The Bugle - March 2013

Ouigo - SNCF launches the €10 TGV ticket

SNCF has shocked France's travel industry by unveiling a no-frills, low-cost TGV service in a move designed to challenge the budget airlines >> Page 7

March 2013 Issue #41

Limousin is safer than ever

INSIDE > > > NEWS - Lou Burger 100% Limousin

In the midst of the horse meat scandal, the region unveils a burger made entirely from local produce... and real beef! >> Page 3

♦ Creuse is declared France's safest department for 10th straight year ♦ Corrèze is not far behind in 11th place ♦ Haute-Vienne is the 22nd safest place to live, up 11 places in the last 3 years perhaps more impressive - when The Bugle first visited this topic in 2010, the Limousin's most populous department ranked 33rd in the country based on 2009's crime statistics.

Procureur de la République, Olivier Quérard, told La Montagne that Creuse “remains the safest department in France in terms of crimes against people and possessions”.

There was an increase in burglaries of 14.73% in 2012, although with 11.09 occurrences per 1,000 inhabitants, the figures are still well below the national average of 34.38. What may worry expats in the Creuse is a significant rise in thefts from second homes,

>> continued on page 5

A British poet and academic has become the first native English speaker to be voted into the Academy. >> Page 8

FRENCH LIFE - Passing Time with Past Times

Author James Vance takes a look at the rich Resistance history that surrounds us. >> Page 13

© Andrey Bandurenko - Fotolia.com

D

espite a slight increase in the number of burglaries and violent crimes, Creuse has once again been confirmed as the safest of France's 96 mainland departments. The Limousin as a whole also fared very well, with statistics pointing to Corrèze as the 11th safest department and Haute-Vienne a respectable 22nd.

Creuse has now spent a decade at the top of the crime tables, an impressive achievement and one of the department's main attractions to those moving here from elsewhere in the country or abroad. But it is the performance of the Haute-Vienne that is

NEWS - Brit joins Académie française

Paris female trouser ban is finally overturned after more >> Page 12 than 200 years

Your indispensible guide to the region's Businesses >> Centre Pages

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

A

t the moment, I am a happy man.

I have two young children and don't get enough sleep.

There are six inches of snow outside and this old house is draughty. Money seems to leave my account faster than I put it in. And I have an immigration problem on the top of my head: the influx of foreign grey hairs is picking up a pace - brown will soon be the minority language north of my nose.

But these trifling issues are just part of life and are water off this duck's increasingly aging, aching back.

What I have to be happy about is that for the first time in a long time I have England rugby matches to look forward to. A little Six Nations sized oasis of joy each weekend.

As someone whose mood can be greatly affected by sport, England's recent run of form on the rugby pitch has had a profound effect on my happiness. For what feels like an awfully long time, they have flattered to deceive and the occasional good result has so often been followed by a disappointing defeat. Sometimes, I think it might be better to follow

a team that perennially loses... like Scotland. I'm kidding of course!

Scottish readers, please don't take offence... I did of course mean Wales.

I think supporting a particular team is hard wired into your genetic code.

I love France and I love the French, but I could live here for a thousand years and I would still support England when they play their Gallic cousins. England's victory over France the other day might not go down as a classic, but it was the best 2 hours of escapist enjoyment that I can remember for a long time. Not only did England take a huge step towards a coveted Grand Slam, but France have now lost three in a row. It is not a character trait that I am proud of, but I get almost as much pleasure from seeing a rival team doing badly as I do from mine doing well!

The weather is certainly keeping

us on our toes again. Just over a week ago, I was provisionally planning a round of golf with a friend, and yesterday we had -8 degrees and a foot of snow in places. Fortunately, this year we became a 2-car family, and the newest edition is a 4x4 – incidentally, it was bought through the Classified pages of this paper!

With a young family to shuttle around and daily school runs to do, I am really starting to learn the benefits of four-wheel drive and winter tyres - the main roads are nearly always clear, but the small lanes we live on can become a bit precarious in bad weather.

I was speaking to someone recently and mentioned how being able to get through the snow was an advantage.

He laughed and said I was an idiot.

“Just you wait, the next time it snows, you'll struggle all the way to school and find your kids will be the only ones there!” I looked at him dumbfounded... clearly not someone who has ever worked for themselves from home!!!

Hopefully, many of you will already have noticed our new distribution stands that we have been rolling out across the region. There are now 60 brand new stands (like

the one in the picture) out and about across the region. This will allow us to distribute more copies from a single location and hopefully avoid any disappointment for those that find their local point empty only a few days into the month. The speed with which each new edition flies out of our major distribution points is staggering and a satisfying side effect of our growing popularity. It does mean our readers sometimes need to be quick on their feet, so if you do ever struggle to find a copy, there should always be plenty at Limoges Airport - we currently distribute over 3,000 copies there each month, with our main stand in the terminal being filled twice a week all month long.

Until next month!

Steve Martindale Editor

INSIDE this edition

1 & 3-5 Local News 6-12 National News 13-16 French Life 17 Letters to the Editor 18-19 Classifieds 20 Games 21 Community 22 Clubs & Associations 23-24 What's On B1-B8 Business Directory

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 Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

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Limousin unveils new 100% local BEEF burger

F

ollowing the Europe-wide horse meat scandal, many people have become sceptical when choosing a meal involving processed beef. Launched in the shadow of the current processed meat crisis, rest assured that you can have complete confidence in the Lou Burger, made entirely from traceable Limousin produce.

The Lou Burger was unveiled in February by Jean-Paul Denanot, president of the Conseil régional and Emmanuel Rabaud, president of Crépal (Comité régional de promotion des produits agroalimentaires du Limousin) and will be on sale at the Salon d'Agriculture in Paris from 23rd February to 3rd March.

Created by Laurent Butot, head chef at Limoges restaurant Le Geyracois, the Lou Burger is made from 100% local Limousin beef. The burger is served in a bun made with chestnut flour by a local baker, and topped with a slice of pomerol, a cow's milk cheese made at the Duroux dairy in Corrèze. It is finished off with a slice of Limousin apple, a lettuce leaf and a choice of two sauces.

The €12 take-away menu comes served with a dessert of either a Golden du Limousin AOP apple or Bijou madeleines and a drink - eau de Treignac or Limouzi Cola.

You can't get more local than that! ■

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British butcher to represent Limousin for national glory

T

he Limousin will be represented at this year's Meilleur Apprenti Boucher (best apprentice butcher) competition by a young man from HauteVienne. But 17-year-old Robert Fairbank will also be flying the flag for the expat community when he takes part in the event on 7th and 8th April at Tours.

After 4 hours de-boning, preparing and presenting a variety of cuts of meat at a regional competition held recently in Tulle, Robert beat rival apprentices from Haute-Vienne, Corrèze and Creuse to go forward to represent the Limousin at the national finals to be held in Tours next month.

Robert Fairbank, in the second year of his apprenticeship under Guy Tallet, butcher at Ladignac-leLong, crossed the Channel aged nine and speaking no French. “I picked up French very quickly,” Robert told The Bugle. “Within about 6 months of starting school I was fluent. It is easier when you are that age. I know people who

moved here in their midteens and still struggle with the accent many years later.”

Robert has grown up around cattle and follows in something of a family tradition. His mother and step father have a large farm of 150 Limousin cattle in the Haute-Vienne and at 9 years old he was already driving tractors and helping calve cows!

Back in Yorkshire, where his family originate from, a number of Fairbanks are also farmers, butchers and slaughtermen.

Robert's mother, Charlotte, was understandably chuffed with her son's achievements, but was also keen to stress the advantages of an apprenticeship.

“I'm so very proud of him,” she said. “Robert is an interne and works hard all week, still doing French, technology, maths, etc. and always shows excellent results. Basically, an apprentisage is an excellent choice for young adults like him.”

Limousin's best young butcher is due to qualify

from his CAP apprenticeship this summer, but one thing is for sure: having “Meilleur Apprenti de

France” on his CV would not harm his future job prospects. Watch this space for results of the competition. ■

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS Nicholas

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Cost of a basket Beavers return to the region of food rises again in 2012 ometimes it feels like life is getting more and more expensive. But according to figures revealed recently, the average price of a basket of essential items in your local supermarket rose by only 1.4% in 2012, less than inflation (2%).

Although the annual rise was modest, when calculated between January and November, the increase is a more significant 3.5%.

This is due to the fact that supermarkets will often slash their prices in early January before gradually ramping them up for the end of year holidays, an important gastronomic season for the French. What's more, in November 2012, the standard basket of essentials reached €138.60, its highest cost since 2006.

The survey also revealed a sharp increase in the price of low-cost value

products and supermarket own brand items - 8.12% and 4.14% respectively compared with branded products which saw an increase of 2.65%.

Conversely, sales of lower brand items soared compared with their branded competitors in 2012, suggesting that the supermarkets are getting increasingly accomplished at pushing us towards their own products... and presumably higher profit margins!

Denise Gayral, from the Familles rurales organisation in Haute-Vienne, said that it was difficult to identify an average shopper but noted that consumers will try and buy French where possible, seeing that as a sign of quality. “In this respect, the Limousin is very lucky, as it is one of the regions with the best quality labelling and even its own 'made in Limousin' stamp it's a real plus.” ■

© 2006 - Per Harald Olsen (WiiCommons)

S

I

f residents in the north of Haute-Vienne go down to the woods today, they may be in for a big surprise. Not that you're likely to see a teddy bears' picnic, but you may catch sight of a beaver. Beavers were hunted to extinction in France in the late 19th century for their fur, but the rodents have now been spotted back in the Limousin for the first time in well over a hundred years.

Their comeback has come about through completely natural means - they have not been re-introduced by wildlife organisations. It is thought that the beaver spotted near BussièrePoitevine has come down the river Gartempe from Montmorillon, where others are known to have been living for a while.

Today, there are an estimated 10-12,000 beavers in France, but be careful not to confuse them with the native ragondin, better know as a coypu in the UK. Ragondins are considered a pest; the massive amount of earth they move to create their

riverside tunnels can have a devastating effect on the riverbanks. When combined with the clearing of vegetation for food, the result is often destabilisation of the riverbanks and an increased rate of erosion.

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It is not known if the beaver spotted in Haute-Vienne is a male or a female, but researchers estimate that it will be a young adult that has left its family in search of a territory of its own. ■

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Beavers, on the other hand, are a protected species; it is illegal to hunt or injure a beaver, or to destroy its established habitat.

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

Limousin pressing ahead Creuse safest place in France with wind farm plans

W

ind power - and the associated installation of wind farms is a controversial issue in the Limousin. Despite a number of victories by those opposed to these éoliens, the region is pushing ahead with plans to install a number of wind farms in the near future.

According to surveys carried out by the region, 25% of the Limousin is very well suited to wind farms and 55% is suitable with slight constraints. But the companies looking to install a wind farm will rarely have an easy ride.

“Between identifying a suitable site and the actual construction of a wind turbine, you need to allow ten years, 5 of which will be taken up with bureaucracy,” explained

© 2006 - cap21photo (Flickr)

>> continued from pg 1

Carlos de Andrez Ruiz, a representative of the Limousin's wind power professionals.

“Businesses will typically spend more in legal fees than they will spend actually building the wind turbines themselves.”

However, changes to law that were introduced in January of this year - the so called loi Brotte - look set to make the process much easier for the energy companies whilst simultaneously removing one of the main avenues of legal opposition for campaigners.

Today, there are 15 wind turbines in operation in the Creuse, producing 10% of the department's needs. In fact, Creuse could soon become an exporter of energy. There are a further 6 turbines currently in service in northern Corrèze.

Two further wind farms are currently under construction in the Limousin, a 4-turbine park near La Souterraine and a single 2MW turbine at RilhacLastour.

Many more have been authorised, at 7 sites across the three departments, including a massive 24-turbine farm near Le Dorat, although the majority are under administrative appeal.

The region seems determined to push ahead with its renewable energy agenda and the long-term objective is to have 600 turbines churning out energy by 2030. These would produce 1500MW of power, 80% of the region's requirements and would, together with hydroelectric power, make the region energy selfsufficient. ■

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which were up over 38%. Creuse's state prosecutor was keen to put this statistic into perspective, however: “You must take into account the low number of actual crimes in this area, 170 in 2012 compared to 123 in 2011.”

Another area where Creuse tops the pile is in cases of physical violence, with 2.58 per 1,000 inhabitants, again well below the national average of 7.69. Violence did increase by around 13% - with 319 cases reported in 2012 - although as may be expected in a rural, isolated communities, nearly half of these cases occurred within the family, and of those an alarming 83% were committed against women. “We have seen a rise in this kind of violence in Bourganeuf, La Souterraine and Aubusson,” explained Colonel Pichard, head of the Creuse Gendarmerie. “These are towns linked to destabilisation, unemployment, alcoholism and the continued economic downturn.”

The reason for the department's lack of crime is also one of its biggest hurdles for economic development - infrastructure.

Speaking to The Bugle in 2010, Colonel Pichard explained: “Creuse is one of the most rural departments in France and

subsequently one of the poorest. Creuse does not attract many criminals from over its departmental borders. Our crime tends to come from within. The only major road is the RN145 which we police very closely, so the department is not set up for making quick getaways. We do see a 60/40 split in crimes between the north and the south, and one factor is the effect of this road.”

La Souterraine is the richest town in the department and close to both the RN145 and the A20 - it is no surprise to learn that it also has the highest rates of crime, particularly financial crimes.

From February this year, Creuse has been added to a list of departments where victims of crime, however rare, can fill out a precomplaint form online by visiting www. pre-plainte-en-ligne.gouv.fr. Haute-Vienne and Corrèze are also on this list as are the Indre, Vienne, Charente and Dordogne departments. By filling out a form online, a victim of crime will be contacted within 24 hours and given an appointment to see a gendarme or member of the Police - wait times in the station are then guaranteed to be less than 15 minutes. The system is designed for petty crime and thefts - for serious crimes or emergencies, you should still call 15 or 17. ■

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

Le Pub Coming soon at

Living life in France with the French 58, rue d’Orjon, Argenton-sur-Creuse

Reopen from Thursday 28th Feb following our sunny winter holidays

“Life in france was getting a bit dull, Le Pub came along and now there is nowhere better. Met loads of great people, English and French!”

Mr I, Argenton

“At Le Pub, we are always amazed by his huge portio ns!

We always leav e having well eaten, filled to the brim!”

Gladys Gourm and, Indre

• Friday 15th March - François’ (frogs) 50th Birthday disco with DJ Allright Bab!!! Free bottle of bubbly for any other March babies!!!

• Saturday 16th March - St Patrick’s Night party with live Irish music, reservation highly recommended.

• Saturday 23rd March - Karaoke.

• Saturday 30th March - Easter Saturday. Live Music by our very own Melanie, with the voice of an angel. You will be amazed at her voice as she sings us into the night!

• Sunday 31st March - Easter Roast Dinner and Pudding for only €10! Nobody can beat us for the quality and value of our Sunday roasts.

• Saturday 6th April - Sing and dance the night away with Acoustimix. Super songs in English and French and an electric atmosphere.

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

All-female race to be the next mayor of Paris Bertrand Delanöe, the current Socialist mayor of Paris, has announced that he will not run next year for another term. The news means that Paris is almost certain to get its first female mayor – all the other names currently in the hat are for women.

The current front runner for the job, historically viewed as a springboard to the presidency, is Delanoë’s deputy, Anne Hidalgo, 53, who seems certain to be the unchallenged Socialist Party candidate. For a long time, her main rival looked to be Rachida Dati, 47, the glamorous star of former president Nicolas Sarkozy's “government of openness”, who was the early favourite for the Right.

Dati's ambitions have been dealt a severe blow, however, following Nathalie KosciuskoMorizet officially declaring her candidacy.

The 39-year-old, known simply as NKM in the French press, was Sarkozy's spokesperson during his failed bid for re-election in 2012. Polls suggest that NKM can command higher numbers of right-leaning votes than Miss Dati.

A fourth potential

candidate is the Green Party's Cécile Duflot, the 37-year-old housing minister, who said recently that “nothing is ruled out” about her candidacy.

Philippe Marlière, a professor in French politics at University College London, believes Delanoë’s choice to anoint Hidalgo as his would-be successor made it impossible for the other parties to put up their “traditional male” candidates to oppose her.

Many believe that an all-female race would be good for politics in France and could even lead to a female head of state. “The mayor of Paris has a lot of political clout, much more than London,” Professor Marlière told The Local.

“So having a woman in that position will certainly help boost the presence of females in French politics.

You can introduce all kinds of laws on equality but this kind of scenario will help much more.

“I think it’s definitely in the pipeline [a female president]. I don’t think the French are ready to elect a president from an ethnic minority like an Obama figure, but they’re much closer to having a female president.” ■

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Here Ouigo - €10 TGV tickets

F

rench rail company SNCF has taken on the low-cost airlines by launching a no-frills, high-speed rail service. Tickets for the new Ouigo trains have already gone on sale and from April 2 will link Paris to Marseille and Montpellier on the south coast via LyonSaint-Exupéry Airport .

The launch had been widely anticipated, but SNCF have shocked the industry by putting tickets on sale from just €10 - far lower than the €25 that had been expected.

The business model will be familiar to those of us who are accustomed to being shuttled round Europe by the low-cost carriers. Trains will in fact leave from Marne-la-Vallée, 30km to the east of Paris, so travellers need to factor a further 7 or 8 euros to get in and out of central Paris itself. The trains do terminate in the main train stations of Montpellier and Marseille, however.

The comparisons with the EasyJet and Ryanair model extend beyond just cheap tickets. The trains, although identical to the current TGVs in use, will have no first-class section, no café or bar, and less free space. The result is that they can carry over 1,200 passengers, 20% more than a 'normal' TGV service. Luggage will cost extra as well, with a charge of €5 for a second bag. If you want to use a power point, that will set you back €2, and transporting a pet costs €30.

Even with the added extras, Ouigo is now the cheapest way to get between the country's capital and the south coast. And it is quick... the lack of frills

does not extend to the journey time: 3h 15min to Marseille and 3h 35min to Montpellier.

Each year 400,000 seats will go on sale at just €10 with a further one million costing €25. Prices will rise depending on demand until they reach a maximum price of €85. The tickets are clearly targeted at families, with under12s travelling for just €5. Groups of more than four can get tickets at €20, bookable two weeks before travel.

SNCF does already offer cut-price TGV tickets in the form of 'TGV Prem' and 'iDTGV' tickets, but these come with restrictions and need to be booked months ahead of travel. Ouigo, however, will allow passengers to make their travel plans a week or so in advance, but still keep their expenses low.

“This new offer is for the 4 million

people living on the outskirts of Paris who are currently more likely to take their car than the train,” said SNCF chief Guillaume Pepy. It will also no doubt interest British expats who can connect to the Eurostar via Marne-la-Vallée, theoretically making London to the south of France a 6-hour journey.

SNCF director of travel, Barbara Dalibard, has already confidently announced that the company expects to sell one million ‘Ouigo’ seats every year.

SNCF's entrance into the low-cost travel market comes shortly after Air France announced in January that it was launching 'Hop!', its low-cost challenge to Ryanair and EasyJet. British Airways has also recently announced “hand luggage only” tickets on selected routes in a clear attempt to tap into the no-frills market.■

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS Septic tanks

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Etch A Sketch inventor dies

The French inventor of the Etch A Sketch, the mechanical drawing toy that has been a firm favourite for generations of children, has died aged 86.

André Cassagnes, a former electrical technician, passed away in Paris on 16th January, the toy's manufacturer said. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

“Etch A Sketch has brought much success to the Ohio Art Company, and we will be eternally grateful to André for that. His invention brought joy to so many over such a long period of time,” said Larry Killgallon, the manufacturer's president.

Cassagnes, an electrical technician, developed the idea for what he called “l'Ecran Magique” (the magic screen) in the late 1950s when he peeled a translucent transfer from a light switch plate and found pencil mark images transferred to the opposite face.

The toy, with its iconic grey screen and red frame, has two knobs that are twisted to create drawings. A shake erases the image. More than 100 million units have been sold in the Etch a Sketch's long history. ■

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British poet joins Académie française

A

British academic has made history after being voted into the Académie française, the body that maintains the ‘purity’ of the French language. The 40 members of the Academy are known as the “immortals” and Professor Michael Edwards now sits among them. In the 400-year history of the Academy, there has never been a British-born member, or a member whose first language was English.

The 74-year-old scholar was born in Barnes, south-west London and did not speak his first word of French until he was 11. He is today a published poet in both English and French and is a professor at the Collège de France, the prestigious institution just across the road from the Sorbonne in Paris' Latin Quarter. He has lectured and written on Shakespeare in French and on the classical 17th-century French playwright Racine in English.

“From my very first lesson in French at 11 years old, I felt a sense of wonder, a sense of marvel, that there was a completely other way in which people could express themselves,” Professor Edwards said.

Marc Fumaroli, one of the institute's 40 immortals, spoke to The Local after Professor

Edwards' election: “English is not like French, which is a classic literary language. English is a language of communication and convenience. It is not poetic or literary. We need to protect the great classic languages of literature and poetry like French and Italian. English too needs to be protected, because it is threatened by its own dominance. It is not the language of the great writers, it is now the language of the airport.”

The Académie française was created in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Its aim was to “fix the French language, giving it rules, rendering it pure and comprehensible by all”. Since then, the body of 40 immortals has met regularly, compiled 9 editions of a dictionary of the French language and campaigned tirelessly to maintain the purity of French.

Membership is for life – unless it is revoked for misconduct (for example, General Pétain was ejected following his Vichy government’s collaboration during the Second World War) – and new members are only elected when a post is freed up by the death of an immortal.

Former notable members include Voltaire and Victor Hugo.

One of the main roles of the Academy in the modern world is to come up with French

words for “Anglo-Saxon” linguistic invaders like ʻemailʼ (replaced with courriel).

France introduced the “Toubon” law in 1994 making the use of French obligatory in official government publications, in state-funded schools, in advertisements and French workplaces. This means, for example, that all English words on billboards must come with a French translation in a footnote.

Each French ministry also has its own commission of terminology and neologisms, whose job is to track down English terms and offer French alternatives. They send their proposals to the Academy, which debates the new terms and rubber stamps them.

Unfortunately for the Académie française, however, its rulings are only advisory. Once

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the language of the world's elite, French now ranks as only the eighth most spoken language in the world and its influence is clearly declining.

French teenagers and twentysomethings talk of ʻle buzzʼ, they wear ʻles leggingsʼ and enjoy ʻhappy hourʼ in ʻle pubʼ, immune to the protestations of the Academy.

Speaking to The Independent following his nomination, Professor Edwards said: “This is a moment of crisis for French and it makes sense, I believe, for the Academy to choose someone who comes

from, as it were, the opposite camp but has become a champion of the special importance and beauty of the French language.

“The Academy is sometimes mocked abroad and even in France for trying to defend the French language from debasement in the modern world. But the Academy is quite right to do so. Quite right. French is not just a beautiful language.

It represents a way of looking at the world, a way of ‘naming the world’, a pattern of thought, which is quite different from our own.” ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9 Ask at the reception desk for Erik

EDF prices to rise 30% in 5 years

It is a statement that will worry a great number of people: “The CRE foresees a significant increase in electricity prices for all consumers in the next five years.” In the CRE (Energy Regulation Commission) report published this month, the independent administrative authority charged with monitoring France's electricity and gas markets said it expects a 30% increase in EDF's prices between 2012 and 2017.

EDF chief executive, Henri Proglio, has said that he is going into negotiations with the government to renegotiate electricity prices and wanted a “reasonable rise in the years to come”.

Mr Proglio pointed to the high costs of maintaining the national grid and financing renewable power and also to higher-than-expected costs for the country’s backbone of nuclear power plants.

More than one-third of the expected hike is accounted for by a doubling of the ‘contribution au service public de l’électricité’, a charge which goes towards funding renewable energy development in France. The government has a target for 23% of the country's electricity needs to be met by renewable energy sources.

President of the energy watchdog, Philippe de Ladoucette, was blunt in his appraisal. “We are confronted with a reality. We can’t have a policy of renewable energy development, but also tell you it will cost nothing,” he told Europe 1 radio.

EDF has launched an economy drive which is intended to cut one billion euros off its running costs; each manager is responsible for cutting expenses by 5%.

Despite this, the company is still looking to recruit 2,000 new personnel in 2013. Last year, the company reported better-than-expected financial results with profits up 5.3% to €3.34billion on total revenues of €72.7bn. ■

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Ryanair adds a further charge to all flights

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yanair has announced that it will add a further 50 cents to every flight booked from 1st March to cover a predicted rise in compensation claims against the Irish airline. The move follows a European court ruling stating that passengers can claim for flight cancellations in cases outside the airline's control, such as air traffic controller strikes or exceptionally bad weather.

The European Court of Justice ruled in favour of Dubliner Denise McDonagh who claimed that she should be compensated for costs following the cancellation of her flight from Faro to Dublin on April 17th 2010 due to the Icelandic volcano eruption. Flights between continental Europe and Dublin did not resume until April 22nd and Ms McDonagh could not return home until April 24th. She claimed the airline owed her €1,130. The case is expected to open a raft of new claims.

The latest 50 cent increase is on top of the €2 EU261 levy Ryanair already adds on ticket prices to contribute to the EU compensation scheme. It is estimated that the current levy raised €120 million for Ryanair in 2012, although only €27 million has been paid out by the airline in compensation claims over the ash cloud. However, Ryanair said this figure did not include other costs related to the cloud, as well as payments related to delays and cancellations caused by events

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beyond its control. The airline declined to give a figure for how much it has paid to customers in additional compensation.

Critics have accused the budget carrier of using the compensation argument to conceal a straightforward price hike. A spokesman for rival airline Flybe said: “We note with interest Ryanair’s move to increase its ticket prices. Whatever they might be saying in public, anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of the aviation industry knows this is a smokescreen to cover their spiralling fuel costs and is a very thinly disguised fuel surcharge.”

Bob Atkinson of travelsupermarket. com said: “I don't understand why Ryanair need to put this added charge on the ticket as an extra levy. If their costs have increased, it should simply be part of the overall ticket price. Passengers must always check the total ticket price and beware of such added 'extras'.”

Under the EU rules, passengers on

short-haul flights who face a delay to their destination of up to 2 hours because of a cancellation are entitled to €125 compensation. This rises on a sliding scale until long-haul passengers delayed more than four hours are entitled to €600.

However, the airline is not required to pay if it can prove the cancellation was caused by 'extraordinary circumstances'.

Critics say that the new surcharge is the latest in a long list of hidden charges that Ryanair add to its flight prices. In 2009 the company increased its baggage handling fee by 50%. Last year, it announced plans to have coin-operated toilets on its flights. Two years ago, Ryanair began charging passengers for the right to check in: €6 online, or €20 at the airport. And the company also charges for using credit or debit cards: only by using the prepaid Ryanair MasterCard can you avoid the €6 per person per flight “administration fee”, which adds €48 to the cost of a return trip for a family of 4. The

50

estimated cost to the airline of processing each payment is 35 cents.

Ryanair has denied the move is a new “hidden fee”, saying in a statement on its website: “Ryanair regrets that last month’s decision of the European Court, which now allows passengers to claim for flight delays which are clearly and unambiguously outside any airline’s control (and which now makes the airlines the insurer of last resort), will materially increase the cost of flying in Europe and airfares will increase as airlines are obliged to recover the cost of these manifestly unfair claims from their customers.

“Making airlines financially liable for volcanoes in Iceland, snow in Heathrow or regular ATC strikes in France and Spain is the equivalent of making Toyota and Audi liable for traffic jams in London.

“We should not be liable for compensation for events which are clearly outside of our control.” ■

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10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

France takes step towards legalising euthanasia

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rance’s medical ethics council has spoken out on the controversial issue of assisted suicide by saying that euthanasia should be permissible in exceptional cases and when patients make “persistent and lucid requests” to end their life. Invoking a “duty to humanity”, the body said that euthanasia should be reserved for “exceptional cases” like putting an end to “prolonged suffering” or “unbearable” pain.

The council's conclusions came after President François Hollande asked it to examine the precise circumstances under which assisted suicide could be authorised, with a view to tabling draft legislation by June. President Hollande had claimed that, “the existing legislation does not meet the legitimate concerns expressed by people who are gravely and incurably ill”.

Under a law introduced in 2005, doctors are allowed to administer painkilling drugs at levels they know will, as a secondary effect, shorten a patient's life. “However, the law can offer no solution to certain cases of prolonged agony or to psychological and/or

physical pain that, despite the means employed, remain uncontrollable,” said the council.

The council highlighted three scenarios where doctors could legally intervene. In the first case, the patient involved would be capable of making an explicit request or have issued advance instructions in the event of their becoming incapable of expressing an opinion.

The second scenario envisages medical teams withdrawing treatment and/ or nourishment on the basis of a request by the family of a dying patient who is no longer conscious and has not made any instructions.

The third would apply to cases where treatment is serving only to sustain life artificially.

The author of the report, Professor Didier Sicard, stressed that he did not support any measures which “suddenly and prematurely end life”. “We are radically opposed to inscribing euthanasia in law,” he said.

There are about 3,000 euthanasia cases in France annually on average, all of them illegal, according to France's national demographics council. ■

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month after launching its casse-croûte menu - sandwiches in traditional baguettes - McDonald's has unveiled its latest culinary weapon in the battle to win over the French... the McCamembert. Launched under the title “Grandes envies de fromages” and due to run for 2 months, the new McCamembert sits alongside 3 other similar “French” sandwiches involving traditional cheeses: Comté, Raclette and Chèvre.

The symbolic addition of the McCamembert to McDonald’s menu fits into a larger strategy of adapting to French eating habits while working with local suppliers. In 2009, the chain introduced a wholewheat Big Mac hamburger. It later launched the McCantal, with French cheese and the Charolais, with French meat, and last year first trialled the McBaguette.

McDonald’s success has been a cultural phenomenon in a country that prides itself on its cuisine and that is for the most part vehemently anti-American and resistant to cultural imperialism. A key factor in this has been its acceptance by France’s notoriously protective agricultural industry. By sourcing 80% of its produce locally, McDonald's has brought the French farmers onside and avoided protests from that sector.

At the launch of January's casse-croûte menu, executive Nawfal Trabelsi explained McDonald’s strategy in France to Le Figaro: “We had to wait to have legitimacy in France before we could offer such a product. For around a decade now we’ve been moving towards a more French-style McDo.” He went on to say that “The logic is to try and find the meeting point between our core business, which is the hamburger, and French food culture”.

The plan is working. France is today the

company’s second biggest market outside the US, with a reported turnover of €4.19 billion in 2011. The company opened 41 new restaurants on these shores last year and has another 44 scheduled to open in 2013. It currently has 66,000 employees in France and due to the fact that it sources so much of its ingredients locally, indirectly employs a further 40,000 producers across the country.

Its success does not please everybody, however, and as France tackles a growing obesity problem, the light is shining ever more brightly on fast food. A governmentbacked study recently revealed that obesity had doubled in France in the last 15 years with the problem worst amongst the young: obesity in 18-24-year-olds has increased by 35% since 2009.

Food Minister Guillaume Garot is preparing to speak to the food industry in a bid to find ways to help people avoid eating high-calorie and unhealthy foods. The only positive thing to say about the nation's waistline is that it could be worse - 'only' 15% of French adults are considered clini-

cally obese, compared to 26% in England and 36% in America.

The McCamembert is unlikely to win McDonald's any friends in the fight against flab - adding thick slices of cheese will not be reducing the calorie count. The McBaguette is no better: 565 calories for the ham and cheese version, 605 if you have it with a hamburger and an eye-watering 719 for the breaded chicken version - that's before you've added chips or a drink! In contrast, the Big Mac contains 510 calories.

Simply putting a “Mc” in front of a wellrecognised word would appear, on the face of it, to be a cheap way of trying to win the locals over. But it is one that works last year's McBaguette was eaten by 1 in 3 diners, second in popularity only to the Big Mac. It is also a marketing ploy that McDo has used to great effect the world over. The most popular burger in India is the McAloo Tikki, with a spiced potato-based filling.

Visit the Middle East and sample a McArabia (a grilled chicken sandwich served on a flatbread). Or how about a Mega Teriyaki in Japan? ■

France back at head of world food table

France has reclaimed the top spot in the culinary world following the publication of the most recent edition of the Michelin Guide.

In its latest publication, the gastronomy bible has awarded 3 stars to 35-year-old chef Arnaud Donckele for his restaurant La Vague d'Or in Saint-Tropez. He also becomes the youngest French chef to hold the publication's highest honour.

Following Donckele's promotion, France now has 27 threestar establishments, putting it level with Japan, which had briefly taken the top spot last year in the coveted guide.

In France, five restaurants gained a second star, bringing the national total to 82. There are 487 one-starred restaurants this year, including 39 that have been awarded their first stars. Michelin

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McDo unveils McCamembert

said that in this edition it had paid tribute to regional cuisine and “terroir” – gastronomy intimately linked to the local soil.

The supremacy of the iconic red food guide has been challenged in recent years with renowned chefs reportedly giving back their stars and others claiming that the concept is arcane. Many believe that the pressure to produce “Michelin style” food is stifling creativity and produces unprofitable businesses that rely on keeping the stars for financial survival.

François Simon, Le Figaro's food critic, said that today the Michelin guide had an impossible task since “gastronomy has become technically impossible to rank”, given the bewildering array of tastes and styles on offer. ■

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Beckham mania Police stumped as DNA descends on Paris points to identical twins

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he French press took a day off from traditional news reporting recently as hysteria descended following the news that Sir David of Beckham had signed for Paris Saint-Germain. Not only that, but Leytonstone's favourite son would be donating his estimated €4 million salary to a local charity.

For 24 hours, little else was in the news, a testimony to the global power of “Brand Beckham”. If Paris Saint-Germain had signed any other 37-year-old, one-time footballing great, fans would have shrugged and asked: “qui?”

Within days, and before even playing his first game, Beckham had his very own puppet on the cult TV show Les Guignols. a

hugely popular programme that is the French equivalent of Spitting Image. In his first appearance, the not entirely convincing Beckham puppet, speaking Franglais with a heavy English accent, dominated the 10-minute spoof news show.

While in Paris for matches and training sessions, Beckham will apparently live (at PSG’s expense!) in the €17,000 a night “Imperial Suite” at the Hotel Bristol near the Elysée Palace.

Beckham's move to Paris generated huge numbers of column inches and headlines, but the award for best pun must surely go to The Sun who announced the news under the simple headline: “Golden Boules”! ■

A right-leaning MP has submitted a draft law to France's National Assembly that would make voting compulsory for all French citizens. The proposals, put forward by UMP politician Thierry Lazaro, include a €15 fine for those found to have not cast a vote, rising to €45 for repeat offenders. Nine other MPs have also signed the draft version of the law that will be debated in the Assembly.

It is not the first time that compulsory voting has been mooted in France – in fact, according to Le Figaro, it is the

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it to DNA found at some of the crime scenes. Local newspaper La Provence reported that police were told it could cost up to one million euros for the necessary tests.

It quoted a DNA expert saying that only the smallest of differences exist in the DNAs of identical twins. “For a normal analysis we compare 400 base pairs,” the expert said, adding that with twins “We would be looking at billions”.

“They are real identical twins, nothing really distinguishes them, and they repeatedly use and lean on the fact that they are twins,” said another source on the case, speaking to Le Parisien. ■

France considers compulsory voting 13th time in as many years that changes of this nature have been put forward.

Justifying his proposals, Mr Lazaro stated that “If voting is a right, then it is also an honour and a duty and should be done in memory of those who gave their blood for France”.

Critics say it would cost more to pursue non-voters than the token fine would generate in revenue and argue that it is up to politicians to make a more compelling case for turning out to vote.

France actually has relatively

high voter turnout for presidential elections – more than 80% of the population voted in the first round of 2012's presidential elections, far outstripping Germany (71%), and the UK (66%). Turnout for parliamentary elections is typically lower, however, with just 55% voting in 2012.

Voting is compulsory in a number of EU countries Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein - as well as in numerous countries around the globe including Australia, Egypt, Turkey, Peru, Bolivia and Argentina. ■

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one,” he said, adding that current techniques available for identifying the differences between DNA of identical twins were “onerous”, costly, and rarely conducted in French labs.

Mr Kiehl said the victims - six women between the ages of 22 and 76 - had formally identified their assailants from photos, but were unable to tell the twins apart.

“The seriousness of the crimes necessitates that an expert genetic examination is now launched and financed,” said a source working on the case, speaking to the French daily Le Parisien.

Investigators are going ahead with plans to complete the “enormous” job of decoding the DNA of the suspects, then comparing

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olice in Marseille have used DNA traces to track down the culprit of a series of rapes in the southern French city, only to find that the DNA identified belongs to 2 men... twins. The two 24-yearold unemployed delivery drivers, identified only by their first names Elwin and Yohan, have both been charged over the attacks and are being held without bail as investigators attempt to distinguish between their genetic codes.

“It's a rather rare case for the alleged perpetrators to be identical twins,” Emmanuel Kiehl, the chief investigator on the case, told French media. “We must determine the exact role of each

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12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

High-speed chase as car France outlaws #hashtag gets stuck at 200kph

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terrified motorist endured a hairraising ordeal recently when the speed regulator on his car jammed, resulting in a high-speed chase across northern France that ended in a ditch in Belgium.

When Frank Lecerf set off to do his weekly shop near Abbeville in northern France, he had no idea he was about to make the national news. The 36-year-old was on a dual carriageway on his way to the hypermarket when his car's speed regulator got stuck at 100kph. Every time he tried to brake, the car accelerated. Before long he was careering along at 200kph, where the regulator jammed.

Showing remarkable calm, he managed to call the emergency services while dodging other vehicles in the fast lane. The police dispatched a number of cars, but it soon became apparent that Mr Lecerf's only option was to keep going until his petrol ran out. Escorting him at breakneck speed across almost 200 kilometres of French motorway, the convoy passed Calais and Dunkirk, and were soon heading towards the Belgian border.

“My life flashed before me,” he later

told Le Courrier picard. “I just wanted it to stop.”

Three toll stations were warned to raise their barriers as Lecerf ploughed through.

Shortly after, his petrol tank finally spluttered empty and losing speed he managed to swerve into a ditch in Alveringem in northern Belgium – ironically not far from the town of La Panne (panne is French for a breakdown!)

“It is a miracle that I survived. There is no other word,” Mr Lecerf said. “Whatever happens, I am never going back in that car.” Mr Lecerf suffers from epilepsy and his Renault Laguna 3 had been especially modified for disabled drivers - the throttle and brake are operated by controls on the steering wheel.

Lecerf said that it wasn't the first time his speed dial had jammed but that Renault had looked at the car and assured him that it was fine. He was unhurt following his ordeal, but had two epileptic seizures upon stepping out of his car.

His lawyer said he would file a legal complaint over “endangerment of a person's life”. Renault told television station France 2 that it would await the results of an investigation before commenting. ■

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he French government has confined the word 'hashtag' to the poubelle, banning its use in all official documents. France's powerful Académie française, the body charged with maintaining the purity of the French language, has decreed that the word 'mot-dièse' should be used instead in spoken French, or wherever the # symbol appears in text. The government has also urged the media and teachers to use the new term instead of the popular Anglicism currently in everyday use in France.

News of the introduction of the new term 'mot-dièse' (literally sharp word) spread

quickly among French Twitter users as many criticized and mocked the new term, calling it “awful” and “much less stylish”. In an embarrassing twist for the Académie française the new word does not even work as a hashtag on Twitter; hashtags on Twitter may not contain the 'dash' character used in the new French term!!

France has long battled to protect its language against foreign invaders and the French culture ministry recently put up a huge list of English words on its website which it said had slipped into common French usage and should be banned. These included 'email', 'blog', 'super-

model', 'take-away', 'chewing gum', 'parking', 'weekend' and 'low-cost airline'.

A government report into English two years ago warned of a 'deep crisis' facing the French language. Despite there being in excess of 200 million French speakers on the planet, “the idea of a French-speaking world is becoming obsolete”. The report said: “English speakers have a vision of the so-called English-speaking world, but an equivalent concept does not seem to exist in France.

France is failing to promote its own language, and there seems to be very little interest in doing so.” ■

Paris female trouser ban is finally overturned

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ideal for special occasions

s a woman, one item you never needed to pack when visiting Paris was a pair of trousers - unless you wanted to get arrested, that is. All that has now changed following an announcement by the minister for women's rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, that an archaic Paris by-law, dating from November 1800 and which banned women from wearing trousers, has finally been annulled.

The rule was introduced in 1800 by Paris’ chief of police and demanded that any woman wishing to “dress like a man” should obtain special permission from the city’s main police station. Although the rule has survived successive attempts to remove it from the books, it has been watered down over the years. In

1892, the wearing of trousers became tolerated “as long as the woman is holding the reins of a horse”.

This became further relaxed in 1909 when women who were “on a bicycle or holding it by the handlebars” were also allowed to ‘dress like men’.

An attempt in 1969 to remove the unfashionable rule was rejected by the chief of police of the time, with the response: “It is unwise to change texts which foreseen or unforeseen variations in fashion can return to the fore”.

The irony of the old law was that should you be arrested for fashion crimes by a female member of Paris police force, she herself would be breaking the law: another of Paris’ rules makes trousers compulsory for all Parisian police wom-

en!

In a statement, VallaudBelkacem wrote: “This ordinance is incompatible with the principles of equality between women and men, which are listed in the Constitution, and in France's European commitments.” ■

The Bugle March 2013

2

8 Page Pull-out Section

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Accommodation Activities & Leisure Animals & Pets Antiques/Brocantes Auto Services Building Services Architects Carpenters/Joiners Electricians General Groundworks

Plasterers >> B4 Plumbers >> B4 Chimney Sweeps >> B4 Computers & Satellites >> B5 Food & Drink >> B5-6 Garden Services >> B6 >> B2 Gifts & Crafts >> B6 >> B2 >> B2 Handholding Services >> B6 >> B6 >> B2-B4 Health & Beauty Insurance & Finance >> B6-B7 >> B4 >> B1 >> B1 >> B1 >> B2 >> B2

Accommodation La Petite Maison

Beautiful 2-person gîte in the heart of Creuse.

Perfect for house-hunters & holidaymakers alike.

05.55.80.04.31

www.la-petite-maison.eu sue@la-petite-maison.eu SIRET: 518 135 009 00018

Beautiful 4 person gîte /chalet in a charming village Perfect for nature lovers, walkers.

Available for weekends, week and monthly rentals from 70€.

Special rate for the Christmas weekend and New Year.

Call Florence Godson for more details:

06 40 12 93 53

Chatelus-le-Marcheix, 23430

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

La Courede Bed and Breakfast

Comfortable B&B. Two double rooms, en-suite. Guest lounge.

Evening meal on request.

20 minutes from Limoges airport.

05 55 71 08 56 06 75 79 28 71 stevens.peter@wanadoo.fr www.lacourede.eu

siret: 504 584 228 00010

ZE DOG (& CAT) HOUSE

We make sure that “Ze Dog (& Cat) House” is a real home from home for your companions so that they, as well as you, spend a great time on holiday!

June Altman, Le Puytren, 87800 Meilhac

Tel: 05 55 58 87 94 or Mob: 06 61 01 12 21 Email: zdh@ze-dog-house.fr

Dog Holidays at Valhalla Farm

5 Star Accommodation in our Home (Dept 23).

05 55 03 76 87 / 06 30 02 35 73

www.cosmoflightschool.com

Only 30 mins from Limoges airport.

Established, purpose built secure cattery. Large individual/family units, tiled floors, shelving, adjoining outside areas.

Heated, individual needs catered for.

NEW - purpose built isolation unit.

Certificate of Capacity. Contact Barbara:

See page 12

SIRET: 494 125 016 00019

bdowning77@wanadoo.fr

sales@thebugle.eu

Mon - Sat: 9.00 - 7.00

Siret no. 538 488 578 00013

Certificat de capacité n° 87-203 RCS Limoges 750 912 057

Rochechouart

(Farges, nr. Aubusson)

Small & friendly, English run.

Viewings welcome.

Certificat de capacité.

Also available: Pet foods, treats & accessories.

Contact Dave Grant: 05 55 67 58 87

Family, cage-free boarding for dogs and cats.

Positive dog training and counseling.

Animals & Pets

The Orchard Kennels & Cattery

05 55 50 19 16

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

The Caring Cattery Cosmo Flight School

Avoid the anguish of sending your pets away from the comfort of their home when you go away on holiday.

I can mind your pets for you in their familiar surroundings, keeping them safe and contented until you return.

carrie.ward@nordnet.fr

Activities & Leisure

www.thelindenhouse.eu info@thelindenhouse.eu

PAWS & HEARTH

Specialist Pet Minding Service

05 55 41 17 76

SIRET: 511 679 011 00011

06.04.17.80.93

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Your advert here

Language Services >> B7 Online Shopping >> B7 Pest Control >> B7 Property Maintenance >> B7 Property Sales >> B7 Retail & Commerce >> B7-B8 Transport/Removals /Storage >> B8 General >> B8

4 Walks each day & lots of T.L.C. Contact Karen & Darren Tel: 05 55 80 95 18 / 06 52 58 17 95 valhallafarm@europe.com www.valhallafarm.org

www.the-orchard.eu

Champlong Chatterie

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

Tel: 05 55 60 27 83

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

Your advert here

SIRET: 511 629 610 00011

05 55 41 17 76

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

05.55.41.17.76

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

B2 ♦ DIRECTORY

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

Antiques/ Brocantes

Building Services Architectural Services

LA GRANGE ANTIQUE

FLEA MARKET / BROCANTE

13 rue Ledru Rollin, 36200 Argenton-sur-Creuse YOU NEED SOME FURNITURE? ASK ME - I HAVE EVERYTHING!!

I SPEAK ENGLISH AND I CAN DELIVER TO YOU!

tel: 06 08 50 36 26

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Auto Services

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE Renovating your French property?

New build?

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Nicholas Hemming Wood Craft

www.nicholashemming.co.uk

02 48 63 15 09 - see main ad pg 4

SHUTTERS / VOLETS

lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

masterplans.eu Comprehensive planning & permissions service for your projects. Dossiers compiled, c/w floorplans, elevations and photo-realisations.

05.55.80.72.83 masterplans@orange.fr siret: 79001698400011

Building Services

Made to Measure Woodwork www.scrollart.co.uk

Robert Johnson

Pine Window Shutters from €35 Pine Ledge and Brace Doors from €69 Bespoke items made

05 55 14 12 43

Oradour-sur-Vayres (87150) Siren 527 854 749

Building Services

Buy/Sell/Scrap Spare Parts for Sale 05.55.48.21.33 - see pg 15

RING BILL!

Registered Car Mechanic

05.55.81.31.85

See Display Ad - pg B5

Le Mécanique Anglais 30 years’ experience

● All Makes & Models ● Repairs ● Servicing ● CT’s ● Specialist in: Vehicle Diagnostics and Auto Electrics Covering 87/24/16 - I can come to you

Email: lemeca24@gmail.com

TEL: 05 53 62 50 46 SIREN: 514 423 532

The English Mechanic

Le Charme De Chêne Handmade solid oak joinery and furniture

Our joinery expertise includes barn doors, barn door frame openings, staircases, kitchens, windows & doors.

We also make handmade furniture.

Every item is bespoke and made to measure.

Please visit our website for recent installations and references.

www.lecharmedechene.com contactus@lecharmedechene.com

02 54 25 65 08 06 16 91 64 67 SIRET: 510 156 763 00011

SUNMAN

Carpentry & Joinery www.sunmancarpentry.com

05.55.15.60.57 - see pg B3

Mobile No: 06 50 63 65 29

General

Ruth & Geoff Kowalczyk All electrical work, home automation & security.

Project management. See our website for more information. French qualified and insured.

30+ years worldwide experience.

Departments covered: 23, 36, 87.

Tel: 05 55 63 10 68 Mob: 06 64 59 48 64 Email: info@pink-electrique.fr www.pink-electrique.fr SIRET: 788 709 871 00016

ELECTRICIAN Philip Evans

Fully Qualified French Electrician All electrical work covered, from a light switch to a full rewire Limousin, Charente & Dordogne covered Emergency Callouts 24/7

Tel: 06 36 35 56 44 or 05 55 78 16 28

Email: philip.evans@live.fr Siret: 533 235 016 00011

05.55.64.18.33 - see pg 11

La Coterie Entreprise See our main ad - pg 8

• NICEIC approved Electrician for 8 years in the UK • Wiring of new installations (including liaising with EDF) • Rewiring existing houses/barns • External & garden lighting • All aspects of electrical works • Fully insured - (10 year Decennale) • Departments covered 19,23 & 87 email: lsetenergie@yahoo.co.uk

Full, Comprehensive Building Service

Registered in France since 2007 Banque Populaire La Souterraine Décennale Insurance All works to normes NF C15-100 ● Fault finding ● Small Works ● Complete rewires ● Consuel certification arranged ● Temporary EDF supplies arranged ● Permanent EDF supplies arranged ● Free quotations

SIRET: 493 084 974 00010

Building Services

05.55.69.75.67 / 06.89.47.69.71

Elegance Home Improvements

ELECTRICIAN

Lumiere Service et Energie

Steven Rofe - 20 Years experience

GODSON

Travaux Publics www.pilgrim23.com 05.55.62.61.12 - pg 3

Approved septic tank installer

Email: robrjhnsn@aol.com Website: www.rob-johnson.biz

Pink Electrique

Carpenters/Joiners

No Siret: 494 916 760 00015

Electricians

Siret No. 501.792.386.00010

Car Breakers - C.R.A.L.

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 * Departments 23 and 87

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.com

Salamandre électricité

T J Renovations 30 years experience in building trade

Full refurbishments undertaken • Stone/Brickwork • Patios • Repointing • Studwork • General Repairs & Maintenance All areas in the Limousin covered Contact Tim

05 55 61 08 02 / 06 52 23 89 54 web: www.builderinthecreuse.co.uk Email: tjrenovations96@yahoo.fr Siret: 750 068 116 00011

DAVID LEE General Builder

All exterior and interior work undertaken including: • Plasterboarding • Plastering • Rendering • Tiling • Blockwork • Bathrooms and Kitchens • Septic tanks As seen on Channel 4's Grand Designs Abroad Covering Limoges and surrounding areas Free Estimates

Mob: 06 08 07 95 24 Email: david.lee044@orange.fr Siret: 453 965 493 00027

BATIMENT SERVICES ROCHE Tailored solutions for your projects - big or small.

Can do part or all of your jobs.

• Painting (inside/outside) • Plaster boarding and insulation • Floor coverings (laminated floors, carpet, etc.)

• Wall coverings (wallpaper, paper to paint, etc.)

• Handyman jobs Phone Seán: 06-77-21-24-54 87800 Meilhac - Free quotations.

SIRET: 788 841 021 00017

05.55.80.83.30 www.lce23.com

BURTON’s BUILDERS Renovation New Build High Finish Quality Work Reliable 8 years Limousin - Photos Refs available

SAVE HEAT - GET INSULATION

Blockwork Brickwork Stonework Repointing Rendering Plastering Tiling Walls Floors etc Now available in Bonnat area 23 also 03,18,36

05 55 62 48 15 / 06 33 17 17 54 stooze@wanadoo.fr siret: 489 041 830 00030

Builder

40yrs Experience in quality work, available for all your House Maintenance/Projects including Plumbing, Carpentry, Masonry, Structural Work, Decorating.

Plus Key Holding service.

Good References. Dept. 23/36

05.55.80.72.60

email: chris.coxon@orange.fr 497 962 001 00010

Steve Booth

Property Maintenance Haute-Vienne and surrounding area Spring Deals Available

Project help Renovations interior & exterior General maintenance Conservation and restoration trained in the UK

Tel: 05 55 06 52 36 Siret Registered

R & B Construction ALL ASPECTS OF RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION *Special Spring Discounts* • House & barn renovations • Garage/loft conversions • Bathroom/shower rooms • Doors/windows • Roofing • Patios/decking • Plumbing & Electrical

See our website: http://www.rb-first-construction.com Tel: 05 55 37 74 06 (Dave) Tel: 05 55 69 75 67 (Steve) (Depts 23, 87 & 19)

siret: 501 792 386 00010

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

DIRECTORY ♦ B3 ADVERTORIAL

Big Dish Satellite - serving the region for 17 years

M

y name is John Sidwell and seventeen years ago I brought my satellite business, Big Dish Satellite, to the Limousin.

Things have changed a lot in those seventeen years and no more so than in the world of satellite broadband.

A couple of years ago, in June 2011, the new generation Tooway satellite broadband service started.

People soon began to realise that this service was different to the others… it was genuinely fast and the monthly quotas had significantly improved.

Right from the start of the new Tooway service, I decided that Big Dish Satellite should have a British supplier and I approached one of the big three - Tooway Direct, based near Oxford. Four years working with a French provider had convinced me that our customers needed to speak in English when help was needed. Also, actually having the equipment and spare parts at our premises and in the

van was essential… customers don’t like waiting!

Last month, February 2013, what was already the best satellite broadband service in Europe became even faster and even more generous … some packages now having unlimited downloading and uploading quotas.

With the new superfast packages in place with typical download speeds of 20 Mbits/second, Tooway is no longer just an alternative for those poor unfortunate souls stuck with slow Dial-Up connections. More of us are using tablets and phones and we are buying smart TVs and other connected devices… we often need faster connections than France Telecom can provide.

In France, it’s not just slow broadband speeds which prevent us from watching web based services like the BBC iPlayer and the new film services like LoveFilm and NetFlix.

It’s the fact that we are connected to the internet via French phone

lines and therefore have a French IP address which blocks us from many UK sites.

All the Tooway kits that we supply automatically have a UK IP address, so accessing these sites and services is not a problem. The combination of that UK IP address and a download speed of 20 Mbits/second means no buffering, so downloading and watching high quality films can be achieved very easily.

There are many advantages in dealing with Big Dish Satellite… all the Tooway kit is kept in stock here at our premises in the Haute Vienne; you can come along for a demonstration and take a kit home with you. Payments are made by card, there are no direct debit forms to fill in and you can pay your monthly subscription in either pounds or euros. The Tooway dish is designed for DIY installation and we can supply you with different mounting options… we even terminate the

Tony Hall

Mini Digger

Traditional Building Services

undertaken

with driver

General Builders and dumper hire All types of building work Over 35 years experience References available Décennale Insurance - All areas covered

Tél: 02.54.06.91.54

From €120 per day

06.43.40.58.85

hall.anthony@orange.fr

diggerhire@mail.com

Monte Sarginson

Kitchen & Bathroom Fitting

Siret: 504 350 604 00014

House Renovations Inside & Out

Experience in Roofing, Tiling Floors & Walls, Plumbing, Fitting Kitchens & Bathrooms, Stonework & Rendering, Painting & Decorating

Including Tiling and Plasterboarding

Tel: 05 55 63 88 70 Mob: 06 21 34 18 20

Room construction to finishing touches

Tersannes Timber

T: Ian 05 55 53 37 10 E: ian@zanado.co.uk www.zanado.co.uk

Siret no 507 516 748 00013

www.gatesinfrance.com 05 55 60 14 18 - see pg 7

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Siret. 484 206 624 00014

Double D

Renovations & Home Improvements 05 55 65 00 29 - pg 11

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Carpentry & Joinery

05.55.15.60.57

www.sunmancarpentry.com

ADVERTORIAL

cable for you. You don’t even need a satellite meter because the system has a built in sequence of beeps guiding you to the correct satellite with deadly accuracy.

For those who don’t fancy DIY, we

can install the system for you… that’s what we do, even after all these years. ■

Big Dish Satellite 05 55 78 72 98 www.bigdishsat.com

Lovejoy’s Scaffolding Hire

including bespoke joinery and lime plastering.

All work is fully insured.

References available.

Your advert here

siret: 532 981 198 00015

05 55 41 17 76

Tel: 05 55 68 22 04

LES VIDANGES LIMOUSINES

Windows & Doors

Albo

Entreprise Hines Building & Renovation

All aspects of renovation/ restoration covered

Ring Andy on 05 44 19 15 57 Ring Will on 05 55 37 45 35

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

www.albo.cz/english 07 86 95 18 90 - see pg 8

Magnetic Double Glazing

87800 Jourgnac Siret N° 750 725 780 00019

info@magneticglazing.eu 05.55.60.62.97 - see ad below

Dave Cardwell - Builder

La Noneix

06 49 66 44 25

05 55 98 24 12

See our Display Ad - pg 11

WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES

• house and barn clearances • dechetterie runs • rubbish removal • cash paid for scrap • general labouring service • mini digger hire - with/without driver

05 55 37 45 35 06 74 21 47 71 siret 532 981 198 00015

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

Strong, fully adjustable cup-lock scaffolding Collect and erect yourself to save costs or delivery and erection included www.limousin-builders.com Siret 789 209 236 00015

● Roofing - New & Repairs ● Masonry ● Plastering ● Dry Lining ● Sand Blasting ● Equestrian Buildings ● Digger/Scaffold Hire ● ... and much, much more

28 years qualified experience

05.55.89.69.46

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

B4 ♦ DIRECTORY Septic tanks

systems designed with permissions & paperwork included and independent approval with certification.

Building Services

Celotex

Insulation Specialists 05.55.78.57.60 - see pg 10

RSW Entreprises

General Steve Johns

Fosse Septique Specialist 20+ years experience All aspects covered: Paperwork and permissions arranged Installations (full/part) Upgrades (to current regs) Inspections

Digger and dumper hire

Groundworks, foundations, driveways, etc.

Building & Renovation services Free devis and site visit

05.55.64.11.73

Electrics

diagnostic report and remedial works – consuel approvals - liaison with ERDF for changes. full re-wires, new-build, additions, modifications.

Fosse Septique Specialist

05.55.80.00.57

See our Display Ad - pg 14

Building Services

Tel: 05 55 76 69 32 Mob: 06 43 11 95 87

Plumbers

Multiskilled Artisan

• Plastering • Rendering • Stud Walling • Tiling and associated works • Bespoke polished concrete surfaces for Window Sills, Shelves, Fire Surrounds etc.

• General Renovation interior and exterior of buildings to customer's specification.

Siret No. 513 415 091 00018

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

FOR A QUOTATION CALL

05 55 63 53 06 06 23 29 48 19

harlequindevelopments@live.com www.harlequindevelopments.com

christopher.willis@orange.fr

siret: 514 556 208 00015

SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

SIRET: 504 612 441 00015

KWIKSTAGE Scaffold Hire

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

We guarantee to beat any like for like quote !

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

Building Services Groundworks

The Reclamation Yard

Mini-Digger with driver

www.reclamation-yard.com See our main ad - pg 10

Masonry & More

General building Renovation & maintenance Reliable, good quality work 30 years exp Based central 23 - will travel Martin Sprague

05 55 61 93 07

martin_sprague_1@ hotmail.com SIRET: 531 768 182 00010

PLASTERER Quality Plasterwork, Internal & External

Plasterboarding, Partitioning, Skiming, Solid Plastering, Floor Screeding, Rendering: Mono Couche/Coloured Render Waterproofing Render Systems

Tel: 06 45 18 86 10

(18 Years Experience) Email: glenviney1@btinternet.com

Le Plâtrier du Limousin

SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

05.45.30.72.04

GLEN VINEY

Siret: 527 736 326 00010

05 55 89 69 46 www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr

Le Bourg, 23360 Nouzerolles

05.55.78.62.29

john.bonella@gmail.com

See Main Ad - Pull-out pg B3

Building Services Plasterers Pro-Point Facades

Re-pointing - Rendering - Plastering

05 55 78 80 31 See our Display Ad - pg 4

The friendly and reliable plasterer Registered in France.

Fully insured offering 10 year guarantee.

Call Stuart on:

05 55 80 92 91 06 87 92 83 63

info@platrierlimousin.fr Siret: 534 396 908 00012

MARK COLYER

LIMOUSIN PLASTERING LIMOUSIN STUKADOORS

20 years experience in: ● Solid plastering ● Skimming ● Dry Lining ● Rendering ● Plasterboard Studwork

Specialising in both French lime plastering and English plastering techniques.

10 years tiling experience.

Covering Creuse (23), Haute-Vienne (87), Northern Corrèze (19) & Southern Indre (36) For a free quotation & friendly advice call Mark or Mareike on

05 55 54 95 63

mcolyerplasteringandtiling@orange.fr siret: 539 941 450 00014

sales@thebugle.eu

Tel: 05.55.80.83.30 Email: sales@LCE23.com Web: LCE23.com

bathrooms & kitchens from design to completion; ceilings; partition walls; drylining.

Graham Carter Plastering

Harlequin « LE PLATRIER » Developments Chris the Plasterer All aspects of renovation and refurbishment, big or small, undertaken.

Renovation

Martin Walters

Plumber

Chimney Sweeps

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

Caught out last winter?

Don't worry!

We can now offer winter checks, drain downs, caretaking, general DIY, key holding, as well as our usual friendly plumbing services.

www.stovesellers.com

05 55 63 78 72 Siren: 502 409 949

TOUTE SWEEP

Chimney Sweep Service

Tel 02 54 24 84 62

* 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

Siret 522 804 723 00016

Rick Fife

Plumbing & Heating Engineer

All aspects of Plumbing and Heating work undertaken.

23 Years Qualified (Previously UK CORGI registered – Oil / Natural Gas / LPG) Established and registered in France for 7 years.

Areas Covered: North Creuse (23) & South Indre (36)

Tel: 05 55 62 34 66

Email: amanda.rick@tiscali.co.uk Office Hours: 8:30 – 18:00 Please give us a call to discuss your requirements. If you get the answer machine we WILL return your call the same day. siret: 494 380 264 00015

H20 CREUSE

Heating & Plumbing engineer

05 55 63 89 23 - see pg 13

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Contact Barry Manning

Tel: 05 55 66 14 11 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

CLEAR CHIMNEY SERVICES All types of chimneys cleaned

Clean and Efficient Certificat de Ramonage issued with every chimney swept Woodburner repairs/installation Accredited Flue liner Installer Chimney repairs/maintenance Fabrication & welding to E.N. 287

TEL. 02 54 06 40 80 sootylesweep@orange.fr siren 535 199 483

A. Ives Plumbing & Heating

Your advert here

06 02 37 62 57

05 55 41 17 76

Installations & Alterations Bathroom suites, Showers, Kitchens, Tiling, Complete wetroom installations Emergency work undertaken SIRET 538 689 530 00011

05.55.41.17.76

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

DIRECTORY ♦ B5 ADVERTORIAL

Electro-Sat comes to France

A

t last we are on our way! All the legal matters are at an end and we should take possession of the new office in Sauviat-sur-Vige at the end of February and hope to be operating there from the middle of March.

Installing a big satellite dish

What will be available?

Well, the full-time manager will be Mr Mike Genge.

He has been in the satellite business for more than 15 years and has a wealth of experience. Mike Toms will also be there at the start of most weeks. He has been involved in commercial radio and satellite for over 40 years. Backup and extra staff will be available when needed from the UK. Chris Toms has 20+ years in large and small satellite systems, from multi-satellite systems for broadcasters and universities to commercial antenna rigging, as well as being our senior project manager on electrical installation both domestic and commercial.

Chris Mather, our specialist

Computers & Satellites

electronics engineer, started out as a marine radio officer but has a very wide knowledge base. John Raynor is our workshop and IT engineer. Our French business partner, Guy

Tall pole? Not a problem

Mayday

computer services - pc • mac • network

Lerisson, has many years in the satellite business designing and installing satellite and data systems all over the world, including dishes over 6 metres for data and broadcast.

Well, that’s the team, so what can Electro-Sat do?

Everything from a domestic UK TV reception system to large up/down link systems, broadband, CCTV, home cinema WiFi networks for house or campsite, Tooway, TV, satellite distribution systems for flats, hotels & campsites, HDTV distribution and much more.

We will also be providing DIY kits for UK TV and keeping a wide range of spares available both for DIY and trade customers.

ADVERTORIAL

Food & Drink

05 55 68 47 33 / 06 82 26 31 54 see pg 8

GOODWIN SATELLITE

NO FIX... NO FEE !!

IT Support for Creuse, HauteVienne, Indre and Vienne

www.indre-it.com 02.54.25.65.08 06.16.91.64.67

We provide a fast and friendly service either at the client's home, via remote software or computers can be left with us and collected when the work is complete. ● Ordering/Installing wireless & broadband ● Fixing results of a virus attack ● PC healthchecks ● Virus , trojan , worm removal and protection ● Backups/Disaster recovery ● Hardware/software upgrades. ● Website and graphic design. ● Printer/scanner assistance.

Creusetec

Satellite Systems 05 55 66 60 21

"Tooway" High speed internet via satellite TV Satellite Sales, Service & Installations.

TV Receiver & Electronic Repairs.

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

Tel: 05 55 62 05 61 Mob: 06 06 47 89 66 Email: garygoodwin@wanadoo.fr siret: 453 067 910 00019

Big Dish Satellite www.bigdishsat.com

05 55 78 72 98

see main ad - pg 10 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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Advertise your business here

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Our website www. electro-sat.fr is full of helpful information as well as very competitively priced DIY kits, and via our UK company we will be offering professional transfer of old cine film to DVD. ■

Le Relais de l'Abloux Bar - Restaurant Pizzeria

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

Multi-satellite installation

JJ’s Café Bar

More than just a Bar - Especially January!!

BURNS NIGHT 25 JAN with a free Concert.

Meal €14 (inc. that wee dram of whisky) JJ's CLUB DE MUSIQUE CURRY NIGHT - 12 JAN 39 Place du Champ de Foire, 36140 Aigurande

02 54 06 30 77 cafebarjj@yahoo.co.uk SIRET: 508 754 314 00013

Petticoat Lane 5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99 Visit: www.petticoatlaneshop.com E-mail: sales@petticoatlaneshop.com English groceries, Fresh British 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: Mon - Thur 10am – 6pm Fri 10am – 7pm, Sat 9am – 6pm Visit us and compare our prices

Pizzas to eat in or take away 36170 SACIERGES-ST-MARTIN

Building or renovating a new property? Then make sure you are able to have the latest home technology in your house. Call us for planning advice and don’t get caught out in the future.

Electro-Sat Tel 03 66 88 06 29

Le Pub

58, rue d'Orjon, Argenton-sur-Creuse

02.54.60.02.14 - see pg 6

Your advert here

02 54 47 56 74

05 55 41 17 76

Le Moulin du Breuil BAR, RESTAURANT, TERRASSE

RIVE DROITE

05 55 80 37 70 - see pg 11

02 54 24 01 06

23140 PIONNAT

26, Ecurat 23150

Atelier d'Art du Jardin Open Fri, Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 11h00 to 18h00 from Easter until the end of September.

Artisan art for your garden.

Cream teas on the terrasse.

RDV for weekday visits SVP. 2km from Chénérailles and the Chateau Villemonteix

tel: 05 55 81 31 85

email: artdejardin@gmail.com www.atelierdartdujardin.net

8 rue Ledru-Rollin 36200 Argenton-sur-Creuse

Restaurant - Pizzeria ● Italian Specialities ● Traditional Cuisine ● Home-made Desserts Moules de bouchot available from July to December High Quality Food, a Warm Welcome and a Friendly Atmosphere await Closed Sundays & Mondays

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

B6 ♦ DIRECTORY

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

for all your tree requirements 27 years experience Free quotes and advice We will not be beaten on price or standard of work Fully qualified arborist - Fully insured Covering depts: 87, 23, 86, 36, 19 & 16 Reliability guaranteed

beverley.pawson@yahoo.co.uk

Food & Drink

Restaurant

AUX CEPES

Garden Services

▪ Menu du jour

Bar & Restaurant

5 Rue de L’Abreuvoir Aubusson

Traditional French and English dishes Menu du Jour 16€, 4 courses incl. wine Open Fri 12pm-2pm Sat 11.30am-2pm & from 7pm Restaurant Menu

05.55.66.37.10

Book club open when bar is open

Le Snack Shack www.lesnackshack.com

05.55.68.24.19 see main ad - pg 11

L’Escale Restaurant & Bar

5 Rue Andre Jouhannaud, Compreignac

Freshly home-cooked Food

Plat du Jour, Mon-Sat: €12.50 Sunday Lunch with real Yorkshire puddings Every Friday Night - Fish & Chips with home-made mushy peas €8,50 To Eat In or Take Away (alternative menu available)

Open: Mon–Sat 11.30–2pm, Fri & Sat eve 7–11pm, Sun 11.30–3pm Party Bookings Welcomed For further information

tel: 05 55 12 99 45 or 06 04 09 03 10

RESTAURANT DES23100 SOURCES FENIERS Weekday lunchtimes

Menu du jour - €12 (coffee and wine included) Weekends Menu gourmand - €18.50 or Menu grill - €21 ... local Limousin meat grilled, while you watch, over an open wood fire in our chimney dating from 1732.

Local, fresh and homemade produce.

Evening meals by reservation.

Tel: 05.55.67.15.27

www.restaurant-des-sources.fr

Tel: 05 55 69 33 38

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

Open Monday to Saturday from 12pm to 2pm and from 6pm to 9pm

for all your tree requirements beverley.pawson@yahoo.co.uk 05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44 see main ad above

C’est cheese

Qualified Tree Surgeon Climber

Find us at local markets selling a small and tasty selection of excellent quality english cheeses.

Also available online.

For more information, see our website:

www.cestcheese.fr 09.66.87.02.74 cest.cheese@orange.fr SIREN: 409 679 578

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Grimpereau Elagage

02.54.25.66.58 See ad pg B6 (below)

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Gifts & Crafts

Mobile Fish & Chips 05.55.68.78.23 -see pg 5 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

TEXTILE

de la maison fleur • Interior design • Craft • Dressmaking fabrics

Eymoutiers market every Saturday and the 1st & 3rd Thursday each month.

Studio visits by appointment.

Info : 05 55 36 23 95

Health & Beauty

Tue 2.30pm - 5pm Thu, Fri 9:15-12 & 2:30-5pm Sat 9 - 12

www.osteopathyforbackpain.com www.acupunctureforhealthwellbeing.com 06 18 74 05 08 - see pg 4

La Petite Place Hair salon, Le Dorat

05.55.60.87.37

See our Display Ad - pg 8

Sophie Arsac

Ivan Petley

www.julianhunter.com

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

debra@zanado.co.uk www.zanado.co.uk

Insurance & Finance

05.55.89.15.74 - pg 16

Tel: 05.55.80.29.88

05 55 53 37 10 06 15 63 70 22

OSTEOPATHY & ACUPUNCTURE

SIRET 484 479 480 00010

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.

Contact Debra on

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

9 rue Dr Charles Poitevin

3D Puzzle Maker

meche-highlighting, tinting, cutting and weddings

Siret. 482 420 114 00019

French lessons & handholding services

05 55 78 19 24

Mobile Hairdresser

siren: 790 024 350

Rochechouart

SIREN: 483 988 853

05 55 41 17 76

email: artdejardin@gmail.com www.atelierdartdujardin.net

SECOND HAND BOOK SHOP. GREAT SELECTION OF GIFTS, CARDS, CANDLES AND HAND-CRAFTED PRODUCTS 500+ DVD's now in stock

www.theexchangerochechouart.com

Your advert here

tel: 05 55 81 31 85

The Exchange

05.55.63.90.79

www.lecreusoisbistro.com

2km from Chénérailles and the Chateau Villemonteix

Handholding Services

Fish et Frites

Le Creusois

Atelier d'Art du Jardin

siret: 530 840 958 00017

Artisan art for your garden.

Cream teas on the terrasse.

RDV for weekday visits SVP.

▪ Carte

BAILEYS

26, Ecurat 23150

Open Fri, Sat, Sun and Bank Holidays 11h00 to 18h00 from Easter until the end of September.

LA veytiZoU, 87130 Neuvic-entier

▪ Our famous Fish & Chips

05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44

Computer, Language & Admin Services 06.44.33.83.80 - see pg 11

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Siddalls

Financial Solutions & Expert Advice

05.56.34.75.51

See our Display Ad - pg 14

HiFX

International money transfer

www.hifx.co.uk

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

DIRECTORY ♦ B7 ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar Harlequin solution to damp and Developments humidity A E stablished and registered in France since 2006, we specialise in all aspects of property renovation and refurbishment, along with barn conversions and extensions. No job is too big or too small and we will provide you with a detailed devis at a competitive rate.

Our work includes full renovations, extensions, insulation and plaster boarding, tiling, replacement windows and doors, re-pointing walls, parquet flooring, staircases, kitchens and bathrooms fitted.

We undertake insurance work - floods, fires etc - and send regular update emails, together with photographs, to clients who may live outside France, to keep them fully up to date with their project. References are gladly given from previous/current clients.

We are now able to offer an even wider range of renewable energy products from some of the world’s leading manufacturers.

With summer coming, why not think about putting a roof over your terrace/patio area? We will be happy to give you a quote for a traditional oak framed structure, with a roof finish to your specification. All bespoke to your requirements, and using the best local materials. It could also double as a car-port during the winter, and bring an end to scraping ice off car windscreens.

We have several satisfied clients from 2012, who will happily provide references for the quality of our workmanship.

For more information, a devis, or simply to discuss your project, please feel free to contact us.

Blevins Franks

Integrated Tax Planning & Wealth Management

05 53 63 49 19 - see pg 3

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Your advert here

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 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.

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 collar cell, introduces warm, dry air

Native French Translator 25 years experience Proposes French teaching and conversation as well as personal development.

Please call:

Online Shopping

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Pest Control

Square Habitat

www.immolimousin.com

06 74 89 40 03

See main advert pg 4

Houses on Internet www.housesoninternet.com

05.55.65.12.19

See our Display Ad - pg 3

Stress Free Property Services

Security and Storm Damage Checks Housekeeping & Winter Care Key-holding & Changeovers Care & Maintenance Post Collection & Bill Paying References available

Brodie's Homecare Services

La Maison Shopping UK shopping delivered to your door

05 55 41 46 88 - pg 7

Elisabeth Sicard

japprendslefrancais@sfr.fr Free trial lesson!

05 55 41 17 76

05 55 80 44 83

Property Maintenance

Retail & Commerce

stressfreepropertyservices@hotmail.com

Your advert here

- Small groups - 1 to 1

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

05 55 81 35 95 / 06 74 03 07 05

British Corner Shop

Chénérailles Native qualified teacher

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

www.britishcornershop.co.uk British food shopping, delivered worldwide - See ad pg 5

FRENCH CLASS

ADVERTORIAL

05 55 69 71 40

05 55 41 17 76 Language Services

into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour.

In Southern Europe, SolarVenti is not only used for ventilation/ dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement.

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.

There are no electrical or water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty.

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!

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 SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

Is your holiday home all work and no play?

• House Maintenance • Cleaning • Gardening • Changeovers • Storm and Winter checks Bourganeuf area plus 40km

05 55 64 15 42

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Moulin de Tintin Furniture, interiors & gifts

carolalanbrodie@hotmail.co.uk

www.moulin-de-tintin.com 05.55.79.57.60 - see pg 4

Property Sales

Meuble & Déco

Siret 533 817 573 00017

Alinéa

05.55.57.09.34 see advert on pg 2

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

To advertise in the Business Directory 05.55.41.17.76 / sales@thebugle.eu

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

B8 ♦ DIRECTORY ADVERTORIAL

ADVERTORIAL

"Fish and Chip" night...?

Neal’s Yard Remedies Natural Health and Beauty products range: - *Face *Bath *Body *Hair *Mother & Baby *NYR Men *Gifts *Aromatherapy *Remedies *Teas

B

efore residing in the beautiful Creuse in central France, I led a stressed life in London UK as an accountant. After honeymooning in Bali, my husband and I decided it was time for some peace and quiet and to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. A few months later, we jumped on a plane, hired a car and we were lucky enough to discover the Limousin and fell in love with the rolling countryside and tranquility.

I trained in Aromatherapy over 20 years ago and gained my ITEC diplomas at the Raworth International College of Natural, Nutrition and Sports Therapies in Dorking, Surrey.

I continued my training in Hot Stone Massage, Reiki and Rejuvanessence and will be opening my treatment room in the latter part of 2013, if all goes to plan.

I have known about Neal’s Yard Remedies for years and used to use the essential oils in my treatments. I love using the Rejuvenating Frankincense and the Wild Rose Beauty Balm in my beauty regime; they feel so natural on my skin and the smell of the essential oils are divine.

I am enthusiastic about all the range and certainly would not sell something I did not personally believe in. I am sure you will not be disappointed either.

Would you like to know

more? Have a look on my NYR personlised website where you can buy online and have the products delivered directly to your home or contact me for a consultation where you could receive Indulgent Host Rewards.

Keep an eye on my website for forthcoming events and the online catalogue for the full product range: https://uk.nyrorganic.com/ shop/VanessaDrew-Fugler/ area/shop-online/ Kind Regards

Vanessa vanessa.fugler@orange.fr

05 55 80 72 83

Mobile Fish & Chips

Serving Guéret and surrounding area to a 50km radius, we cater for events, bars, auberges, commercial meetings, private parties, fetes, etc.

Our menu consists of Fish and chips, Hollands pies, Beef burgers, Jumbo sausages, Daloon rolls, Scampi, etc.

Our fish is sourced from Icelandic waters and fried in a tasty, crispy batter.

If you are a bar/auberge owner with frequenting British clients, why not let us help you boost your bar sales by holding a regular “Fish and Chip night”?

Upcoming Dates:- (all from 18h00 – 21h30)

Fresselines Marsac Sardent Crozant Chéniers Colondannes La Cellette Châtelus-Malvaleix

ADVERTORIAL

Retail & Commerce

Eco Entrepot Get down The Shed

87230 Bussière-Poitevine

05.55.68.74.73 - see pg 8

Stove Sellers

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.

4 rue Principale, St Mathieu, 87440

turneramandajane@gmail.com Tel: 05.55 48.28.89 SIRET: 510 995 681 00010

MEUBLES D'OCCASION

Affordable Moves/ Single Items Regular UK runs - check website Europewide/ limousin based

E: pancentral@hotmail.com W: www.themanwithavan.info

Tel: (+33) 07.61.21.85.15

Auwell Piscine

Parking For Limoges Airport

www.auwellpiscine.fr - see pg 9

Transport, Removals & Storage

Siret : 532 526 001 00013

Cheaper parking for all types of vehicles Book now!! www.parkinglimoges.com

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

05 55 33 21 59 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

General

05 55 03 37 96

M&A Transport Weekly trips to and from the UK

05 55 60 05 91 See main ad pg 7

Collections / Deliveries Removals / Brico Runs All over France.

Competitve hourly rate incl fuel.

Please ring or e-mail for a quote.

Based nr Aubusson Dept 23

05 55 83 02 77 / 06 81 33 07 15 jonathanpiddock@orange.fr SIRET: 523 955 151 00015

Carrefour du bois Limousin

www.chauffagebois-limousin.com

05 55 63 72 45 - see pg 10

From low-cost shutters to beautiful handmade staircases - made right here in the Limousin

F

is required. This makes fitting much easier than standard ‘brico’ kits that often require severe alteration and customisation.

Although we use electrical machinery, we try our utmost to work within sustainable boundaries and our workshop is still powered using wind and solar - as a result our carbon footprint is minimal. Much of the Oak we use is sourced from retired French joiners and other old

hardwood stocks - this makes it more sustainable than felling additional mature Oak trees and also has the benefit of being nicely seasoned, so the quality and figure is unmatched compared to some saw mills. If you have a dry stock of timber we are happy to purchase or use it for your commission.

We love to build crafted items and we are keen to be asked to create bespoke pieces such as staircases,

ADVERTORIAL

05.55.41.17.76 sales@thebugle.eu

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 BABY/INFANT EQUIPMENT FOR HIRE High chair, buggy, play pen, travel cot, fire guard, stair gate etc.

ADVERTORIAL

rance is known for its colourful blend of shutters and doors, but like many external products they do deteriorate over time. Sometimes the cost of replacement is prohibitive, so we have developed a range of low-cost shutters (starting from only €35 each) to complement our standard range of Douglas Fir and Oak shutters. Our shutters are made to measure, so little or NO trimming

Wed 6th March Fri 8th March Sat 9th March Tues 12th March Fri 15th March Wed 20th March (TBC) Fri 22nd March Fri 5th April

To raise funds for the SPA dog rescue centre in Guéret.

MAN + VAN Fiat Ducato with 11m² load capacity

SECOND HAND FURNITURE

www.latourmasseret.com

The Man With A Van Who Can

05.55.63.78.72

See our Display Ad - pg 12 Pools, hammams, saunas, spas, furntiure...

(Auberge des Artistes) (Chez Jacques) (Auberge du Lac) ( L'Eclat de Soliel) (Auberge La Chaumière) (Auberge du Prieuré) (Auberge de la Tour) (Auberge des Voyageurs)

ADVERTORIAL

www.stovesellers.com

Soie et Bois Depot Vente des Vêtements

www.ohmycod.fr

Email:- contact@ohmycod.fr Tel:- 05 55 80 34 26 Mobile:- 06 47 85 90 92 Siren:- 520 807 660

shutters, windows and doors for new or old properties.

If you would like to know more about our services, please visit our website: www.scrollart.co.uk or call us on: 05 55 14 12 43 E: info@scrollart.co.uk Siret: 752 051 482 00012 Oradour-sur-Vayres (87150) ■

Each item will incur a hire charge of 7 euros, plus a refundable 8 euros deposit.

For more INFO or to HIRE Call Jean: 05 55 54 96 36 jeanwhitham@orange.fr

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

H2 0 Creuse HEATING

&

PLUMBING

Qualigaz certificates arranged Winterising of heating & plumbing systems Kitchens & bathrooms fitted and tiled Swimming pool maintenance. Advice given Jason Green: 05.55.63.89.23 Email: h2ocreuse@orange.fr

ENGINEER

All forms of heating work undertaken: gas, oil & wood

Siret no: 487 425 639 00027

TVA No: FR86487425639

Passing Time with Past Times

S

For me, it had been an interesting adventure involving interviews with some very old people - survivors of the occupation - visits to sites specific to my plot, several visits to Le Musée de la Résistance in Limoges and trawling through many books in both English and French about the Special Operations Executive (SOE) and the Maquis. The site visits were especially exciting because they validated some of the facts that I had gleaned from the reading material and from the anecdotes recalled by my interviewees. As survivors from that period dwindle, I realised the importance of gathering their recollections before the accounts of their experiences died with them.

I also spent several months trying to source a book about Violette Szabo, an SOE agent captured by the Germans near Limoges, interrogated by the Gestapo in Paris and eventually shot in the concentration camp at Ravensbruck. Her daughter Tania Szabo, who was only three years old when her mother suffered her cruel fate, wrote the biography. Finally, I

acquired a signed copy, a story that asked questions about the tragedy and told her story rather more graphically than the ‘sanitised’ film version, ‘Carve her Name with Pride’. Visiting her monument at Le Clos between Surdoux and Sussac, the ruined chapel on Mont Gargan where she met with local maquisards, and seeing

the drop zone where agents and arms were parachuted into the area brought goose-pimpling reality to events that took place almost seventy years ago.

The stroll from the car park to Mount Gargan leads through the Allée des Hêtres, an awe-inspiring walkway, where ancient gnarled beech trees form an almost cavernous route to the summit. I felt very humble knowing that such actions were commonplace across France at that time, events that led to the eventual liberation of the country from the Nazi occupiers. The dreadful massacre of the 642 innocent men, women and children at Oradoursur-Glane, the hangings of 99 men in Tulle, the crucifixion of a teenage maquis member at Dent near Châteauponsac amid numerous shootings of hostages across the Limousin were heavy burdens for the population to bear as reprisals for the actions of the resistance. Was it worth it? When one digs into the past, the alternatives are hard to contemplate.

On the D72 near Lourioux, there stands one of many memorials in the Limousin region identifying where the Allies dropped arms to the Résistance in July 1944. As seen on one of the signs opposite, American Flying Fortresses delivered many arms drops

following the Normandy landings.

A road, which passes the current gendarmerie in Le Dorat, bears the name, Avenue Lucien Lloret. He was Martial, a gendarme who secretly

led one of the Haute-Vienne maquis groups involved with the liberation of Poitiers. Members of this group also assisted several paratroopers who landed during the night of 5 June 1944 not far away in the tiny hamlet of La Dapeire, which lies between Le Dorat and Oradour-Saint-Genest. They were one of the many Jedburgh teams sent into the Limousin region to support and train the maquis. Their objective was to restrict the northward drive of the Das Reich 2nd SS Panzer Divi-

sion towards Normandy. This specific team was destined for a drop zone near Montmorillon but missed their target. Local villagers hid the Allied soldiers in the Moulin de St-Cloud on the river Brame before leading them to the commune of Azat-le-Ris where they joined members of the FTPF maquis.

Also in Le Dorat, stands the Hotel

la Promenade; it ‘welcomed’ the first German officer to arrive in the town.

He drank red wine there with two NCOs on 24 June 1940, following the German invasion of France.

On the N145 between Saint-SorninLeulac and Bellac where the MagnacLaval to Droux road intersects, a monument lists the names of 23 inhabitants from Magnac-Laval taken as hostages by the enemy occupiers.

It fails to describe the events that led to their massacre. The FTPF, though engaged in sabotage on the nearby railway, had also arrested and interrogated suspected collaborators. On 8 July 1944, German troops entered Magnac-Laval and though intending to take hostages and burn the town, they gave assurances to the mayor

Author James R. Vance, originally from northwest England, now resides in Limousin, France. Currently, he has five novels to his credit: Eight, published in 2011, featured a detective and one of his suspects from a previous trilogy. The novels in the original series, Animal Instinct, Killer Butterfly and The Courier were published in 2008 / 2009 / 2010.

More recently, writing historical fiction novels has replaced his previous focus on the genre of mystery crime. After considerable research, interviews with survivors from the Second World War and site visits, in 2012 he wrote and published Les Ruines, a novel about the activities of the French

that they would take no reprisals. That night, however, aided by the local milice, they arrested hostages and took them away in trucks. They executed them here at Le Croix du Curé.

For me, as a writer and observer of

the dark years in France, it is difficult to imagine life under the Germans but I believe that one should remember - ‘souviens-toi’ as stated at Oradoursur-Glane - and recall the sacrifices and valour of all those who risked their lives for freedom. ■

resistance and the involvement of the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during Nazi occupation.

Risk, his latest novel involving the organisation and implementation of escape lines across the Pyrenees during WWII, will be published in the spring of 2013. Whilst researching the background to this vital clandestine activity he joined the Escape Lines Memorial Society, based in the UK. http://jamesvanceauthor.wix.com/novelsbyjrvance http://writerscrampfr.blogspot.fr/

The D39 from Surdoux to Sussac to Châteauneuf-la-Forêt is a treasure trove of historical sites.

FRENCH LESSONS WITH A NATIVE FRENCH SPEAKER Individual/Group lessons, all levels - Skype lessons via the internet also available

Free trial lesson !

Lessons in Aigurande (36), Dun-le-Palestel and La Souterraine (23) Other services offered include: help with notaires, arranging new utilities (electricity etc), locating tradesmen, liaison with French administration etc. I can also be your French contact in France when you are away!

Contact Sophie ARSAC to discuss your requirements 05 55 89 15 74 (E-mail: scarolinea@yahoo.fr)

SIRET 502 409 212 00011 – APE 8559B

pring is around the corner, perhaps providing the opportunity to consider those outstanding gardening chores. Weather permitting, one could also emerge from winter ‘hibernation’ by exploring the local environment. I make this suggestion after reflecting on some fascinating trips that I made last year, whilst researching for my new novel.

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

In the garden jobs for March

I

by Michelle Pierce

Resist temptation There is a real pull to go out and prune off the stalks of herbaceous perennials now, especially when you see the new growth emerging from the base. Wait. The hibernating insects will be affected by the cold (this will also impact the birds who will eat them later).

Also, the dry stalks act as heat conductors, directing the heat of the sun directly to the roots.

Weeding You probably have a nice crop of fresh little weeds on soil that was left bare, so now is a good time to clean off veg patches, as long as you're planning to sow or plant soon. Young annual weeds can go on the compost heap, to the chickens, or to the salad bowl (some species, anyway).

If you have heavy, cold soil, it's a good idea to warm it up by putting down a sheet of plastic or textile for a couple of weeks.

Move any self-sown plants that are in the wrong place and will bother you later.

Sowing & planting Sow peas and broad beans in situ but protect them with fleece in really cold conditions.

Look over your strawberry bed and take off any runners that are crowding plants. These can either be potted up, or simply planted in a new patch. Plant some garlic or onions amongst them, to improve their health.

Fork around the bases of your artichoke plants and you'll probably find some side shoots.

Gently scrape the soil away and detach these with their roots.

Cut the leaves back by half and replant about 1m apart. They'll be ready to crop in a year's time.

Onions and shallot sets are now in the shops. Unless there is a lot of bad weather, plant them in March. If you don't have sandy, free-draining soil, plant them on ridges about 10cm high to avoid rot.

The soft fruit garden This can have some attention.

Cuttings can be taken now of all currants and gooseberries.

Blackberries and tayberries can

Dates for your diary Salon de l'Horticulture de Niort - “Printemps aux jardins” 10-12 March (dept 79, Deux-Sèvres) - www.vivre-a-niort.com Fête des Plantes Vivaces - 12-14 April, Saint-Jean-de-Beauregard near Paris www.domsaintjeanbeauregard.com 2e Plantes en fête - 14 April, Jardins du Chaigne, Touzac (dept 16) 9h30-18h30 (entry 5€) www.jardinsduchaigne.com Journée des plantes - 21 April, Nexon (dept 87) www.jardin-plante-nexon.com Plantes et jardins en fête - 27-28 April, Château de Walmath, Saint-Laurent-les-Eglises (dept 87) Over 50 exhibitors (entry 3€) 06 11 49 27 11.

4e Les Flor'idées, marché aux fleurs et produits bio - 5 May, Vouneuil-sur-Vienne (dept 86) Place de la Libération. 9-19h. www.lesfloridees.sitew.com Fête des Plantes - 26 May, Jardin de Liliane, Saint-Laurentsur-Gorre (dept 87) 9h-19h (entry 5€) 05 55 48 14 29

be checked for layering, and unwanted plants removed. Tie in canes to their framework.

Before the raspberry canes become a thicket, go down the rows and weed out any pernicious weeds - couch grass, convolvulus, etc. Mulch the crowns with well rotted manure, hemp or compost, and check stakes and wires.

Sowing indoors Get cracking! There's a whole raft of things to be sown - too many to mention. I have cold soil so tend to start most of my veg off in modules (except those things with long taproots which hate transplantation). Dahlia tubers need bringing into the warm to start to sprout, and you can start to chit early potatoes.

So looking at the above, I see that in fact there are plenty of opportunities for March gardening to satisfy the craving!

Roll on Spring!!!

Des fleurs qu'en mars on verra, peu de fruits on mangera!

The more blossom we see in March, the less fruit we'll eat!

© 2008 - Martin Bodman - geography.org.uk

f it was hard to stop yourself gardening in February, then it's that bit harder on good days in March!

The days are longer, and things are budding up left, right and centre. But March can be a treacherous month, with warm spring days interspersed with cold spells, and the frosts are not "officially" over until we've seen the saints de glace in May! So proceed, but with prudence and choose your tasks.

Natural insecticides

T

by Michelle Pierce

he shops are full of boxes and packets of chemical products to kill or deter this or that pest, but be prudent because you don't fully know the residues they can leave. Why not try making some of your own versions?

They are cheaper and much less toxic. The recipes below are not really designed to kill pests, but to act as repellents.

Rhubarb leaf insecticide This works to repel aphids, caterpillars and slugs.

Macerate 500g of chopped fresh rhubarb leaf per 3 litres of cold water for 24 hours.

Filter and spray the liquid neat on plants three times.

For further information visit www.rhubarbinfo.com Artemisia. Wormwood (armoise) This plant should also repel numerous parasites.

Plant it, spread the fresh foliage at the base of plants to be protected, or make an insecticide.

Quick version - infuse 50g fresh plant in 1 litre boiling

water. Leave to cool, filter & spray. Traditionally, macerate 300g fresh plant per litre of water for 10 days. Filter.

Spray every 10-15 days as prevention or more frequently to get rid of pests. ■

To advertise in TheBugle 05.55.41.17.76 / sales@thebugle.eu

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 15

Car Breakers - C.R.A.L.

Centre de Recyclages d’Automobiles du Limousin - Les Tourettes, 87440 SAINT-MATHIEU

WE WILL COLLECT YOUR SCRAP CAR FOR FREE - WE BUY & SELL SECOND HAND CARS (RHD OR LHD) SPARE PARTS FOR SALE

TEL: 05.55.48.21.33 - ENGLISH SPOKEN - Email: cral87@gmx.fr

L'ortie - the nettle

magine a plant you can harvest to eat, use to make rope, weave into textile, cut and dry for animal fodder, that has medicinal uses, is used in shampoo, as a soil improver, or to make liquid fertilizer, that has fly repellent properties, provides dye (yellow), is a food source for butterflies and, according to hdra.org.uk, supports 107 species. …

Sounds amazing, doesn't it?… but in fact it's the humble stinging nettle - Urtica dioica whose Latin name comes from the word 'uro' (I burn) and 'dioica' (two houses), because male and female flowers grow on separate plants.

The nettle family is fairly large, with between 24 and 39 species. They are found across Europe, the Americas, and over all the temperate zones of the world. As gardeners know, they spread by creeping underground roots and can easily reproduce themselves from root cuttings and seed. They are mostly herbaceous perennials, but some are annuals and a few are shrubby. Most of the species

have stinging hairs on the stems and leaves, some of which can be highly toxic. In fact, one species from Java has been known to kill people!

Nettles grow in disturbed ground, or woodland settings and are often an indicator of human activity. Landscape archaeologists can locate vanished settlements due to patches of nettles.

The serrated heart shaped leaves are covered in masses of tiny hairs, and when these brush against skin, they inject the sting. There is still debate about what chemicals the sting is composed of, but it's good to know that heat denatures them. That's why you wouldn't want to eat a stinging nettle salad but you are totally safe eating a nice bowl of nettle soup.

In fact, nettles are rich in minerals, especially iron and calcium, as well as vitamins A, D and K. The spring is the best time to harvest them: a rule of thumb is to crop when the plants are less high than your knee. Older plants have higher levels of silica which may have adverse effects. With regular cutting you should be able to harvest two or

© 2011 - GregoryH (Flickr)

I

by Michelle Pierce

three times. The washed leaves can be blanched and frozen, or turned into the traditional nettle soup (soupe à l'ortie).

For the gardener, nettles can be cropped to make nettle tea, purin d'ortie, which can then be diluted as a liquid feed. Simply cut up or crush the stalks, then place in a bucket of water.

Put a lid on this, as it smells bad, and leave until fermentation stops (when there are no more bubbles - this depends on weather conditions). When you are ready to use it, dilute it about 1:10 and use as a feed - don't use it too strong! Keep making it through the year, and then put the leftover sludge on the compost heap.

French people often put fresh nettle leaves at the bottom of the holes they are going to plant their tomato plants in; as they decay, they feed your tomatoes!

You can cut a bundle or two and put them directly on the compost heap, where they act as an activator as they release their minerals and you can cut and dry them for use at other times in the year.

With so many uses, and such a long history of human exploitation - pieces of nettle textile have been found in Bronze Age burial sites - it seems daft not to leave a patch in your garden. ■

directly through the Limousin.

Its symbolic meaning, however, appears to have several explanations: the grooves in the shell, which come together at a single point, represent the various routes pilgrims travelled; the shell was a used as a badge or passport to identify oneself as a pilgrim.

The shell is also a practical tool, the right size for gathering water to drink or for eating out of as a makeshift bowl.

One of our French readers, François Clémandot, had a slightly more cynical, tongue-in-cheek explanation for embedding these shells in the pavements of the

Limousin:

For further information visit www.lesamisdelortie.fr/

What are those scallop shells...?

Last month we ran a picture of a brass scallop shell embedded in the cobblestoned streets of Limoges.

A curious reader had spotted the shell and sent a photo in to The Bugle asking if any of our readers could shed any light as to its origin.

I had anticipated that many of our readers would indeed be familiar with the scallop shells found locally, as well as their origins; but I also assumed that a large proportion of our readership may not know of their meaning – it seemed like a good excuse to run a piece on them!

What I wasn't prepared for was the sheer volume of emails I got from eagle-eyed readers; in four years we have never received so much correspondence on any one subject. Many thanks to the dozens and dozens of readers who got in touch – I am very impressed with everyone's level of local knowledge!!

But for those of you who are not already a walking encyclopedia on Christian pilgrim routes, here is the story of the scallop shells...

T

he shells that you find across the region are linked to an ancient Christian pilgrim route known as El Camino de Santiago, les Chemins de SaintJacques-de-Compostelle or in English The Way of Saint James.

Since medieval times, the Way of Saint James has been one of the most important Christian pilgrimages, together with Rome and Jerusalem.

Legend holds that St James' remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain where he was buried on the site of what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela.

Pilgrims can take a number of

routes along The Way to Santiago de Compostela, which spread out like a river network across Europe.

Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. However a few of the routes are considered main ones (see map). During the Middle Ages, the route was highly travelled, but the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation and political unrest in 16th-century Europe led to its decline and by the latter half of the 20th century, very few pilgrims were arriving in Santiago each year.

The route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe in October

1987. It has also now been named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites and is enjoying something of a renaissance, attracting a growing number of modern-day

pilgrims from around the globe.

The scallop shell, often found on the shores of Galicia, has long been the symbol of les Chemins de Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle. Over the centuries the scallop shell has taken on mythical, metaphorical and practical meanings, even if its relevance may actually derive from the desire of pilgrims to take home a souvenir!

According to the myriad responses we received to the original question last month, everyone agrees that the scallop shells are used to mark the various pilgrimage routes, one of which passes

Many thanks to Zoe Cardwell who sent this photo of a plaque situated along the route

The scallop shell, in French coquille Saint-Jacques, is the symbolic emblem of the Roman Catholic pilgrimage to SaintJacques' Basilica in Compostela, Spain. The shells embedded in the cobblestones are meant to show the pilgrims their way to the cathedral.

However, they are so slippery in rainy weather that some mischievous Limoges residents maintain they have been placed there by the Physiotherapists' Union in order to ensure its members a steady income. ■

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

16 ♦ FRENCH LIFE ADVERTISING FEATURE

Independent Financial Advice - your key to a worry free life in France

C

hoosing the right adviser is an important step towards making the most of your money, particularly so when you are moving abroad or are already here.

Whilst finding the perfect home is a priority, planning finances can be overlooked. You need an adviser who will always work in your best interest and can help you understand the complexities of the financial world. The first step in ensuring you receive the best possible advice is to use an independent financial adviser who is authorised and regulated both in the UK and France. There are very few who are qualified to advise people moving overseas, who have the expertise relating to both fiscal systems and understand the UK and

French rules.

Why do I need advice?

There are a number of issues you need to be aware of and take advice on having arrived in France, even if you have been here a number of years. Proper planning is essential.

Here are some of the main areas where an independent financial adviser can help you.

• Pensions. Whether you have already retired or still have some years to retirement, living in France will have an effect on your pension arrangements. Issues such as pension legislation, tax and currency fluctuations must be taken into consideration in pension planning. There may

be options with your pension when it matures that need to be considered carefully to make the most of your money.

• Investments. When you move to France your investments and savings will move with you.

Did you know that when you become a French resident your ISA’s and Premium Bonds will be liable to tax? Similarly, did you know there are specialist investment vehicles available in France that allow you to shelter your investments from tax? You may have endowment policies that are due to mature after you move here or an inheritance from a relative that may cause unexpected headaches if you do not know the French system.

• Tax. Many people living in

meet your individual needs.

France believe they will pay more tax than they did in the UK. However, with the right planning you could actually find yourself with a lower tax bill.

• Inheritance planning. The legal system in France differs from the UK, in particular when it comes to laws surrounding inheritance.

The French succession laws mean that you are not free to dispose of your estate as you would like and will probably need to take action to ensure your wishes are met.

David Hardy is a Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers specialising in investment, pension, tax and inheritance planning for the British community in France since 1996. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact David or his assistant on 05 56 34 75 51 or visit us at: www.siddalls.fr

These are only some of the main areas where taking independent financial advice is highly recommended and as advice is based on each individual’s personal and financial circumstances we can help develop a solution that will

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Eggs Benedict or Eggs Florentine

This dish has conflicting accounts as to its origin: Lemuel Benedict claimed to have eaten the dish at the Waldorf Hotel in 1894 as a hangover cure; another explanation is that it is named after Mr & Mrs Benedict, diners at a New York restaurant called Delmonico's.

Ingredients (Serves 4):

200ml/ 7 fl oz Hollandaise sauce 4 Eggs

Hollandaise Sauce 3 Egg yolks 30ml Wine vinegar

2 Muffins cut in half 4 Slices of cooked ham

Sprig of fresh chopped parsley

100g/ 4oz butter, cold and cubed Pinch of salt and pepper to taste

Hollandaise Sauce 1. Put the egg yolks and vinegar in the top of a double saucepan and stir until they are thoroughly mixed. If you do not have a double saucepan, put a bowl inside a suitably sized saucepan, ensuring that the water in the saucepan does not touch the bottom of the bowl so as not to scramble the eggs.

2. Now place the pan over hot but not boiling water and stir until the yolks are thickened.

3. Add the butter a little at a time, whisking as you add it to the sauce. As it melts add more butter.

4. Remove from the heat, whisk in the salt and pepper. Keep warm.

Eggs - Poach the eggs lightly by whatever method you prefer. I use a frying pan ¾ filled with boiling water with a dash of vinegar. I roll the eggs in the water for about 20 seconds, then stir the water to create a vortex, then crack the eggs into the water and away you go.

To Serve - Toast the muffins on both sides, fold the ham, placing a slice on each muffin, drain the eggs and place on top of the ham, coat with the sauce, sprinkle with parsley and serve.

To make this dish into Eggs Florentine, swap the ham for spinach - 2 large handfuls of fresh spinach wilted down should be enough.

Recipes provided by Chef George. Written and compiled by Frances of La Grande Maison (Table et Chambres d'Hôte), Chénérailles www.grandemaison-chenerailles.com

Environmental news in brief

W

ell, it seems that so-called eco-friendly cars are facing a crackdown in London after a scheme to encourage motorists to switch to ‘greener’ alternatives has started to make air more toxic.

Transport for London is to remove the Congestion Charge exemption for diesels and some hybrids, because soaring sales has increased pollution and traffic.

--------------------------------

The BBC has been forced into a bit of an embarrassing climbdown over climate change claims made in Sir

David Attenborough's Africa series. A quite spectacular series of programmes, as those of you who have watched them will agree, I’m sure.

In the last episode of the series, entitled 'Future', Sir David discussed the challenges facing the continent. Speaking over footage showing Mount Kilimanjaro, Sir David claimed that “Some parts of the continent have become 3.5 Celsius hotter in the past 20 years”.

However, figures from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change show that since 1850, global temperatures have only risen by 0.76C. A BBC spokesman said:

“There is widespread acknowledgement within the scientific community that the climate of Africa has been changing as stated in the programme.

“We accept the evidence for 3.5 degrees increase is disputable and the commentary should have reflected that.”

The comment has been removed from repeats of the show.

--------------------------------

Some of you may remember an earlier article extolling the benefits of taking a pee ‘en plein air’.

Well, it seems that a police constable in the UK didn’t

read it, because he has been sacked for using excessive force after he chased and punched a French student who had been urinating in bushes.

He was accused of chasing Charles Quichaud, then 19, and hitting him in the face.

The officer said this was a legitimate technique to restrain him because he feared for his own safety.

Gawd help us if the Gendarmes resort to the same tactic over here…

Arthur Smith Harlequin Developments www.harlequindevelopments.com Tel: 05.55.68.67.56 Mob: 06.06.60.46.97

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ♦ 17

Letters to

What about our voice?

Christine Moshy

By Email

The D Editor

Dear Editor,

London to Monte Carlo in aid of Wooden Spoon Andrew Ord

By Email Hi,

I

'm Andrew Ord, a 47-year-old fireman with 29 years service, based in the UK at Carlisle, Cumbria, but my wife and family live in Liglet, a small village in Central France. On 7 June of this year, myself and approximately 40 other intrepid cyclists are attempting to cycle from London to Monte Carlo in 8 1/2 days. The journey covers just under 800 miles and includes 28000 feet of climbing, not surprising as we have to cross the Massif Central and then tackle the Alps! We leave London on the 7th, cycle to Portsmouth for our overnight ferry to Caen and then off we head down the fabulous roads of France, passing to the east of Châteauroux as we cycle by my local area.

The reason for the challenge is to help raise money for Wooden Spoon, a UK based charity celebrating its 30th Anniversary this year, and which is the official charity of British and Irish Rugby. They raise money for disadvantaged children throughout the UK, assisting projects almost too varied to name, but which have included a sensory room for terminally ill children at the Eden Valley Hospice in Carlisle, so I'm sure you can agree it's a worthy cause.

If after reading this short account of what we are hoping to achieve and raise money for, then it would be fantastic if you could donate something to the charity, regardless of how small, or even how big! If you'd like to then you can find my page at http:// uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ AndrewOrd and from there just follow the easy steps to donate. Alternatively, my wife and children will be collecting also at the Brocante in Liglet on 5th May so feel free to pop

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

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

348, rue Marcel Paul

45770 Saran France Monthly circulation: 13,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited.

and have a chat and they can update you on my progress, or lack of it, in trying to get fit enough to cycle the average of 90 miles a day required!

And finally, if you'd just like to email regarding anything to do with the ride or simply to say good luck, then please do so at andreword@hotmail. co.uk and I promise to reply.

Andrew Ord

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

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

348, rue Marcel Paul

45770 Saran France Tirage mensuel: 13,000 copies Tous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite.

Dépôt légal à parution.

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

avid Cameron has decided to hold a referendum on EU Membership amongst UK voters in 2017 if the Conservatives are reelected in the next election.

He has every right to do this, whatever his motives might be, whether he just wishes to pacify his right wing, “running scared” of UKIP, or because he genuinely believes that he can negotiate a better deal within Europe by holding out the latent threat of potential withdrawal. He has himself admitted that he wants to stay in, “given the right conditions”, in which case he is playing a very dangerous game, which might end up with the UK withdrawing from the EU, should the ‘man on the Clapham omnibus’ vote for withdrawal.

But what about us? There are many thousands of British subjects living all over the EU. Will we get a say? Not under the current UK voting system which, contrary to the rules for citizens of many other countries, excludes us from voting in UK elections, as we do not live there**. However, if the UK does withdraw from the EU then we have an awful lot more to lose than many of those who will be voting.

Those of us who work will have to apply for work permits.

I did this in France back in the pre-EU membership days; it was not easy, a mountain of paperwork was required and it was three months between my application and getting the permit - that was in a time of high employment. Nowadays, we have high unemployment all over the EU, and those from within the EU are more likely to be allowed to work in France than those outside of it. Then there are the retirees, whose pensions are guaranteed by the UK Government to rise in line with state pensions paid in the UK. But this is not the case for people who have retired to some non-EU countries such as Australia. Where will those retired within the EU stand if Britain is out?

The Bugle, live on France Bleu Creuse Tune in to our next show: 09h30 MONday 4th MARCH

If we keep our nationality, we won’t have a say anywhere.

Here we can only vote in French communal elections and European elections, but a lot of our rights are protected by the fact that we are EU members. I remember back in the 1990s when a certain JeanMarie Le Pen made a speech in the Corrèze. In it, he proposed that property acquired in France by foreigners should be nationalised. Electioneering?

Of course; he picked on that theme because he was speaking to a probably very xenophobic audience concerned about the large numbers of houses being bought by expatriates in the Dordogne. I never heard this mentioned again, not that I am a great reader of ‘Front National’ speeches, but I do remember talking to some French friends about it at the time. They ‘poohpoohed’ the whole idea, saying it couldn’t possibly happen here in France, the idea was unthinkable, especially as the UK was an EU member.

Exactly. IF the idea ever came up again, and my emphasis is on the IF, and IF the UK were

NOT in the EU, where would we go to knock the whole preposterous idea out of court?

Now this is an extreme scenario, but what about Schengen, which the UK has not signed up to? We can currently travel all over the EU without visas, not even showing our passports. My husband incidentally, who is not an EU citizen, can also do this, as he is married to an EU citizen and has a Carte de Séjour because he is married to me, although he can’t even go on a two week holiday with me to the UK without a visa.

Where would we stand? Would we need visas to cross into Spain, or Germany? Would we have to get ‘Cartes de Séjour’ just to stay in France?

I can’t answer any of the questions above, but one thing does infuriate me, and that is that should this referendum take place, we, who stand to lose so much, will not be allowed to take part.

With best regards,

Christine Moshy

** ED - British expats can take part in general elections if they have not lived outside the UK for more than 15 years. It is not known if any EU referendum would follow the same rules or if the voting would be restricted to UK residents.

In response to an enquiry from the Connexion recently, the UK Electoral commission said: “There are no set rules for referendums and it will depend on the franchise that is agreed for this one at a later stage. It is too early to tell.”

Advertise your business here

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MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

18 ♦ CLASSIFIEDS The Bugle CLASSIFIEDS are brought to you in association with WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM

Classified Adverts

Classified adverts are currently free for all small items (less than €500). For other types of classified adverts a small fee does apply: ● Items more than €500 are charged at €5 per month ● Accompanying photos are charged at €2.50 per month To place a classified advert, please email notices@thebugle.eu with the details you would like included in your advert.

FOR SALE ANIMALS & PETS Border Collie - Free to a good home Unfortunately we cannot give him the work he craves. His name is Alfie, and is 2 years old. All his vaccinations are correct and up to date. Very alert and energetic. Loves to be fussed. He is used to living indoors, or outside in the outbuilding in the summer. Tel: 05 55 68 71 22 FOR SALE: NAF Biotin Unopened 2Kg packet (40 days) - Exp 07/2015.

No longer required. 17 euros paid, open to offers. Email: joeslounge2@ yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Dog folding wire cage 110cm x 70 cm x 70cm. Has metal tray base. €30.00 Tel: 05 55 69 49 28 FOR SALE: Free to a good home 3 Homes needed for 3 Kittens, 5 months old - 2 Boys black & white and one Tabby girl. They are used to living outside but like to sneak in round the fire. All are healthy, friendly, well handled, good mousers and like dogs. Tel: 05 55 62 18 95 (between Bonnat & Aigurande) FOR SALE: Wintec 2000 saddle With girth, stirrups and price to include a full bridle. €150.00 Tel: 05 55 60 62 14 or 06 78 38 42 44 Email: beverley.pawson@yahoo. co.uk Can you give me a new home? I

2200W Angle Grinder. Skil 750W SDS Hammer/Drill. Bosch 650W Hammer/Drill. Marteau Pneumatic 850W SDS Hammer/Drill. Far Tools 1500W Circular Saw with 180mm blade. Euros 250 the lot.

Professional Steel Scaffolding. Up to 8m working height with 600 x 2900 work platform. Complete with adjustable legs. Euros 450.

Reclaimed Oak Strip Flooring.

Approximately 32 sq m including some new and unused. Strips 22mm thick x 80 mm wide with tongues and grooves on all edges. Buyer collects as seen. Euros 200. Tel: 05 55 63 43 69 FOR SALE: 15 sheets of 9mm exterior plywood 2.40 x 1.44 (3sq metres per sheet). Unused. Surplus to req. €30 per sheet. Tel: 05 55 89 00 67

Everything you would need for a high-spec wet room High Quality.

New, still in packaging. shower tray, toilet, sink, taps, mosaic tiling... eveything you could need!!

06 02 37 62 57

FOR SALE: 1940s/50s French Dresser with Ceramic Drawers

Very unusual. €150.00 Tel: 05 55 62 91 97 (ANWSER MACHINE) Email: grandemaison-chenerailles@ orange.fr FOR SALE: Four ERCOL beech wood chairs All joints sound and

wide by 44 ins high by 11 ins deep.

4 adjustable glass shelves. Fitted 2 lighting units (fluorescent tubes not fitted). Wall bracket included. Good condition. €40.00 Tel: 05 55 69 79 71 (Eymoutiers) FOR SALE: 4 seater settee and 3 seater bed settee Biscuit colour in good condition. Together with arm protectors and large pouffe (small tear on one corner). Very comfortable and useful as the 3 seater doubles as a full length single bed. 87150. €400.00ono Tel: 05 55 50 49 51 FOR SALE: Antique Oak Dining Table This lovely table has cabriole

legs and seats 6-8. It is 168cms x 82cms and 76cms high. Will deliver. €400.00 Call 0555 60 62 97 Email: anthony.parson@gmail.com FOR SALE: Pine table Round 77cm diam. €8.00 Tel: 05 55 03 87 56

GARDEN WANTED: Petrol rotary lawn mower (not ride-on) in good working condition to replace our worn-out and well used mower - soon destined for the scrap heap! Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: BACK BOX 1.2m wide, used with Siromer Compact tractor. Bought new in 2007 but hardly used. €325.00ono Call Dave on 05 55 64 83 13 FOR SALE: Agri-Fab 42" Lawnsweeper (Model 45-0320-062) For towing behind sit-on mower, in order to sweep up leaves and/ or grass cuttings. (More info on Google). €120.00 Tel: 09 50 76 37 75 FOR SALE: 2005 Topper Gyromass G1252 B40 1.2m width

BUILDING MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: Building materials/ equipment Extension Ladder 5m x 5m. Professional quality in aluminium. Extends to approx 8.5m, with facade rollers and rope lift.

Euros 150. Adjustable Steel Props.

Two 3.6m max height and two 2.9m max height. Euros 50 the lot.

Set of Five Electric Tools. Makhita

strong. Euros 20 the 4. €20.00 Tel: 05 55 69 79 71 (Eymoutiers) FOR SALE: 2 Seater Settee + Armchair Cream Background/Floral Print detachable covers + Matching Cushions & Pouffee. Good Condition. SETTEE:- H 34cmxD 35cmxL 70cm.Contact:- Tony or Marie Wood. 4 minutes from A20

collected (Bessines-sur-Gartempe). €500.00 Phone 05 55 60 88 30 Email: ianmags@tiscali.co.uk

GENERAL FOR SALE: Industrial Meat Slicer

Buy whole or as separate items.

Phone for more info:

FURNITURE

am a very affectionate 1 and a half year old spayed female. I found my way to a nice family when I was a tiny kitten and I liked it so much, I stayed.The problem is, they already have lots of cats and we don’t all get along, which isn’t much fun for anyone. I would be much happier in a new home where I can relax and not worry about the other cats. I am very confident, outgoing and am happy to be around dogs, children, chickens, anything really. If you would like to talk to my family about me, please call. Thank you.

Tel: 05 55 69 37 64 (Dept.87) FOR SALE: Rugs Masta Deluxe Turn Out Rug Black 6FT V.G.C. 50€; Brown Check Travel Rug 6FT 25€ NEW; Green Stable Rug Chill Cheeta 6FT 25€ NEW. We are in dept 23 close to Chenerailles. Tel: 05 55 62 77 41

exit 19 (Celon) Buyer Collects. €50.00 Tel: 02-54-25-39-79 FOR SALE: Tapley '33' Teak glass fronted wall display cabinet 22 ins

- excellent condition, hardly used. €900.00 Tel: 05 55 78 54 20 FOR SALE: New above ground steel wall swimming pool Still in package with assembly instructions.

Cost 600 euros now 500 euros. To be

In very good condition. €150.00ono Tel: 05 55 62 91 97 (ANWSER MACHINE) Email: grandemaisonchenerailles@orange.fr FOR SALE: Four Electric Radiators All wall-mounted. 0ne Radiant 1500W. Three convector approx' 1500W each. Euros 50 the lot. €50.00 Tel: 05 55 63 43 69 FOR SALE: Brand New Set of Mens RH Golf Clubs Full set of Powerbilt clubs with stand bag inc. Driver, 3 Wood, 3&4 Hybrid, 5 - SW. All with graphite shafts + Putter. No offers 150 EUR. €150.00 Tel: 05 44 20 22 58 FOR SALE: Various Pressure cooker (new) 10€ Chop saw in case (used once) 20€ Gas paraffin heater (used twice) 40€ Electric heater (used) 10€ Loupiac 2005 sweet dessert wine, normal price 6.50€, our price 3.50€. If you buy 6 bottles 3€ a bottle. Tel: 05 55 62 91 97 (ANWSER MACHINE) Email: grandemaison-chenerailles@ orange.fr FOR SALE: Overlocker Used once.

Excellent Condition.Contact:- Tony or Marie Wood. 4 minutes from A20 exit 19 (Celon) Buyer Collects. €95.00 Tel: 02-54-25-39-79 FOR SALE: Digibox In perfect working order for Freeview or Sky subscription channels. £20 ono. Tel: 02 54 37 76 24 Email: construction. uk@hotmail.com FOR SALE: Gas Air Rifle FX T12 gas air rifle, made in Sweden.Hawke telescopic sight, silencer and case.

Superb condition, hardly used.Cost £700 new will accept 400 euros ono €400.00ono Tel: 06 79 93 11 84 Email: karen2zante@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Bait boat Viper Icon bait boat, includes 2 batteries and carry bag. As new, only used twice. €300.00 Tel: 06 79 93 11 84 Email: karen2zante@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: INFLATABLE DINGHY AVON REDCREST DINGHY, includes wooden floorboards, inflatable seat, fibreglass seat, 2 oars, electric pump, outboard bracket and storage bags.Dinghy:- Length 2.75m, Beam 1.32m.Capacity:- 4/5 persons , 320kgs.Ready to go and have lots of fun.Photos available if required. €400.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Various Coffee maker 8 euros. Bread maker 8 euros. New cot mattress and sheet 10 euros. 2 bikes 10 euros each.Marshall Cavendish Murder Casebook 150 issues, with binders 40 euros. Microwave Know How 90 issues, with binders 20 euros. Scottish Memories 201 issues

from no. 1, March 1993 50 euros.

Websters seven language dictionary, 3 volumes, 15 euros. Tel. 06 26 07 72 75 FOR SALE: FORGE WULF, portable, coal fuelled forge in very good condition.Photos available if required. €230.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: VACUUM PACKING MACHINE FULLY AUTOMATIC

VACUUM PACKING PACK AND SEAL MACHINE. DESKTOP STYLE. Suitable for food, meat, restaurant products, skin care products, electronics etc. Commercial grade vacuum packing machine, constructed with full stainless steel and high grade pump and components, designed to withstand the industrial environment. Stainless steel tank and chassis suitable for packing wide range of products and for easy cleaning. Long /wide tank design, application for food service such as sandwich, special shape product packing. Computer adjustable vac timer and seal temperature control.

Suitable for many types of bags.

Very fast operation. Typical cycle time is 15 – 30 s. Specification:-Tank size :- 380mm x 280mm x 90mm Sealing bar size:- 255mm Unit size:500mm x 250mm x 280mmWeight :- 36 kgVoltage :- 220 volts Quantity of bags and stamping kit included.

Excellent condition. €790.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo. co.uk FOR SALE: Various 5 assorted Bikes + 9 assorted new tyres and 7 assorted new inner tubes. Ideal for a gite or brocante. 40 Euro's the lot.

Motorized garage door, excellent condition. Cost new 470 Euro's SELL for 100 Euro's. Steel sink with taps + 2 double top cupboards and 2 single. As new. 40 Euro's.

Free standing bottle gas cooker with 4 rings and oven. As new. 50 Euro's. Large electric flymo. Good condition. 20 Euro's. Stone shower base + shower door and thermostat.

40 Euro's. Log saw on stand. Blade 400mm. Cost new 329 Euro's SELL for 90 Euro's. USED TWICE. Call 09 62 16 87 35 ask for Ken Email: jeanie3@wanadoo.fr FOR SALE: Persian carpet, goat skin rug & Chinese vase table lamp Large persian carpet...like new... overall colours are burgundy and dark blue...900 euros. Bought for 1.700 euros 2 years ago. Large goat skin rug...very thick and warm.. overall colours are light brown and cream....600 euros. Large Chinese vase table lamp, with beautiful chinz shade....200euros. Tel: 06 01 83 50 55 or 05 55 57 53 19 FOR SALE: Various Prada Gents Jacket, medium, grey, excellent condition E60.00 OVNO. Henri

Lloyd Jacket (with logo on outer collar) medium, cream, excellent condition E50.00 OVNO. Rover 25 steering wheel (no airbag console included) with stereo volume control (also fit Rover 200 1995 on) E25.00. Moulinex deep fat fryer VGC E25.00 ONO. Eurohike 2 man ten in bag (model no: 265TS) VGC E30.00. Moulinex coffee maker (old/retro 1980's) VGC E15.00. Gents Berghaus hiking trainers brown, size 8/EU 42.5 VGC E25.00. BNIP - BHS pure cotton Double Flat sheet, cream BRITISH BED SIZE E20.00. BNIP - House of Fraser oxford pillowcase beige BRITISH BED SIZE E8.00. BNIP House of Fraser Double fitted sheet, white polycotton (50/50) BRITISH BED SIZE E20.00. BNIP - House of Fraser Sheet & Pillowcase set, double, white 100% Egyptian cotton BRITISH BED SIZE E40.00. BNIP - BHS single flat sheet & pillowcase sky blue polycotton (50/50) BRITISH BED SIZE E17.00. Tel: 05 55 60 46 33 FOR SALE: MICROSOFT desktop wired keyboard 600 In black with USB connection. English layout.

Brand-new, never used in original packaging. €30 + €5 postage or collect. 36170 close to Limoges border. 02 54 25 34 78 Email: blake. peter@orange.fr FOR SALE: Carp fishing Tackle 1) New, Unused, Tracker Armo Dome, 250 euros. 2) 3x Quantum Energy BCS750 big pit baitrunners, 200 euros. 3) 2x Shakespeare Albany 3.00lb tc Rods, 100 euros.

4) 2x Shimano Aero GTE 6000B baitrunners. 150 euros. 5) 2x Shimano Aerlex 7000 (ideal for spod and marker) 60 euros. 6) New ( still sealed packaging) Fox digital scales.

80 euros. 7) 3x Nash Pursuit 3.00 lb tc rods. 200 euros. 8) 2x DAM Titanium Allrounders (handcrafted) 12/13 foot. 140 euros. All are in excellent condition. Need the money to repair my car. Tel: 05 55 68 71 22.

After 6.00pm.

FOR SALE: 1000W wall-mounted electric inertie Ceramique radiator (never used). €80.00 Tel: 05 53 56 90 87 FOR SALE: Audi Q7 Parka Limited Edition Audi Q7 Parka for sale. Size Large, fits approx 42"-44" chest.

Green with fur lined hood. As new condition, only worn twice. Very rare item as it was only issued to people who worked on the Audi Q7 development in Munich. €75.00 Tel: 06 06 60 46 97 FOR SALE: Confidence USA 2 in 1 excercise bike/cross-trainer In new condition complete with original packaging. Would like 75euros, but sensible offers considered. Based in Dept.86. Please telephone for further details. €75.00 Tel: 05.49.48.59.18 / 07.80.05.42.52 FOR SALE: Good quality hay Small square bales 3e each; big round bales 1m20 30e each; big wrapped silage/haylage 1m20 35e each. Tel: 05 55 68 20 27 FOR SALE: Dallas Accoustic guitar Condition as new. €85.00 Tel: 05 55 82 08 03 Boussac FOR SALE: Cornilleau 140 indoor table tennis table Condition as new. €195.00 Tel: 05 55 82 08 03 Boussac FOR SALE: Small Bales of Hay 10-12 kilo - 2.22 euros each. Near

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

CLASSIFIEDS ♦ 19 The Bugle CLASSIFIEDS are brought to you in association with WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM to Chénérailles. Can deliver up to 70 bales. Tel: Steve or Rosie 05 55 41 59 42 Email: stephen.towse@ wanadoo.fr FOR SALE: Model WS 5406 'Miele' Commercial Washer In good condition. €75.00 Tel: 05 55 98 57 62 FOR SALE: 'Keraco' Stone Effect Twin-Bowl Sink (120cm x 60cm) with single drainer in light grey, never used. €40.00 Tel: 05 55 98 57 62 FOR SALE: 'Extralight Sprint' Gents Bike Never used and in mint condition. €80.00 Tel: 05 55 98 57 62 FOR SALE: Telephone handsets & ext leads/ adaptors/ connectors BT (English) wifi telephone handset and Phillips Dect (French) wifi telephone handset, both in very good condition. Also an assortment of phone ext leads, English/French adaptors, connectors etc. Offers please. Tel: 05 55 60 25 92 FOR SALE: Various 1. Canon MP240 Colour printer/copier in vgc, needs new ink cartridges. 2.

Samsung inkjet phone/fax in vgc.

3. Rotary clothes line - large, brand new. 4. Sheet of opaque glass - 52 1/2 ins x 22 1/4 ins x 4 mm 5. Brand New Real Wood flooring. Glueless interlocking hickory planks. 8 packs each consisting of 6 planks 13.5 x 190 x 1220 - total 11.12 m2. Offers please for any of the above. Tel: 05 55 60 25 92 FOR SALE: Golf Equipment Lots of top quality golf equipment including bags, trolleys, clubs (irons, woods and putters), balls (new and used), gloves tees and a pair of size 9 1/2W Footjoy Dry Ice shoes. ALSO 1 ladies gooseneck putter and 1 ladies mashie niblick, both hickory shafted and made by Wm Gibson & Co Ltd Kinghorn Scotland. Sensible offers please. Tel: 05 55 60 25 92 Email: malcolmwalden@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Various Mens light grey salopettes size 32-34 waist & ladies cream salopettes size 29-30 waist, both unworn 10€ each; large mirror 66cm x 92cm with smoked grey surround 25€; electric mincer with sausage and biscuit attachment 20€; white modern sideboard with two drawers and two cupboards 60€; ladies B’Twin bike with padlock and helmet unused 90€; teal bedspread 200cm x 214cm unused 10€; Brita water filter with three cartridges 8€; Quechua single inflatable mattress 10€; four porcelain Franklin Mint model unicorns approx 26cm high in excellent condition 20€ each. Tel: 05 55 81 74 25 FOR SALE: 10kw woodburning stove This beautiful looking

Barbara: 05 55 03 76 87 FOR SALE: MENS COATS Due to loss of 3 stones in weight!

Quiksilver Parka, XXL, khaki with quilted soft fleece lining, half zip and hood with faux fur, worn only twice, 45 €; Ciro Citterio quality 3/4 length black leather jacket, XXL, 50 €; Stylish black corduroy coat, L, never worn, 35 €; Ben Sherman brown suede-effect jacket, XL, with fleece lining, 35 €. All ovno. Email for photos. Tel: 05 55 64 83 13 Email: clairbirkett@hotmail.co.uk FOR SALE: NORDIC TRACK CXT 1200 cross trainer BURN OFF THE CALORIES AFTER CHRISTMAS! Can be seen on Nordic Track web site. In good condition. Lack of space after rearranging home forces sale. 100 Euros, cash. Buyer collects. €100.00 Tel: 05 55 14 28 09 Email: patriciawoodward@hotmail.co.uk FOR SALE: Front fork for racing/ road cycle Carbon, FUNDA 3T PRO in excellent condition and hardly used. Buyer to collect. Photos available. €140.00 Tel: 05 55 64 22 25 Email: geeinfrance@gmail.com FOR SALE: Various Singer treadle sewing machine to restore.

10€Demijohns 1€ each.Full size tennis table; Coffee maker; Bread maker; Cot mattress and sheet - Any reasonable offer accepted. Tel: 06 26 07 72 75 FOR SALE: Metal Gun Cabinet Height 154 cm; width 40 cm; depth 26 cm. Holds 6-7 guns with internal ammo box. €250.00 Tel: 05 55 42 56 44 FOR SALE: Vase x 2 Peacock design, blue, pink and white, 14 inches €10.00 Tel: 05 55 60 03 34 (87330 Nouic) FOR SALE: Step machine with counter €20.00 Tel: 05 55 60 03 34 (87330 Nouic) FOR SALE: Electric food steamer 2 tiers, never been used. €10.00 Tel: 05 55 60 03 34 (87330 Nouic) FOR SALE: Mirror 82 x 63 cm incl.

Wrought iron surround. €10.00 Tel: 05 55 03 87 56 FOR SALE: Raclette New, boxed. €5.00 Tel: 05 55 03 87 56 FOR SALE: Ceiling light fitting As new. Gold/wood. Semi-modern design. Upward facing. Approx depth 500mm. Today's approx price 85 euros, will accept 40 euros. €40.00 Tel: 05 55 03 87 56

PROPERTY TO LET: 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom house, 5 Km west of Aubusson Oil fired central heating, English and/ or French TV. 400 Euros per month plus bills. Available 1/3/13 furnished or unfurnished. Tel: 05 55 67 58 87

VEHICLES / PARTS

woodburner features bullrushes in an art deco style. It is in good working condition and measures 50cms (w) x 32cms (d) x 68cms in height. It has a rear flue of 15cms diameter. Could deliver. €250.00 T: 0555 60 62 97 Email: anthony.parson@gmail.com FOR SALE: Gents Apollo Mountain bike With pannier and storage. 20 Euros each. Tel: 05 55 60 03 34 (87330 Nouic) FOR SALE: 8 New Epson Inks T1285 (Fox) 2 x red, 2 x blue, 3 x yellow, 1 x black. Reason for sale - changed printer. €60.00 Tel

FOR SALE: Misubishi L200 4 Life Diesel. Double cab pick-up.

Aluminium lined carry boy. Year 2000. 1 owner. 193,000 miles. RHD. French registered. Grey/green with bull bar attached. CT until Aug 2013.

Slight damage to bodywork. Interior in good condition. Stereo/ radio.

Towing hitch. €3,000.00ono Tel: 02 54 36 94 17 Email: christine.baxter@ orange.fr FOR SALE: French Registered 2001 Land Rover Freelander Td4 Automatic LHD Turbo Diesel, Col Black, leather interior, 5 Doors.Automatic gear box, Air con, ABS, Hill descent, Electric windows, Tow bar, radio/CD, 4 New Tyres.Roof rack/Snow chains opt. extras. €4,250.00ono Tel: 05 55 60 08 46 FOR SALE: Landrover Discovery

300TDI 1999 French Registered with CT until March 2014. Colour Blue.

Leather interior. 5 Doors. 7 seater.

Manual. Air Con, Electric Windows, Tow Bar, radio/CD. New Gear box fitted 2011. 165,000 miles. Very reliable car. Sorry to see it go but we have downsized to a Freelander.

15kms from Aubusson 23190. €4,000.00ono Tel: 05 55 66 48 35 Email: Chris.moody42@gmail.com FOR SALE: Tractor Tame that

vegetable garden. Good working order (excellent rear tyres). Air cooled (no antifreeze needed).Carte Grise (French log book) for road use. Single furrow reversible plough.Ferguson drill plough / cultivator.1.5mtre Grass cutter. Old trailer thrown in.€4000 the lot. €4,000.00 Tel: 05 55 78 76 31 FOR SALE: CAMPERVAN Elnagh

1989 Fiat Ducato LHD 5.6m.2.5 Diesel 5 speed. Towbar.Ideal for 2 people. Fixed bed. New upholstrey & curtains.Internal screen protectors.

Blinds & flyscreens. Blown air heating. Shower, cooker, fridge etc.

New cover. €6,500.00 Tel: 05 55 03 59 83 FOR SALE: Hobby 650 Camper Van Very good condition, low mileage, two permanent double beds (one over the cab) but can sleep 6, gas warm air heating, hot water, full size shower cubicle, also wash hand basin with vanity mirror, electric flush toilet, large fridge/freezer, solar panels on roof, inverter for 240v ac when off.

Site, electric step, front swivel seats. €25,000.00 Contact Bob 05 45 85 42 16 FOR SALE: Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI (150) diesel estate Sept. 2006.

New MOT and Taxed. 2 owners with full Vauxhall main dealer service history. Full service with cambelt, water pump and clutch kit, including dual mass flywheel replaced Dec. at 148k. All Invoices to confirm with original service book and document pack. Every extra including SAT NAV. New Goodyear tyres fitted last year.

Non smoker car in excellent condition.

Metallic Black with no damage. RHD will consider exchange for LHD car with cash adjustment either way. May interest person returning to the UK with French car to sell. £2995 ono or € equivalent. Tel: 02 54 37 76 24 Email: construction.uk@hotmail.com FOR SALE: H & K Bradley Trailer (Bingley, Yorks) 2 metres long, 2 metres high. Roller shutter door.Type No. HU4 & 5 MK Year DZA. Very good condition. €850.00ono Steve 05.55.6975.67/06.89.47.69.71 Email: lsetenergie@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Mobile Home - English made 9 metres long x 3 metres wide. 2 Bedrooms, 1 shower room, dining room/lounge, kitchen, fridge & oven. Gas fire, gas boiler. Good condition. €3,500.00ono Steve 05.55.6975.67/06.89.47.69.71 Email: lsetenergie@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: ELLDIS VOUGE Mk 2 caravan A truly immaculate English ELLDIS VOUGE Mk 2 caravan which is proving too expensive to register in France.Would make an

ideal "Extra double bedroom" in the garden for visiting friends or relatives.

Alternatively would be suitable accommodation whilst restoring/ rebuilding a property. Comprising of shower, washbasin, toilet, hob, full oven, hot water system, sink, gas/ electric fridge, central heating, gas fire, wardrobe, double glazing, flyscreens and sun blinds. This caravan has had very little use in its lifetime and is in superb condition. Gargilesse 36190. €1,450.00ono Tel: 02 54 47 20 87 FOR SALE: VAN SAFE VAN VAULT 2, Size: 920 x 560 x490mm (LxWxH), Weight:46kg. UK’s no.1 security container for fixed installation into commercial vehicles. High tensile steel storage box. 2mm sheet steel body & lid. Tamper proof single pin hinge. Anti-drill 70mm disc lock. Gas strut for soft open/close lid action.

Siren holes for optional anti-theft alarm. Excellent condition. NEW PRICE 242€. Photos available if required. €160.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: THERMAL BLINDS THERMAL FOIL WINDOW BLINDS FOR CAMPER VAN, MOTORHOME. NEW, 3 PIECES. Photos available if required. €50.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@ yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: RADIATOR 61349A (MADE IN DENMARK BY NISSENS), as new, suitable for the following models:- PEUGEOT 4062.0i Turbo 19961.9 TD 1995 à 19992.1 TD 1995 à 1999 PEUGEOT 406 COUPE2.0 Turbo 1997 à 1999PEUGEOT 605 2.0 Turbo 1995(M + Auto)2.1 TD 1995 CITROEN XM2.0i Turbo 19952.1 TD 1995Photos available if required. €45.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes. peter@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: TYRES 4 BRAND NEW 205/80R 16, Remoulds. Photos available if required. €240.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo. co.uk FOR SALE: TRAILER IVOR

WILLIAMS TRAILER, model P6e, max gross weight 500kg, unladen weight 163kg. The axle, drawbar & body panels are constructed from hot dipped galvanized steel. The floor is 18mm thick high density plywood with a tough, waterproof resin coating on both sides. The loading ramp is panelled in 2mm thick slip resistant aluminium treadplate. It has a floor area of 1.21m x1.98m.It is fitted with 145/R10 flotation tyres.Also featured:-Spare wheel and carrier.

Lockable 50mm ball coupling with grab handle. Adjustable front prop stand.Rope hooks. Impact resistant plastic mudguards. VERY GOOD CONDITION ALL ROUND. €600.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes. peter@yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: 1994 Mercedes 408D Removal van Can be driven on car licence. Extra large 900 cubic ft body with all blankets, ties etc needed for household removal. New MOT and Taxed. Excellent condition. The cheapest way to move to or from France. €2,000.00 Phone Martin 02 54 05 12 45 Email: mister.martin. lewis@googlemail.com

FOR SALE: TRACTOR FERRARI

PowerSafe, 2 WHEEL TRACTOR, Type 340A/360 with the following attachments:-Plough, Potato ridger, Potato lifter. Very good condition and working order. €2,400.00 Tel: + 44 (0) 7929 830643 or +33 (0) 6646 25092 Email: haynes.peter@yahoo. co.uk FOR SALE: Citroen Xsara Picasso MPV Diesel 2002. Very economical - 50mpg+. English plates. Good condition. Good running order. €750.00 Tel: 05 55 65 84 95 FOR SALE: Roof Rack Fits Peugeot Partner/ Citroen Belingo 2003/04 etc. €45.00 Tel: 05 55 69 49 28 FOR SALE: Nissan X trail Aventura T 30 2007 pair of genuine xenon left hand drive headlights including bulbs

€500.00 Tel: 05.55.66.44.06 FOR SALE: 4 x 15” steel wheels complete with brand new, unused, high quality snow tyres to suit Renault Megane/ Scenic etc. Cost me 400 Euros will sell for 300 Euros. €300.00 Contact Dave on 05 55 67 58 87 FOR SALE: 1988 MITSUBISHI L200 PICK-UP TRUCK 2.5 litre, long

wheelbase, with rear cover, two wheel drive 155,000 miles. A good reliable workhorse, RHD UK registered.

Engine & gearbox excellent but needs some welding underneath. Hence only €350 ONO. Please telephone or email for further details. €350.00ono Tel: 02 54 25 34 78 Email: blake.peter@ orange.fr FOR SALE: Hyundai coupe TSIII Limited Edition Crystal White,

FOR SALE

Building Plots / Economic Activity Areas The Brame Benaize Community of Communes would like to inform possible entrepreneurs in Limousin or elsewhere - interested in developing or setting up a business - that we have building plots / economic activity areas available for sale in JOUAC (87890) and MAGNAC-LAVAL (87190).

Interested parties can email in English for enquiries.

mairiestleger@wanadoo.fr

RHD, French Registered, Sunroof, 17" anthracite alloys, quad exhausts, sport suspension from the Eibach springs, quilted style leather seats with matching door-trims, high boot spoiler, 2.0 liter Beta engine badged chrome door sills, metal foot rest and pedals, iPod connectivity and heated seats, 30K. Contact for info or pictures. €11,000.00ono tel: 05 55 47 34 82 Email: jseretny@hotmail.co.uk

WHITE GOODS FOR SALE: Upright Freezer-4 draw Excellent condition.

H33cmxW22cmxD21cm.Contact:Tony or Marie Wood. 4 minutes from A20 exit 19 (Celon) Buyer Collects. €75.00 Tel: 02-54-25-39-79 FOR SALE: Extra large lockable freezer Whirlpool complete with baskets - unused although has been in storage. Area 87120. €250.00 Tel: 05 55 36 23 95 or 00 44 77 07 60 413

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY I am a physicist and chartered engineer looking for a dynamic business person as agent or partner for the development and commercialisation of my 3D technologies. Interested in new ways of working? Email: barry@ barrygblundell.com FOR SALE: Licence 4 €4,000.00ono Tel: 06 76 52 26 47 FOR SALE: Licence IV covering whole of Creuse area Enables sales of beverages and spirits in Bars/ Restaurants etc Email: jsezer@yahoo. co.uk

WANTED WANTED: Petrol rotary lawn mower (not ride-on) in good working condition to replace our worn-out and well used mower - soon destined for the scrap heap! Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) WANTED: Fire bricks various dimensions for bread oven renovation Tel: 05 55 81 15 19 WANTED: Old cast iron door for bread oven renovation Tel: 05 55 81 15 19 WANTED: Curved corrugated metal sheets Pete tel 05 45 30 72 04 (daytime) 06 24 65 40 33 (eve) WANTED: House/Garden/Garage Clearance Single items or entire contents. Tel: 05 55 65 84 95 WANTED: OLD CARAVANS Any condition considered, will collect, cash paid. Pete tel 05 45 30 72 04 (daytime) 06 24 65 40 33 (eve)

Classified Submission Deadline: 15th of the month for the next edition

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

20 ♦ GAMES Crossword

Caption Comp March

Clues and answers in English

Send your entries for this month's Caption Competition to: editor@thebugle.eu If you have a photo that you think would make for a good Caption Competition, please feel free to send it in to The Bugle: editor@thebugle.eu Send your entries for this month's Caption Competition to: editor@thebugle.eu

Last Month's Winners

WINNER:

Down:

1. Utensil (5) 3. Path (5) 7. Disregarded (7) 9. Send out (5) 10. Military command (5) 11. Mythical beast (7) 12. Taste (6) 14. Movie house (6) 18. Bet (7) 20. Deduce (5) 22. Awkward (5) 23. Roamed (7) 24. Finished (5) 25. Small boat (5)

1. Mariners (7) 2. Possessed (5) 3. Boredom (6) 4. Legal excuse (5) 5. Svelte (7) 6. Beer mug (5) 8. Relating to country life (5) 13. Tycoon (7) 15. Dialect (5) 16. Condense (7) 17. Worshipped (6) 18. Forgo (5) 19. Graded (5) 21. Criminal (5)

Please be aware that the deadline for all submissions for content and advertising is the 15th of the month for the following month’s print edition.

SUDOKU - EASY

HONOURABLE MENTIONS: "There was no doubting it, Beryl was definitely a coughing dodger" - Emma Searle "You'd have thought someone would have bought me a bloody lighter for my birthday, wouldn't you?" - Anon

© 2009 - LeeSFoster (Flickr)

Across:

"Even at her advanced age, Emily still had no problem with her joints." Dave Glass

"Can't see what all the fuss is about. I smoke 100 everyday!" - Mike Scott "Why do they keep giving me a cake to light my cigarettes?" - John Martin "I always said that when I'm ready to go it will be in a puff of smoke." Roger Hammond "Don't wish me Happy Birthday! I am up to 100 a day - just give me a packet of fags." - George Durell

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

SUDOKU - HARD

The solutions to this month’s Crossword and Sudokus can be found on page 23

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

COMMUNITY ♦ 21

Le Bellerive

Hotel - Restaurant - Café-Bar 29 Avenue de la Tour, 87470 Peyrat-le-Château

Fri 1st Mar - St David's Day. Special offer - buy a drink and get the second HALF PRICE! Sat 9th/16th & Sun 10th Mar - 6 Nations Rugby.

We're showing all the games on our new big screen TV - it's all to play for!

Thu 21st Mar - Book & DVD Swap.

There's nothing like a good read... Unless it's watching the movie!

Thu 28th Mar - Fun Quiz Night. Trivia? Pop? Geography? Sport? Entertainment? Who knows!

Easter Sunday 31st Mar - Roast Turkey Lunch.

Kids menu available and free Easter egg for the kids (booking recommended).

For details of all the events, go to: www.facebook.com/hotellebellerive Email: bonjour@lebellerive.net

Phone: 05 55 36 20 63

Creusetec

Winter offer - "tooway" 20 Mb satellite internet.

30 Gb data & FREE equipment. Only €49.95/month!

Other options with new speeds from € 29.95

Bugle Notice Board JJ’s Café Bar Aigurande Music Club

2nd Sat of every month. 8.30 pm.

Next event: 9th March

JJ's Music club is for musicians of all levels and genres entry is free, there is no membership and is open to everyone who loves music. You can also buy fish and chips from the van in the market square (from 6.30 - 8.30) and eat them in the comfort of JJ's. The club starts from 8:30, but we are open for all those who want to come earlier to eat. In fact we hardly ever shut !!!!

JJ's Cafe Bar, 39 Place du Champ de Foire, 36140 Aigurande

Win a hamper full of British Easter goodies!

All you have to do is visit our website and write a product review for any product in our Easter category and you will be automatically entered into the draw.

Take a look at our latest news pages for all the details! www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk

Anyone interested in exhibiting is welcome. All kinds of art will be represented (painting, drawing, photography, caricatures, sculpture, floral art...)

For further information and to sign up email s.franz@live.fr

L'Escale

Restaurant & Bar

5 Rue Andre Jouhannaud, Compreignac Freshly home-cooked English and French food Curry Night Special - Saturday 2nd March (reservations please) 2 Curries & Carafe Wine €19,50 English Mother's Day - Sunday 10th March Traditional English Menu

Le Moulin du Breuil 23140 PIONNAT

Le Moulin du Breuil reopens on Saturday 23rd March 2013 for food and drinks.

OPEN ALL EASTER WEEKEND!

Easter Sunday Lunch - Sunday 31st March Reservations now being taken Party Bookings welcomed See main ad for more information and opening hours Tel: 05 55 12 99 45 / 06 04 09 03 10 email: L_escale@yahoo.fr Or see us on Facebook for more details.

Special menu on Easter Sunday 31st March €25 per head - Phone or email for reservations Watch this space for events in April.

British Corner Shop

The Comité des Fêtes in Chéniers is organising an art exhibition called RENC'ARTS 2013 on May 1st 2013 in the salle polyvalente Pierre Laurent.

Email: cafebarjj@yahoo.co.uk

36170 SACIERGES-ST-MARTIN

Tel: 02 54 47 56 74

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99

Tel: 02 54 06 30 77

Le Relais de l'Abloux

mail: lerelaisdelabloux@orange.fr facebook: "le relais de l'abloux"

Please Note...

that we will be at Panazol Sunday Market on 3rd, 17th & 31st March

www.frenchweb.eu/jjscafebar/

Pianist/ vocalist available for events/ gigs/ private parties etc...

New Orleans old time jazz n blues n boogie...

Call: 07.61.21.85.15

NOTE: MOULES FRITES FROM €11

Now in stock:

Mother's Day cards (10th March UK) Easter Cards (31st March) Easter Eggs

5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

Tel: Martin - 05.55.66.60.21 Web: http://www.creusetec.com

Saturday 23rd March NOTE: Soirée Cabaret/Cassoulet ----------------

Petticoat Lane

Tel: 05 55 80 37 70 Mail: info@lemoulindubreuil.com Web: www.lemoulindubreuil.com

International Apero Reseau Saturday 16th March 7pm - Quiz Night A fun evening for all, groups or individuals.

Please book in advance by contacting Liz Rodwell at Baileys Bar/Restaurant. Hot Self-Service Buffet Meal for 10 euros and Bar available during the evening.

Saturday 23rd March - Pool Match, starts at 7pm

Baileys Bar/Restaurant 5 Rue de L'Abreuvoir 23200 Aubusson Tel: 05 55 66 37 10 or 05 55 66 22 92 Email: riversidehols@wanadoo.fr

Craft Club

Do you sew, quilt, knit, crochet, do paper crafts, etc?

Would you be interested in meeting once a month to get together with like-minded people to 'do your thing', learn something new, teach someone else what you do?

We are two ladies living in the Creuse, and between us we do amazing things with machine embroidery, quilting, knitting, sewing, counted cross stitch, embroidery, and crochet. We live in Dept 23 and are looking at setting up a monthly group, either half a day or a full day depending on what people want.

If you are interested you can talk to Pat on 05 87 40 91 26 (preferably in English), or Lynne on 05 55 89 80 66 (French or English). We look forward to talking to you.

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

22 ♦ COMMUNITY

CLUBS, CHARITIES & ASSOCIATIONS

Church Notices 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 or Ian & Becky Jefferies on 05 55 61 10 23 / email mail@otiumsanctus.com 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 midweek 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 Cussac Bowls Club The new arrangements at Cussac gymnasium bring us new facilities and more sessions for Lawn-Bowling, Short-mat Bowling and Crown-green Bowling.

We will now be able to accept members who have a preference for other types of bowling, so why not come along and see if we can satisfy your needs.

If you have never played before or don't have your own bowls, don't worry.

The club has a supply of bowls for your use and most of our now-competetive bowlers had never played before joining us a year ago.

Session times: Mon morning OUTSIDE (synthetic lawn); Wed evening inside - short-mat bowling (4 mats available); Thurs morning - inside - shortmat; Friday morning OUTSIDE (synthetic lawn).

CUSSAC (87150) is in southern Haute-Vienne, just 6km from the Dordogne and Charente borders and the gymnasium is easily found next to the school near the town centre.

Ring Roger Hammond on 05 55 50 40 89 or mail roger.hammond@orange.fr for further information.

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 19h30-21h at the DOJO, Allée Jean-Marie Couturier, Aubusson. Warm and friendly atmosphere. 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 enjoy an afternoon of gentle exercise with a cheerful, light-hearted group? Each week we exercise a different group of muscles, do a little country dancing & some floor exercise and laugh a lot. The aim of the activities is to increase suppleness and mental agility. We meet every Tuesday afternoon upstairs at the Capitole in Ro echouart between 2pm and 3.30pm. It isn’t necessary to speak French because you can copy but you will learn some. Come for 2 weeks’ free trial. For details contact: 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 Les petits jardiniers du Limousin http://jardiniers-du-limousin.webs.com Do you love gardening or are you keen to learn more about it? Then why not come along and join Les Petits Jardiniers?

We’re a friendly group of English, French and Dutch residents and normally meet on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 2.30pm in the salle de fêtes in St-Amand-le-Petit, between Peyrat-le-Château and Eymoutiers. Our meetings are held mostly in English and we have guest speakers, organise garden visits and swap plants and seeds. Annual membership is 15 euros pp or 20 euros per couple or pay as you go for 3 euros per meeting. For more information or to be put on our mailing list for our quarterly newsletter or monthly agenda contact Carolyn at Carolyn@cnlees.eu or Gill at gillinfrance@orange.fr Agenda for 2013: 21st Mar Raised beds, vertical planting; 18th Apr Clematis and ground cover planting; 16th May Visit to botanical gardens Limoges and also the vaulted caves under the city; 20th Jun Trees & Shrubs; 18th Jul Farm Visit; 15th Aug Annual BBQ; 14th Sept Flower & Vegetable Show – How

CSF Haute-Vienne's First AGM We are pleased to announce that our AGM marking the end of our first year is to be held in the Salle des Mariages of the Rochechouart Hôtel de Ville on Wednesday 6th March at 2.30pm.

Everyone is welcome, but only those who are paid up members of the Association will be able to vote.

Jane Nicholson, from the Exchange in Rochechouart, will be coming to give a talk on Living with Cancer - The squatter in the spare room. An Eviction Order. There will be a question and answer session at the end of her talk.

We very much hope to see you on the day. If you would like further information, please contact Sue Ware, President CSF-HV on 05 55 00 31 15.

does your garden grow; 17th Oct Barnhaven Primroses; 21st Nov Planting a wildflower meadow; 12th Dec Xmas party, Gardeners Question Time and Quiz.

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.

More info contact Michelle Pierce on 05 45 89 36 54 or at unjardinenfrance@ gmail.com Aux Plantes etc We are an association of independent, ethically-minded 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 vitist www.auxplantesetc.jimdo.com

Integration International Apero Reseau We meet each Saturday from 11.30am-1pm at Baileys Bar/Restaurant, 5 Rue de L'Abreuvoir, Aubusson.

These meetings offer the opportunity to: exchange views - make new friends - share experiences - have fun together - help and advise one another - help intergrate newcomers. Discussions in English (all nationalities welcome).

For more information please contact Catherine 06 86 17 80 88 or Liz 05 55 66 22 92.

Faceaface An association founded to facilitate and encourage interaction between all members of the local community. As our first venture we have created a library.

Where? In the Mairie of St-Priest which is just off the D4 between Mainsat and Chénérailles. When? The 1st and 3rd Mon afternoon in every month between 2 - 5pm. To join all you have to do is donate six books and pay €5 per person or €8 per household. If you would like more information please contact us at: faceaface23@gmail.com or just come by and see us. Everyone is welcome!

Learning Together – Apprenons Ensemble Our main aim is to foster understanding and good relations amongst the local French-speaking and English-speaking populations. To this end we are offering courses of tuition in English and in French, and organising social and cultural events and visits. LANGUAGE CLASSES (take place at the Maison des Associations, Rochechouart) Beginners and Intermediate - Mon am; French/English Conversation – Tues am; Advanced and Children’s – Wed am; Conversation (St-Junien) - Thur. SOCIAL EVENTS Games Night (Rochechouart) 1st Thur; Games Night (St-Junien) 2nd Thur; Lunch Club – Last Thur. FORTHCOMING EVENTS - More details in Association Newsletter. For more details visit www.learningtogether.me or contact Sue Ratcliffe 05 45 31 50 86 The Melting Pot Members of the Ambassador's Club of the Welcome en Limousin Association.

We are a group of around 70 members, both French and British, who meet with the aim of sharing things and trying to integrate with the French community.

We meet every week at the Ancienne Ecole in Darnac, on a Wednesday morning from 10am - 12noon, except for the first Wednesday, when we meet in the evening at 8pm. We hold information meetings, plant swaps, BBQ's, games nights, visits and have guest speakers about topics relevant to living in France. Contact: info@meltingpot-limousin.com Charente Limousine Exchange The Charente-Limousine-Exchange (CLE), founded in 2003, aims to improve the provision of French language courses and to share experiences and skills among members who live in Charente, Vienne and Haute-Vienne. CLE provides information to members living and/or working in France and works with local communities and organisations to tackle practical issues through forums and workshops, as well as organising a wide range of cultural and social events throughout the year. The recent launch of English lessons has been well attended by Confolentais. If you would like to know more about this group of volunteers, please look on our new website www.charentelimousine-exchange.com or contact the Chairman, Barry Leech, on 06 35 96 77 46.

Libraries & Books

Baileys Book Exchange Baileys Bar/Restaurant, 5 Rue de L'Abreuvoir, Aubusson.

Large selection of English books, plus a few French books and DVDs. Swap (for each swapped book a small charge of 20cts applies) or buy books from as little as 50cts.

ALL money received donated to S.P.A. de la Creuse Dog Refuge Guéret.

Books available during opening hours, please check Baileys Restaurant Ad for details.

Sale of Second-hand Books, La Croisille-sur-Briance On the 18th of every month, during the monthly market at La Croisille-surBriance (87130), there is a sale of second-hand books (both English and

Phoenix "One Cat or Two?" Campaign – can you help please?

Would you love a moggie companion, but don't want a long-term or financial commitment?

Phoenix is seeking Cat / Kitten Foster Carers who will foster just one or two cats. ALL expenses related to fostering will be covered by Phoenix. We just need you to provide a temporary but loving and secure home for them.

For logistic reasons, your location should be within 1.5 hours drive from Issac, 24400 Dordogne.

For all enquiries, contact Lynda Atkins on 05 53 81 30 44 or email lapuille@gmail.com Thank you.

Check out our ADOPTION PAGE at www. phoenixasso.com or FACEBOOK www.facebook. com/PhoenixAssociationFrance for other Phoenix animals available for adoption.

French) from 9am to 12 noon, at the old garage in La Place - next door to the pharmacy. All proceeds towards the restoration of the church.

St Jean English Library, La Souterraine The La Souterraine Library and Information Centre is now firmly installed in a beautiful medieval building at the Porte de Puy Charraud, Route de Portail, La Souterraine. The library has over 5,000 books, DVDs and other items, as well as its café, Caxtons, which serves English cakes. The Library also provides French lessons and organises Anglo-French conversation groups.

The Information Centre provides support and assistance with bureaucratic, family and legal problems to British residents and new arrivals. The library is open from 9.30 -12.30 on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

Contact Rodney Sabine on 05 55 63 03 87 or at stjeanbiblio@yahoo.com.

Our website is www.frenchweb.eu/biblio The English Library, Dun-le-Palestel Located in the Route des Rateries, just behind the Biblithèque Municipale, you will find the Anglophone Library, which offers a wide variety of reading material, DVDs, talking books and videos. It is also a meeting point and arranges a host of activities including: Café Franglais; Club Scrabble; Café Philo; Sewing Group; Art Group. Library opening hours: Thu 10am – 4pm & Sat 10am – 12.30pm.

For details of activities or general information visit www.ententecordiale-creuse. org or email library@ententecordiale-creuse.org.

Music Club de Musique Takes place on the last Fri of each month from 8pm at La Grange, Chassignolles (5mins from La Châtre). Open to all musicians, singers, groups and audience.

PA and drum kit available. Bring your instrument, mic and join in a great French / English musical and social evening. Bar, hot and cold snacks. Meals available if reserved – see website for contact details of La Grange. For more info email: geoff@clubdemusique.fr http://www.clubdemusique.fr 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 Alcoholics Anonymous If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there are now Englishspeaking 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 aafrancesud-ouest.com

NEW English-speaking meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous at CIVRAY Anyone who has a drinking problem can now get help at a new English-speaking meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous at CIVRAY. The meeting is held in a room at the rear of the Mairie, Place du Gén de Gaulle every Friday evening between 18.30 and 20.00. For further information contact Angela on 05 49 87 79 09.

Details of other English-speaking meetings in South-West France, including the existing ones at Limoges and Périgueux, can be found on the AA website at www.aafrancesud-ouest.com Cancer Support France, Charente Plus Offers free and confidential support to English speakers affected by cancer in departments 16, 17 & 86. Our helpline number is 06 45 35 32 30. If you need any more information, please get in touch via csf.charenteplus@gmail.com Cancer Support France, Haute-Vienne We offer free and confidential support to English speakers affected by Cancer in the Haute-Vienne (87). 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, csfhv@frangle.fr Cancer Support France, Creuse If you are English-speaking and need support or information, please phone Helpline number 06 06 47 18 60.

The Creuse Branch is now under the umbrella of Haute-Vienne.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Fund-raiser After the huge success of the last 2 years' fund-raisers in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Landouge, Limoges, Christine and myself, with the help of Guide Dog Etoile, will be holding our third annual fund-raiser on Sunday 23rd June. The venue once again will be in our large garden, come rain or shine, at 17 Avenue du 8 Mai 1945, 87150, Oradour-sur-Vayres.

If anyone has anything they can donate (clothes, books, bric-abrac, CDs, DVDs, household items, or any other saleable goods, or homemade cakes) to the vide-greniers or tombola we would be grateful to receive them. Similarly if anyone can offer any voluntary help on the day this would be appreciated! Finally we welcome any artisans/ traders wishing to take a pitch.

Please contact Roger and Christine Thomas: tel 05 55 78 83 05.

Thank you again to everyone who helped and supported our Event last year, which raised €2450 for the School.

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2013

WHAT’S ON ♦ 23

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-lesFeuilles

WEDNESDAY

Ahun Bourganeuf Chambon-sur-Voueize Cognac-la-Forêt Clugnat Le Dorat Isle Limoges (pont St Martial) 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-lesChamps 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-surVienne(15h-18h30)

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

Sun 17th Mar BOUSSAC Cabaret « La java des Gaspards » Cabaret of old French songs revisited. Funny and moving. Salle polyvalente. 15 h. Tickets: Adults €12 / Under 12s €10. In partnership with France Bleu Creuse. Tickets available from Boussac Tourist Office tel 05 55 65 05 95 **Hurry, as they are going fast!** Sat 23rd Mar 10e Nuit de la Chouette Every two years, the LPO and the Federation of Regional Nature Parks in France jointly organize the Nuit de la Chouette (Night of the Owl), an exceptional event to bring Owls to a wider audience and raise awareness of the riches of nature at night. Conferences, exhibitions and workshops take place all over the country and are free and open to all! There are plenty of events taking place all over the region - to find one local to you visit: http://nuitdelachouette.lpo.fr/participant.php Sat 23rd Mar BOURGANEUF Carnival 14h30. Place du Champ de foire.

Sun 31st Mar MOUTIER-D'AHUN Brocante vide-greniers de Pâques - 8h-18h.

Fri 5th to Sun 7th 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. Featuring over 250 authors of general and children's literature as well as comics, this book festival brings together

EASY

MONTHLY FOIRES

BY DATE

Aixe-sur-Vienne: 1st Fri Ambazac: 1st Wed Auzances: 2nd Tue Bourganeuf: 1st & 3rd Wed Boussac: 1st & 3rd Thu Bujaleuf: Last Mona Châlus: 2nd Thu Châteauneuf-la-Forêt: 2nd Sun Cognac-la-Forêt: 1st Tue Cussac: 4th Sun Domps: 2nd Tue Dun-le-Palestel: 1st Thu Evaux-les-Bains: 1st Mon Eymoutiers: 1st & 3rd Thu Feytiat: 1st Sat La Souterraine 2nd & 4th Sat Magnac-Bourg: 2nd Sat Meuzac: 4th Mon Mézières-sur-Issoire: 2nd & 4th Mon Nexon: 3rd Fri Oradour-sur-Vayres: 3rd Thu Peyrat-le-Château: 3rd Mon Peyrilhac: 3rd Sun Pierre-Buffière: 1st Fri Royère-de-Vassivière: 2nd Tue Saint-Germain-les-Belles: last Sat Saint-Jouvent: 1st Sun Saint-Junien: 3rd Sat Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat: 1st Mon Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche: 2nd & 4th Fri Sauviat-sur-Vige: 2nd Mon Veyrac: 2nd Sun

BY DAY

1 (day before if public holiday): Bellac 3: Bellegarde-en-Marche 3: Châteauponsac 5: Bussière-Poitevine 5: Chénérailles 6: Bussière-Boffy 8: Compreignac 9: Saint-Sulpice-Laurière 11 (Sat if 11 is a Sun): Bessines-surGartempe 13 (Sat if 13 is a Sun): Le Dorat 15: Oradour-sur-Glane 17: Mortemart 18: La Croisille-sur-Briance; La Jonchère-Saint-Maurice 20: Chénérailles 21: Ambazac; Saint-Sulpice-lesFeuilles 22 (Mon if 22 is a Sun): MagnacLaval 23: Razès; St Laurent sur Gorre 24: Nantiat 25: Blond - St Paul 26: Nouic; Rochechouart 28: Cieux 29: Laurière

All Markets & Foires are in the morning unless stated otherwise. If your local market is not listed, please let us know - editor@thebugle.eu

both children and adults, and exercises a strong appeal with extensive comics and youth literature stalls. Book signings and conferences will punctuate a weekend full of literary discoveries. Esplanade du Champ de Juillet. Free entry.

Sat 13th Apr BOUSSAC Celtic and Traditional Music The AIPB of Boussac is holiding an evening of Celtic and Traditional Music performed by Lou Patroun at 20:30 on 13th April at the Salle Polyvalente, Boussac. Tickets are 8 euros, available at the Tourist Office in Boussac or on the door. Audience participation/dancing will be encouraged and instruction given! Fun evening. Irish stout plus the usual pression and wine, soft drinks etc and fast food will be available. Phone Wendy for more info on 05 55 65 03 69 or visit the Tourist Office.

Sun 14th Apr MAGNAC-LAVAL Fête des Plantes Organised by LES AMIS DES FLEURS ET JARDINS. Takes place in the grounds of the Château. Free entry. Contact: tel 06 50 96 47 70.

Sun 14th Apr SAINT-BAZILE Spring Concert ‘Culture en Tête’ presents a Spring Concert with the choir ‘Bagatelle’ under the direction of Francoise Geller with five choristers from London. The concert will be held in the church at Saint Bazile at 16h. Entrance €5 (Members of Culture en Tête and children under 12 – €4). For more information, ring Pat on 05-55-78-40-65.

MEDIUM

HARD

CSF Creuse If you are English-speaking and need support or information, please phone Helpline number 06 06 47 18 60.

The Creuse Branch is now under the umbrella of Haute-Vienne.

Garden Lovers Do come and join our club, LES AMIS DES FLEURS ET JARDINS AT MAGNAC-LAVAL. This is a French run club with an English-speaking President and English Treasurer.

We run visits to interesting gardens in the area either by car sharing or minibus and we organise an annual Fête des Plantes in the grounds of the Château at Magnac-Laval. The Group is very friendly and offers a chance to improve your French as well as make friends with like-minded people. The annual subscription is 10 euros.

For more information and an application form, please contact: Christine Edmonds-Riley on 06 50 96 47 70 or Janet Graham on 05 55 68 69 94. Email fleursmagnaclaval.gmail.com **This year's Fête des Plantes will take place on 14th April in the grounds of the Château at Magnac-Laval. Free entry.**

Press Release from the Chaplaincy of Christ the Good Shepherd, Poitou-Charentes

Come and Sing the hymns you love across South West France Cast your mind back to all those glorious traditional hymns you enjoyed in the past. Gems such as ‘Onward Christian Soldiers’ or ‘Guide me O thou Great Redeemer’ a favourite of Welsh rugby fans.

How would you like to come and immerse yourselves into the British choral tradition and have a really good sing! The many Anglican churches from the Poitou-Charentes in the west to Pau in the south and from the Atlantic to Cahors in the Tarn will reverberate to the glorious sounds of those traditional hymns during the week of 8th April.

Not formal services but simply a selection of hymns interspersed by lighthearted readings or poems. Some will feature choirs, others musicians and others well known personalities who will make it all happen. Good opportunities to meet new people and to find out about the local social and church community events.

In the Poitou-Charentes - La Rochefoucauld(16) and Jarnac (16) will both be participating on Thursday 11th April at 6pm.

Come and have fun singing the hymns you love!

For further details of the Songs of Praise evening nearest to you, please visit the Chaplaincy web site: www.church-in-france.com or contact Kate at katetwoplus@yahoo.co.uk

MARCH 2013 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

24 ♦ WHAT’S ON

UPCOMING EVENTS ACROSS THE REGION Sun 6th Jan to Sun 21st Apr Les Bistrots d’Hiver 2013 The Bistrots d'Hiver are back in to liven up winter Sundays in and around the Plateau de Millevaches. Organised by the association Pays'Sage this season sees a diverse programme including jazz, manouche, samba, pop-rock... there is something for everyone! Concerts take place in auberges and cafes across the region and take the form of an apero-tchatche (debate on something topical or related to the territory) before lunch and an afternoon concert. The following take place this month. For full details and to download the programme visit http://www. pays-sage.net/ 3rd – Sam – Chez Caouette – Eymoutiers (87) 3rd – Michel Boutet (spectacle jeune public) – Espace Associatif Alain Fauriaux – Flayat (23) 10th – La Maison Quitientchaud – L’Atelier – Royère de Vassivière (23) 17th – Sale Petit Bonhomme – L’ Auberge du Bois de l’Etang – Peyrat-le-Château (87) 24th – Tonycello – Restaurant des Sources – Féniers (23) 24th – Aalma Dili – L’Auberge du lac – Viam (19) Mon 28th Jan to Wed 13th Mar AHUN Exhibition: Rocailles Limousines Exhibition of rockwork at the tourist office.

Mon-Sat 9h30-12h & 14h-18h. Free entry.

In Creuse rockwork can mainly be seen in

Aubusson, Felletin & Bourganeuf. The department is home to a rockwork dynasty the Lecardeur family. The first generation of this family is thought to have worked in Paris around the time of the 1889 World Fair at the Trocadéro at the foot of the Eiffel Tower.

The movement of rockworkers in Creuse developed alongside its stonemasons.

Sat 2nd to Sat 30th Mar AHUN Saturdays in the Garden A series of gardening courses held at the Lycée Agricole in Ahun. For March: Sat 2nd Grafting; Sat 9th Pruning Roses; Sat 16th Bio Gardening; Sat 23rd Introduction to Vannerie - a chance make simple objects in wicker; Sat 30th Cuttings. Courses cost EUR 27 (free for accompanying children) and are held from 8h30 - 12h at the CFPPA Ahun.

For more information tel: 05.55.81.48.90 Sat 2nd Mar GUÉRET Concert by the Orchestre Départemental de la Creuse Concert of 70s music including Earth Wind and Fire, Grease, ABBA, Starmania... by the Departmental Orchestra of the Creuse.

Espace André Lejeune. 20h30. Contact: tel Musique en Marche 05 55 52 21 94 - email mem23@orange.fr Sat 2nd Mar SAINT-SÉBASTIEN Quiz Repas This is the 4th Anglo-French Quiz at StSébastien organised by the Comité des

Fêtes. Mixed teams, questions in English and French. Meal served in the interval consisting of: Tartiflette, Salade, Tarte aux Fruits (Vegetarian option available). 7.30pm.

10 Euros per person. To reserve your places please contact: Clare 05.55.63.05.36 or Evelyn 05.55.63.50.39 Sun 3rd Mar LIMOGES Carnival Get out your costumes! Since 1998, the city of Limoges has been organising its carnival on the first Sunday in March. A continuous effort has allowed the creation of unique floats, matched by top quality musical entertainment. The growing reputation of the Limoges Carnival has opened up the event to national and foreign musical troupes and you will now find Brazilian music, bagpipes and so on here... A fantastic day out to enjoy with friends or family.

Departs 15h from the Champ de Juillet.

Sun 3rd Mar SAINT-JUNIEN Carnival Carnival procession departs from the Champ de Foire at 15h. Accompanied by La Banda de Saint-Junien, Brazilian music group Kaléo, street circus artists & brass band Wenden-Gugge.

Tue 5th Mar VILLEFAVARD Les Nouveaux Nez & Cie Free performance at the Ferme de Villefavard: classical pianist Rebecca Chaillot performs

with Mlle Françoise and the celebrated “New Nose” clowns for an evening of fun. Some delicacies from the Ardèche will be on offer after the performance, which starts at 19h15.

For more information: tel 05 55 76 54 72 or visit www.fermedevillefavard.com Mon 11th to Fri 15th Mar VILLEFAVARD Master Classes Alerting all pianists in the Limousin... profit from sitting in on Master Classes given by Svetlana Samsonova and Bruno Perbost at the Ferme de Villefavard. Open to all from 15h-18h each day. Telephone to reserve: 05 55 76 54 72. Visit www.fermedevillefavard. com for more information.

Fri 15th to Sat 16th Mar Fête de la St Patrick Concert of Irish music with the group Marée Haute in Gouzon on Fri 15th & Ste-Feyre on Sat 16th. GOUZON: Salle polyvalente. 20h30. Food & drink available.

Entry €8 (reduced if you come dressed in green!) Info: tel the Gouzon tourist office on 05.55.62.26.92 STE-FEYRE: Salle Raymond Poulidor. 21h. Entry €8. Info: tel 06 86 49 75 80 Sat 16th Mar BOUSSAC Soirée Musicale de la Saint Patrick Celtic music and Irish beer. Grand Café des Sports. From 19h. Contact: tel 05 55 65 82 12 www.grandcafedessports.com CONTINUED ON PAGE 23 >>