the marrow from falling out. Wipe out the frying pan. Add the remaining oil and the butter to gently sauté the mirepoix of onions, celery and carrots till soft, about 15 minutes. Pour in the wine, scraping up the vegetable caramel. Raise the heat and reduce till almost gone then stir in the tomato paste. Dilute with the stock, season, add the tomatoes and bring to the boil. Pour over the veal, add the thyme and cover tightly. Place in the oven to braise for 1 ½ hours. Check during cooking the liquid hasn’t evaporated. Serve from the pan with the gremolata, made by finely chopping the parsley leaves, garlic and the zest of the lemon together, sprinkled over the top. Eat with risotto Milanese, polenta or pureed potatoes.

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

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Handholding & Language >> pg 17-19 Health & Beauty >> pg 19 Insurance & Finance >> pg 19 Pools & Spas >> pg 19 Property Sales & Maintenance >> pg 19 Retail & Commerce >> pg 19 Scrap & Clearance >> pg 19 Transport/Removals/Storage >> pg 19

Building Services Carpenters/Joiners

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

05 55 00 34 79/06 18 58 93 88 or Emily: 06 71 15 15 65

SIRET: 494 617 798 00017

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

Auto & Bike Services

Dog Guest Home

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Siret: 790 016 984 00011

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93

Animals & Pets

Activities & Leisure >> pg 14 Animals & Pets >> pg 14 Auto & Bike Services >> pg 14 Building Services >> pg 14-17 Chimney Sweeps >> pg 17 Computers, TV & Satellite >> pg 17 Food & Drink >> pg 17 Garden Services >> pg 17 Gifts & Crafts >> pg 17

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

AUGUST 2021 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

SALAMANDRE Building

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

Services Fosses Septiques

LVL

Les Vidanges Limousines ▪ Emptying septic tanks ▪ Unblocking pipes ▪ Cleaning wells ▪ Group rates available between neighbours Call David - 24/24 7/7 Siret N° 750 725 780 00019

siret 532 981 198 00015

87800 Jourgnac

05 55 62 63 82

Steve. JOHNS. SARL

see main ad below

Fosse Septique Specialists

INSTALLATION23

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

(bathrooms, kitchens, etc.)

Fully registered & insured English & Dutch spoken Based in the east of Creuse Call or email Rob: E: installation23@gmail.com

M: 06 40 56 96 12 Siret: 753 054 030 00014

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

05.55.64.11.73 06.70.47.52.96 siret: 824 706 444 00018

Aquatiris

Ecological Septic Tanks www.aquatiris.fr 06 95 09 13 71 - pg 3

Septic Tank Installation Service

Reed Bed Sanitation Systems Sewer Connections Compact Filters www.fossepro.com Tel: 06 33 78 24 23 fossepro@orange.fr

Building Services General Entreprise Electricité Générale All aspects of electrical works undertaken Departments 36, 23, 87 & 86 UK / French Satellite and TV Aerial installations Décennale insured

06 16 91 64 67

contact@reactive-resource.com www.reactive-resource.com Siren: 808 481 170

05 55 37 45 35

06 49 66 44 25

Fosse Septique 23

Qualified & specialising in: • Electricity • Plumbing • Small renovations

• 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 wasteremovalmultiservices@gmail.com www.facebook.com/willwhiting87/

Carlos

Electrician/Plumber

WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES

Entreprise Hines

Building & Renovation ● Roofing - New & Repairs ● Masonry ● Plastering ● Dry Lining ● Sand Blasting ● Scaffold Hire ● ... and much, much more

HANDYMAN/DIY Can I help you with those jobs you don't want to do?

• Painting/Decorating • Labouring • Pressure Washing • General DIY No job too small, just give me a call!! All areas covered - Based nr Aubusson (23)

05 55 83 02 77 / 06 30 90 58 90 jonathanpiddock@orange.fr Siret: 523 955 151 00015

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

40 years qualified experience www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr

Save up to 30% on your Renovation All building and renovations undertaken Man & Digger Department 23 & Surrounding Areas

07 54 23 37 01

richardexcel@hotmail.co.uk

see main ad below

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Max Huggett

Davis & Davis

35 years' Experience in Construction, Renovation & Project Management Quality Workmanship Guaranteed Internal/ External Developments

Offering a broad selection of building services in depts. 87, 19 & 23. From one off installations to complete renovations, construction, decorating, landscaping and ground works. E: info@maxhuggett.com

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...

Confolens

T: 05 55 69 37 64 M: 06 86 62 59 37

05 55 60 29 50 / 06 04 13 30 57

semm main ad - pg 8

English & French spoken - Siret: 518 511 340 00011

Dave Cardwell - Builder

05 55 98 24 12

See our Display Ad pg 14

The Reclamation Yard

05 45 30 72 04

www.maxhuggett.com

SVH CONSTRUCTION

All building work undertaken No job too small City & Guilds and NVQ Qualified tradesman Over 35 years experience in the construction industry Based in dept. 23

Masonry & More

Professional Project Management Services

Experienced and fully registered builder with 10 year Décennale Insurance

siret: 842 233 108 00013

Siret: 848 602 934 00012

Richard Jones, B.A. Cert'Ed

06 26 97 28 54

t: 05 55 50 52 02 m: 07 66 52 33 47

stevehow101@googlemail.com

SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

Building and restoration work

Roofing, Building, Renovations, Plastering & stud walls, ... and more! Fully insured. e: lowe.steven@orange.fr

Mob: 07 85 51 42 66 Tel: 05 55 83 04 11

05.55.89.69.46

A Horrocks & Son

STEVE'S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

No job too big (or small). Give us a call for a free competitive quote. email: davis-davis@sfr.fr

Based near Limoges - Covering depts 87, 23 & 19 Siret: 498 203 652 00017

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

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93 ELECTRICIAN/PLUMBER FROM SMALL REPAIRS TO COMPLETE INSTALLATIONS BOILER SERVICING OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE FULLY INSURED - BASED DEPT 23 lorrainemquintana@gmail.com

05 55 62 63 82

siret: 829 638 741 00019

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2021

ADVERTORIAL

La Noneix Construction and Property Services Local 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 15th 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. We are still finding that there are people arriving from the UK despite the changes following Brexit. We have found a demand for property inspection services from house purchasers who live overseas and do not want to incur the additional cost of repeated visits. 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: “Something of a makeover it certainly is, in short we are both blown away with what you have achieved, it quite simply looks stunning. Whilst

Before

we appreciate it's always the case to some extent, I think we would all agree there has necessarily been a lot of trust in both directions with regards to this project, but it really makes us so happy that you have been so true to your word and produced such a fantastic end product.” - Adrian & Alison La Noneix Construction & Property Services Tel: 05.55.66.44.06 Email: paul.rands@orange.fr Find more information on: www.lanoneix.com /LaNoneixConstruction

After

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 €12.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 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 06 04 17 80 93 or send an email to sales@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad

€100

€150

Large b&w Directory Ad

€130

€195

Small Colour Directory Ad

€140

€210

Large Colour Directory Ad

€180

€270

All prices exclude TVA (20%)

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

30 words max

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 (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months.

Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

Les petits jardiniers du Limousin

We are a gardening association based in the Mairie at St. Amand le Petit, between Eymoutiers and Peyrat le Château. We hold monthly meetings, normally on the third Thursday of the month, starting at 2:30 pm. Meetings are held in English, but we can also present topics in French. We have lots of different nationalities amongst our members. Our aim is to provide and promote opportunities for people to develop their interest and knowledge in horticulture and gardening and related topics in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. In-house workshop meetings, external speakers and visits are on our agenda. During Covid-19, in common with other Associations, we have not been able to have meetings and have kept in touch with members and friends via our Facebook page, Les petites jardiniers du Limousin where people post photos of their garden, ask questions, share information and keep in contact on a casual, friendly basis. We are looking forward to starting meetings again respecting all Covid-19 regulations and to seeing old friends as well as new faces at our meetings.

Our meeting agenda has had to be cancelled many times and, at present, no set agenda is in place. However, as soon as we can meet again we do hope to arrange: A visit to Custos Apium (booked for June, subject to any Covid-19 regulations and restrictions in place at that time); presentations on plant name origins, grafting, edible plants and mushrooms; a workshop on diverse ways of seed preparation; and the first Sunday in September is the date on which we hold our Annual Show. If it goes ahead it is a definite not-to-be-missed event. Members and supporters of our Association will receive emails about forthcoming meetings. If you would like to be on our mailing list then please email me with your name and email address. I will add you to the list and you will receive all future notifications. Meanwhile take care, happy gardening and hope to see you soon. For any further information contact Carolyn at pjlimousin@gmail.com

30,000 readers each month

SALES@THEBUGLE.EU

06 04 17 80 93 CLUBS, CHARITIES & ASSOCIATIONS As a result of the current restrictions, many of the meetings and events featured in our What's On, and Clubs, Charities & Associations sections have had to be cancelled or postponed. The situation is constantly changing, so we have removed many of these listings from the newspaper for the time being. We will, however, continue to update our website with any new information, so please do check back regularly to keep up to date - www.thebugle.eu

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

AUGUST 2021 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Building Services Groundworks S.M.C SERVICES

Excavator with Driver 0044 (0)7831 121 019

Building Services Plasterers

Able Plastering

see main ad - pg 7

French registered plasterer with over 30 years’ experience

RSW Entreprises

All internal and external works covered Plastering (English and French plaster) Rendering Concreting Floor Screeding Stud Partitioning Lime Mortar Pointing

Fosse Septiques/Micro stations

05.55.80.00.57

See our Display Ad - pg 4

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93 Building Services Lifts & Scaffolding

Cherry Picker Services

14.5 metres on a van lasout@live.com

Tel: 09 66 03 52 89 Call for a quote

Tel: 05 55 62 12 39 Mobile: 06 06 41 10 30 Siret: 527 906 614 00013

CHRIS

THE PLASTERER

A genuine plasterer French and English spoken Traditional Plastering, Rendering, Stud partition dry lining, Lime mortar stone pointing, Interior/exterior painting, Plasterboarding taping & joining specialists

CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION

05 55 63 53 06 06 23 29 48 19 christopher.willis@orange.fr Le Bourg, 23360 Nouzerolles SIRET: 504 612 441 00015

Building ANGLO SCAFFOLDING Services Roofing HIRE 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 find us on Facebook: @angloscaffolding

Email: akbrunnstrom@yahoo.co.uk SIRET: 799 067 939 00014

MUMFORD TOITURE Roofing & Plastering/ Plasterboarding Service

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

05 55 44 71 44 / 06 78 60 96 16 mumford.toiture@gmail.com Siret No. 493 159 412 00011

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Chimney Sweeps & Firewood

Building Services Painters/Decorators

La Petite Ramoneur

Nicholas Collyer All aspects of Interior and Exterior decorating

30+ years' experience Spraying service available for large areas

T: 09 88 19 14 05 M: +44 (0)7885 694 313 collyer23360@gmail.com siret: 883 596 157 00015

THE LADY SWEEP Established since 1986

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

02 54 31 48 50 06 25 61 84 95 (SMS only) siret 504 218 454 00016

Carrefour du Bois Limousin

www.chauffagebois-limousin.com 05 55 63 72 45 - see ad pg 3

Team Jardin

Food & Drink

www.teamjardin.fr

Experienced, Registered & Fully Insured No mess, no fuss

Mandys-curry-2-go

T: 07 68 76 39 99

For menus and venues:

Email: cinderssweep@gmail.com

Mobile Curry Take Away

siret: 484 768 700 00029

www.mandyscurry2go.com

Chimney Sweeping

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

www.stovesellers.com

05 55 63 78 72 Siren: 502 409 949

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 Computers, TV & Satellite L'homme de l'ecosse Web Design / eCommerce / hosting

06 37 82 56 67 / 05 55 60 62 36 see main ad - pg 11

For all your TV and satellite installations and repairs (Sky TV, Internet etc.) Call Patrice:

06.79.07.91.56

libre.antenne87@gmail.com Fast dependable service Based Séreilhac (87) siret: 353 613 227 00035

GOODWIN SATELLITE

SALES & INSTALLATION OF ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS & AERIALS. FAULT FINDING. Dept 23 & surrounding areas

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

Email: garygoodwin121@gmail.com siret: 453 067 910 00019

Can your business fill this space? Give us a call or send us an email: sales@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

m : 07 70 39 12 23

Home delivery possible - see website siret: 498 199 306 00016

Try Something Different

Chez Jacques Marsac (23) • Cosy atmosphere • Speciality Crêpes • Large burger menu • Around 115 single malt whiskies • Selection of bottled British ales • Book corner, pool table • "Mouclade" nights • Curry nights

05 87 40 02 83 closed Wednesdays

British Market Stall facebook.com/britishmarketstall +33 (0)6 79 23 57 09 +33 (0)7 69 14 49 73 see main ad - pg 11

Le Creusois Bar/Restaurant

Les Genêts, Azerables

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

05.55.63.90.79

www.lecreusoisbistro.com

Reliable, professional and friendly garden services. Garden Maintenance. Land Clearance. Garden Construction. Bespoke long-term maintenance plans. Tel: 05 55 37 18 03 Mob: 06 33 66 17 45 e-mail: darren@teamjardin.fr Siret No. 752 549 907 00018

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93 GARDEN SERVICES Paul Brown

Grass Cutting Strimming General Maintenance Based La Souterraine (23)

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

Purple Solutions Garden Maintenance

06 72 87 87 14 see main ad - pg 11

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 Gifts & Crafts

SIREN: 483 988 853

26, Ecurat 23150

Le Restaurant Ecurat We are very sad to announce that the restaurant is now closed. This is not due to Covid, but rather ongoing health issues. Many thanks to all our friends and clients...

Alma

Garden Services Maintenance gardener Stephen Grendon

Need some advice? Too much like hard-work? 30 years of experience

TEL: 06 72 11 62 15 stengrendon1@gmail.com Based in St-Julien-le-Petit (87460), covering St. Léonard, Peyrat, Eymoutiers, Bujaleuf. siret: 839 102 415 00016

Cards et Cartes

Quality English & French greeting cards from 1.80 € www.cardsetcartes.com info@cardsetcartes.com Siret No: 508 062 734 00019

Handholding & Language Services FRENCH LESSONS Via Skype

with a native French speaker Why commute? Long distance learning is the answer! C’est simple, call Sophie...

06 61 56 47 17 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2021

ADVERTORIAL

Pension Considerations - Rosemary Sheppard, International Financial Adviser

here are many types of pension schemes and understanding their benefits and restrictions, for many, can prove troublesome. Although there are UK Government backed advice centres, they themselves often direct you to a UK financial advisor, who will not have the knowledge or experience to advise you on what is best for you and your finances in France. From 1st January 2021, UK advisers can no longer provide advice to clients that live in the EU as passporting rights have

been removed. Moving overseas may provide further opportunities not available to those that remain in the UK and advice can be given on final salary pension schemes, UK private pensions, SIPPs and Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS). We will provide a detailed examination of your existing schemes and advise if a transfer is in your best interest. So, what are some of the considerations that you need to think about regarding your UK pensions schemes? • If you are over 55 years of age and your scheme allows you to take your Pension Commencement Lump Sum, it may be advantageous to do so before becoming a French tax resident. The 25% tax

free allowance is only beneficial to UK tax residents. If you pay your tax in France then this payment will be added to other income in the year that it is received and taxed at your marginal rate.

• Does your existing scheme allow for flexible access? Legislation changed some years ago and it is now possible to take as much, or as little, income as you wish from your pension, either as regular or adhoc withdrawals. Again, a fantastic tax planning opportunity as this means you can structure your payments and potentially reduce your tax burden. • Do you know where your funds are invested and what the returns are? Not

all schemes are transparent, and it can be difficult to determine what you are paying for and what the performance has been.

• It may also be worth considering amalgamating smaller pensions into one; pulling smaller pensions together can allow more choice on how the pension is invested, reduce running costs and provide wider exposure to underlying investment markets. The points above are just a small sample of some of the areas that require consideration. There are too many to list here but if you have a UK pension and are unsure on how, or when, you can access it, or what benefits it may provide, contact us for an appraisal of your existing

scheme. Blacktower will be by your side both now and in the future, we are here to help you. To arrange a professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email: Rosemary.sheppard@ blacktowerfm.com, visit our website www.blacktowerfm. com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70.

This article is based on the opinion of the financial adviser and author, and does not reflect the views of Blacktower. The above information is based on current legislation which is subject to change and does not constitute as investment advice, or investment research and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Insurance Agents & Advisors Ltd is regulated in Cyprus by the Insurance Companies Control Service and registered with ORIAS in France. Blacktower Financial Management (Cyprus) Ltd is regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission and is registered with the AMF in France.

ADVERTORIAL

Harlequin Satellite TV

s some of you may know, after many years, Stuart from The French House Satellite TV has recently moved on to pastures new. For the past few months I have been working alongside him, and I'm happy to say that I am now the installer approved and recommended by The French House to continue looking after clients old, and welcoming clients new. The range of services remains the same: • • • • • • •

English Free to Air Satellite TV... Freesat French Satellite TV... TNT English Subscription TV Full installation service DIY Kits Dishes realigned or upgraded Trouble shooting

I am based in the north of the Haute-Vienne (dept 87), and will cover dept's 16, 23, north 24, 36, east 86, and 87. Meanwhile, The French House will continue to provide a full service to dept's 17, 44, 49, 79, 85, and west 86. So if you need help with any satellite TV issues please don't hesitate to get in touch. ■ Arthur Smith - Tel: 06.06.60.46.97 Email: harlequintv1@gmail.com - Website: www.harlequintv.fr Facebook: Harlequin Satellite TV Siret: 494.501.067.00016

CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE Charente Plus Free confidential support for Englishspeaking people touched by cancer Volunteers & Active Listeners needed (full training will be given) If you are interested please email: bloomdenis@outlook.com

CSF 24 HOUR HELPLINE - 0800 24 02 00 email: csfcharenteplus@gmail.com Facebook : Cancer Support France - Charente-Plus

Peyrat Film Club The CINEMA in Peyrat-le-Château, run by the volunteers of the Association Bande Originale, regularly shows VOST films (original version with French subtitles), especially for all the non-French speakers in our region. In August we will be showing: The Courier – Saturday 7th, 17h Wendy – Saturday 14th, 17h The cinema will be closed from 15th August to 2nd September Tickets from just €3.50!! See our website for dates & times, etc http://bandeoriginale.jimdo.com

Elise & Joy These two Spaniel beauties, Elise and Joy are mother and daughter and are 12 and 7 years old. They are currently waiting to enter the refuge after the death of their owner as the family cannot take them for personal reasons.

Elise

Joy

Both dogs are in good health and have had regular vet checks. Elise could perhaps do with losing a few pounds but that is something that can be sorted out very easily and whilst Joy has had a back leg amputated following a hunting accident, this doesn't prevent her from living life to the full. It is actually a well-known fact that dogs can get by very well indeed with just three legs. Both girls are used to living in the house and are house trained, they are very kind and loving and can live in a home with cats and poultry. If you think you can help Elise and Joy then please contact: SPA de Creuse (Guéret), 21 Le Clocher, 23000 Saint-Sulpice-le Guérétois www.spa-creuse.com - email: spa.gueret@orange.fr

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

AUGUST 2021 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Handholding & Language Services

Health & Beauty

Property management All properties looked after, main residences, holiday homes & gîtes. Changeovers, cleaning, tidy ups, maintenance, gardening, swimming pools, etc. Single or regular visits. Fully insured. Oradour-sur-Vayres (87150). References available.

Mobile hairdresser Covering all of La Creuse!

Call Teddy:

06 15 78 18 04- pg 11

Stove Sellers www.stovesellers.com 05.55.63.78.72

See our Display Ad - pg 6

Atelier d'Art du Jardin We are very sad to announce that we are now permanenetly closed. This is not due to Covid, but rather ongoing health issues. Many thanks to all our friends and clients...

Creuse Property Care

Online French Tuition

Qualified Teacher of French, formerly teaching in my classroom, but now online!

Come out of Covid with confident French

Email: homer.jennifer@gmail.com

Formerly La Petite Place

05.55.60.08.46

See our Display Ad - pg 10

SALUBER

Mental & Physical Health Support www.saluber.fr

06 61 82 37 79 - see pg 7

siret: 490 323 243 00025

I offer weekly, small, group lessons online, at levels to suit your needs. My priority is on speaking and understanding French in daily life. Get in touch asap to ensure your place in a class suited to your ability for the new term starting in September 2021 Stuck for the perfect Christmas or birthday gift for you, your friend or family - Gift vouchers now available for online classes (from 15€)

Caring for your home in France when you can’t be there

Chez Boutique

Garden & Pool Maintenance General Maintenance & Small Renovation work including plasterboarding, tiling, painting, etc. Changeovers/House Cleaning Ad-hoc Assistance References available Contact Mark or Trudy...

The Spectrum IFA Group International Financial Adviser

OLD'S HEIGHT

inc. Junque and Disorderly

Energy Performance (DPE), Asbestos, Lead, Electricity, Gas, Termites, Risks/Pollution, Measurements

05 55 89 57 94 - see pg 8

Blacktower Financial Managment Group

Contact : 06 28 94 24 00 or philippe.andre@diagamter.com

Pools & Spas

Antiquités agricoles I will buy just about anything in your barn: agricultural machinery, cars,motorbikes, lorries, pushbikes, old wrought ironwork, oil cans, signs, timberwork and doors... in fact, anything!! Just think... that rubbish could earn you cash!!

CALL: 0633 847 699

See our references on:

in rust we trust

www.diagamter.com

Naturalis Pools 06 31 17 25 60 see main ad - pg 2

Property Sales & Maintenance Cendrillon 06 83 66 83 09

www.marcdeschamps.com see main ad - pg 8

Cancer Support Haute-Vienne

Beaux Villages Immobilier www.beauxvillages.com

Freephone: 08 05 69 23 23

www.cshautevienne.org

Buggs Car Hire Bergerac & Limoges Airports

www.buggscarhire.com see main ad - pg 8

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93

Central France Storage

Managing Editor: Editor-in-Chief: Registered Address: SIRET: Printed by:

Email: lasout@live.com siret: 494 123 847 00019

Transition Removals (+33) 05 55 34 19 46

www.transitionremovals.net

Franklins Removals 0044 121 353 7263

www.franklinsremovals.co.uk see main ad - pg 3

Smart Moves For a fully insured, careful service

siret 532 981 198 00015

See our Display Ad - pg 3

affiliated to

Tel: 09 66 03 52 89

www.facebook.com/willwhiting87/

www.housesoninternet.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Cash paid for scrap Tel: 05 55 37 45 35 Mob: 06 74 21 47 71

Houses on Internet +31 (0)6 41 20 73 69

www.centralfrancestorage.com Dry, safe & secure storage Brexit Busting Prices!! Vehicle storage options We also do internal moves! 14.5m cherry picker available

see main ad - pg 8

All Limousin covered Anything considered Any quantity

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93

Your local Association supporting English speakers touched by cancer in departments 87, 23, 19 & 36

HELPLINE 0800 240 200

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see main ad - pg 4

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see main ad - pg 4

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www.watsoneuropean.co.uk Steve Martindale Steve Martindale 19, route de Champagnac 17500 MEUX 514 989 748 00025 Charente Libre, Z.I. No3 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac

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+44 (0)7966 287 430 Steve Martindale Steve Martindale 19, route de Champagnac 17500 MEUX 514 989 748 00025 Charente Libre, Z.I. No3 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac

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20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ AUGUST 2021

Concerts with the Paris Symphonic Orchestra

FREE BOOK FAIR - BOUSSAC BROCANTE, 6 place Carnot, Boussac 23600 In conjunction with the official opening of our garden, we will be holding our first ‘free’ book fair on Sunday 8th August from 10 am till 6 pm. Drinks and snacks will be available plus the shop will be open for visitors to browse around the store. We sell the following items: household, electrical, brico, sports and the outdoors, clothing and more. Specialist and collectors’ books will also be available to purchase in-store. In addition we will be holding a raffle.

Wed 11th: La Celle Dunoise church. 20h30.

Mon 16th: Chéniers church. 20h30.

Thu 12th: Boussac church. 20h30.

Tue 17th: La Celle Dunoise church. 20h30.

Sat 14th: Chambon-sur-Voueize church. 20h30.

Wed 18th: Boussac château. 20h30.

Sun 15th: Dun-le-Palestel church. 20h30. For more information and tickets contact local tourist offices.

All funds raised will be donated directly to charities dedicated to animal welfare. For more info, call 07 81 96 69 56, email boussacbrocante@gmail.com or see our Facebook page: Boussac Brocante.

The George Sand and Vallée Noire Museum has turned into a “Pocket-Size Museum” at the Hôtel de Villaines. There you will see a part of the collections of the Museum, which is scheduled to reopen in the next few years. Discover during this guided tour the new permanent circuit on George Sand and the Vallée Noire and the temporary exhibitions on Bernard Naudin (1876-1946), local and talented artist and on artefacts from the church of La Châtre. Among these objects, there are spectacular stained glass windows form the 16th century to see. Tickets : 3.50 € Reservation required by phone or email: +33 (0)2 54 48 36 79 / musee@mairie-lachatre.fr Wearing a mask is mandatory.