The Bugle Dordogne - Feb 2015 by The Bugle

Foie gras production under the microscope A foie gras producer has found itself in court in a landmark case that looks set to test the country's >> Page 8 love of this controversial delicacy.

Dordogne February 2015 - Issue #20

New smoke detector law to come into force From 8th March it will be compulsory to have at least one functioning smoke detector in all properties. Installation will be the responsibility of the property owner and failure to comply could see a €5,000 excess applied in the event of fire damage.

n e w law will c o m e i n t o f o r c e n e x t month making it compulsory for all homes to be equipped with at least one smoke alarm, or DAAF (détecteur avertisseur autonome de fumée). From 8th March, whatever the occupancy situation, it is the owner of the property who is responsible for installing a correctly functioning smoke alarm. If the property is a long-term rental, then it is the tenant’s responsibility to maintain and test the detector. In order to enforce this new law, it is thought

that insurance companies will be asked to make smoke alarms a condition of their home insurance policies, a move aimed at putting pressure on householders to buy and maintain detectors. In the event of fire damage in your home, your insurer can not refuse to cover any claim for damage, even if smoke alarms were not fitted or they were not functioning correctly, but under the new rules you could be liable for a €5,000 excess (franchise) for any damage and/or liability to any third parties involved. There have already been reports in the

>> continued on page 8

INSIDE > > >

NEWS - Dordogne Cola hits the shelves

The Dordogne now has its own cola following the launch of Cola 24. The new soft drink is available across the department >> Page 3

NEWS - World's deadliest spider

A retail worker recently came face to face with the world's most dangerous spider after it hitched a lift in a bunch of bananas >> Page 9

BILINGUAL - The centre of the globe?

We take a look at Britain's naval history, the longitude prize, watchmaking and how Greenwich came to be the centre of the world map >> Page 13

The Bugle Business Directory

The Eurotunnel group has been ordered to close down or sell its MyFerryLink service >> Page 6

We all have bad habits. Develop a healthy one that actually saves you money!

4 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 15-18

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

t’s been a funny old month to be in the newspaper business. I am a journalist in the sense that I run a newspaper, but this is far from a traditional newspaper. I performed all the tasks that were required to get this paper into your hands today, so I am equal parts journalist, copy editor, typesetter, delivery boy, office manager, IT support and accountant. I recently got promoted to executive coffee-maker. I didn’t study journalism and I didn’t set out to one day win a Pulitzer. I created The Bugle to try and fill a gap by keeping expats informed about local and national issues, but perhaps most importantly – and like so many other expats – to earn a living. As such I did not set out with any kind of “agenda”: I try not to be pro or anti anything where

possible; I try not to push my views on anyone; I try to be balanced where possible; and the only “mission” my

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2015

offensive to Muslims? Does freedom of speech give you the right to print or say absolutely anything? Should followers of a religion have the right to be immune from satire or offence? I don’t know the answers to these questions, and I don’t think that there is a simple answer to any of them. I recently rewatched an interview given by the editor of The Guardian in the wake of the controversy over the cartoons of

So should newspapers be reprinting the images and articles in Charlie Hebdo that so outraged sections of the public? Just because you agree with someone’s right to do or say something, does not mean that you have to agree with what they are saying or doing. If someone wants to make a film, record a song or stage a play that I find personally offensive, I hope I would simply choose to not go out of my way to see or hear it. I’ll end with a quote, most often attributed to Voltaire: “I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” Until next month!

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Muhammad printed by a Danish newspaper several years ago. She said that fortunately for newspaper editors around the world, they were largely spared the moral dilemma of whether to reprint the cartoons by the fact that they simply weren’t very well though-out, were not particularly funny and were not very well drawn. They had, as she put it, an “out”.

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Steve Martindale, Editor paper has is to help expats integrate and make the most out of life in France. I have succeeded and failed at all of the above, to a greater and lesser extent, over the past 5 years. So it is hard for me to wade in on the recent events surrounding Charlie Hebdo. I was as appalled as I imagine everyone else was at what happened. Was the magazine right to print images so

INSIDE this edition

Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions24@thebugle.eu Editor: Steve Martindale Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

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Bergerac “invests” in charter flights

ergerac Airport has revealed that it will be running more and more charter flights over the coming years as it continues to increase the number of destinations offered to holidaymakers in the Dordogne. After the disappointment of losing the popular Marrakesh route following disagreements between Ryanair and the Moroccan government, the airport has been working hard with local travel agencies to create new holiday options. Bergerac Airport first moved into the charter flight market four years ago and the number of flights has increased fivefold in recent times. Over the course of the coming year, there will be flights to sunshine destinations including Portugal, Andalusia, Morocco and Corsica as well as more “cultural” destinations like Poland, Austria and the former Yugoslavia. Filling these charter flights does not seem to be a problem, according to Emmanuel Ibarra, director of the airport. Some 2015 flights, such as those to Corsica, are already fully booked, with several others filling up fast. “There is a real demand for these charter flights,” explained Laure Delmonteil, from the Bergerac travel agency Rêves et Voyages. “There are more and more clients looking to fly from smaller, more human airports where they are sure to receive a more personal service.” Whilst the charter flights are an important part of the airport’s strategy, they do not actually make much money. According to Emmanuel Ibarra, they are important for the airport’s image which is why they offer free parking and a welcome cocktail in order to make the flights more attractive. “The airport is often seen by the public as being solely for ‘importing’ people into the region, predominantly from the UK and Holland,” explained the director. “So it is important for us to work on this image and develop ‘export’ destinations.” ■

Super-galette des rois

s many people will know, it is traditional in France to enjoy a galette des rois with friends or family in January. This special type of cake, traditionally eaten to celebrate Epiphany, but often eaten throughout the month, is made from puff pastry and frangipane. It contains a small “prize” and is sold with a paper crown that is worn by the “king” or “queen” that finds the treasure hidden in their slice of cake. The prizes contained within these cakes are usually small figurines, often part of a collectible set. If you purchased your galette from Boris Artige in Lalinde, however, you may have been in for a slightly bigger surprise. This year, the baker placed a piece of jewellery in 6 of his cakes - gifts with a total value of €1,200. A real treat for several lucky kings and queens! Boris Artige has been offering his extra-special gifts for several years now and claims that the investment pays for itself with the extra interest it garners from hopeful members of the public. He also believes that the success of his galettes des rois is down to the fact that he has sought to re-link the tradition with Epiphany, complaining that “these days, the sale of galettes begins even before Christmas in the larger stores”. ■

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Dordogne Cola hits the shelves Coca-Cola has long enjoyed market dominance of the French Cola market, but now there is a new player in the soft drink aisle... Dordogne Cola. Hot on the heals of Breizh Cola from Brittany and Corsica Cola, the Dordogne’s version of the popular drink, also known as Cola 24, is now on sale at a number of locations across the department. Whilst the distribution is for the time being mostly concentrated on large and medium sized stores in the Périgueux region, it is also available at Le Bugue, Montignac and a number of locations across the north of the Dordogne. The bottle carries a red label featuring the silhouettes of ducks and geese and according to the company behind the drink, 5,000 units have already been sold. Dordogne Cola is described as “less sweet and less fizzy” than ‘normal’ Coca-Cola and, according to one person, is “more like a lemonade”. The manufacturers of Dordogne Cola, who are in fact based just over the border in Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche (Haute-Vienne), say that they are happy with the initial figures and are already planning to ramp up both the production and distribution of this new departmental drink. ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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he eagerly awaited Michelin 2015 guide to the best bistro food has just been published. It will be no great surprise to lovers of fine food in the Dordogne that the department has this year been awarded more Michelin Bib Gourmands. Michelin stars are awarded to the most prestigious, inventive, gracious, luxurious and expensive restaurants, but not many of us can afford to eat regularly in such style. The Michelin Bib designation is focused not only on quality but also on value for money. To qualify for a Bib the establishment, which can be a restaurant, brasserie or bistrot must “...satisfaire tous les gourmands désireux de bien manger pour un prix mesuré” (satisfy all gourmets who wish to eat well for a reasonable price). The award is just as coveted and jealously guarded as a Michelin star but remains firmly fixed in the real world. The “Bib” here is not protection for your shirt front, it refers to the iconic rotund Michelin man, named

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“Bibendum”, introduced by the Michelin brothers in 1898 with the slogan “He drinks obstacles”. This year new Bibs have been awarded to four restaurants in the Dordogne - La Verrière in Chancelade, Le Repaire de Savinien in Bergerac and Un Parfum de Gourmandise and Nicolas L in Périgueux – joining La Vieille Forge in Milhac-d’Auberoche and Le Vin’Quatre in Bergerac, who already have their Bib. To obtain the Bib a restaurant must offer a complete high quality menu of starter, main course and dessert for no more than €32. In Paris, Bib holders are allowed to charge up to €36. This nationwide scheme was introduced in 1997 and is considered largely responsible for the constantly improving levels of eating for a modest price across France. The price ceiling places a constraint on the chef, obliging him or her to be imaginative and creative. This pressure to innovate produces fantastic food. Hugo Brégeon

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The Dordogne Gendarmerie has released a warning to residents of the department to be on the lookout following a series of thefts targeting the elderly. The fraudsters have been gaining entry to people’s homes by posing as gendarmes, police officers, utility company engineers or even claiming to be carrying out a government census. Expats are potentially even more vulnerable than locals given the language barrier and less aware of the uniforms worn by employees of the various public offices in France. According to the authorities, you should always ask to see identification from anyone knocking on your door and refuse entry if you have the slightest doubt. They are also advising the public to phone and check with the company or organisation represented that they have in fact sent someone, or if you have serious concerns to call the Police or Gendarmerie by dialling 17. ■

Local restaurants honoured

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sales@thebugle.eu at Le Vin’Quatre, for example, offers a signature dish of king prawns with pepper and mint! Or how about duck breast with caramelized praline and cèpes? Sébastien Riou and Catell Kergadallan at Un Parfum de Gourmandise propose beef cheek in Marsac beer with Jerusalem artichokes in apple-preserve vinegar, while Vincent Lucas of Le Repaire de Savinien is revisiting traditional dishes. “It’s a challenge, it’s taking dishes to another stage,” says Vincent. “My food is rooted in tradition but rethought, reworked, more refined.” All the Bib chefs insist that a deep knowledge of flavours, care and precision in the kitchen and quality and freshness of ingredients are the key to excellence without breaking the bank. The guide itself costs €17.90. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Expat solidarity Homestay in Périgord Vert

n the aftermath of the recent Paris massacres, when the whole of France took to the streets, expats throughout the Dordogne stood shoulder to shoulder with their French hosts. In scores of communes across the département, hundreds of English speakers turned out to join the upsurge of solidarity with the République Française. Jenny Baker, originally from Carlisle and a Dordogne resident for 15 years, put it succinctly: “Our nation is Britain but France is our country. We are not here by accident of birth or geography, we all chose to be in France. It is our duty to support the nation that welcomed us.” ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

“P

ortraits de Familles” is a documentary film introducing the Homestay concept in the Périgord Vert, Dordogne. The Conseil Général of the Dordogne commissioned film director Laura Leeson to make the 25-minute film which is filled with sympathy and humanity. It gives the stage to some Perigordian hostfamilies, and their Homestay guests, promoting their caring profession and the offer of alternative accommodation between your “own” home and a retirement home. To acquaint you more fully with the Homestay concept, “Portraits de Familles” will be shown, followed by a debate, on

Thursday 19th February 2015 at 3pm at the CIAS (Community Centre for Social Actions & Welfare), Drone et Belle, ZAE Pierre Levée, Brantôme. This event is organised by the Conseil Général’s Social Service for the Elderly, in partnership with the CLIC (local

information and co-ordination centre) of the northern area of the Dordogne and several local partners. For further information please contact the CLIC du Nord Dordogne on 05.53.56.91.63.

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Eurostar’s MyFerryLink ordered to close

he future of cross-Channel ferry company MyFerryLink is in the air after parent company Eurotunnel failed to overturn an anticompetition ruling forcing its closure. The Competition Appeal Tribunal has upheld a previous decision that MyFerryLink should stop operating out of Dover within six months. The news will come as a welcome relief for P&O and DFDS, the remaining two ferry companies who operate out of Dover on routes that have struggled for profitability in recent years. Eurotunnel bought three ferries from SeaFrance for €60m in 2011 following the company's liquidation and used them to launch its MyFerryLink venture. In a previous report, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority said the ferry service gave Eurotunnel half the cross-Channel market, a situation that could lead to higher prices for both passengers and freight customers. It added that it believed Eurotunnel had bought the ships in order to stop ferry operator DFDS from acquiring them and voiced concerned that if no action was taken, DFDS could exit the market, leaving Eurotunnel with an even larger market share. “With two of the operators on the Dover-Calais route making substantial losses, it remains our view that the current level of competition on the route is unsustainable and likely to lead to the exit of a competitor,” said Alasdair Smith, inquiry chair at the Competition and Markets Authority. “Having one of only two ferry operators owned by the competing rail link would be bad for customers. It would be much better for passengers and freight customers to have three competing crossChannel operators – with Eurotunnel running the rail link and two independent operators on the ferry route.” The ruling triggers a six-month timetable for MyFerryLink to stop operating, putting 600 jobs at risk unless the business can be sold. Jacques Gounon, chairman and chief executive of Groupe Eurotunnel, said:

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“MyFerryLink is an operating and commercial success. We are proud to have succeeded where so many others have failed. Given the position of the British authorities, the future of MyFerryLink will now be determined outside the group.”

In 2014, MyFerryLink carried almost 400,000 lorries and 350,000 cars across the Channel, while the most recent figures show Eurotunnel transporting nearly 1.4 million lorries, nearly 2.5 million cars and 10.1 million passengers each year. ■

GPs battle government changes

he battle between France's GPs and the health minister, Marisol Touraine, has intensified in recent weeks as the government appears resolute in the face of increasing demands from doctors' unions. Following strike action in protest at the introduction of the tiers payant system and legislation that would allow pharmacies to sell certain vaccines without a prescription, GPs are now demanding an increase in the fee they can charge for a consultation. Under current rules, the maximum a GP can charge for a standard consultation is €23 and union negotiators had initially wanted this raised to €25. Holding firm, the health minister pointed out that in fact, when you take into account incentives packages, such as a €5 bonus for treating the over-80s, GPs receive an average of €31.80 per consult. Reacting angrily to this rebuff, Luc Duquesnel, president of the UNOFCSMF union, said he would “take the minister at her word”, and put forward new demands that the figure be set at €31, with the removal of the so-called “packages”, claiming that if the government's figure were correct then this would actually save the country 80 cents per consult. Duquesnel also called a 2012 ruling that limits the amount GPs can charge to a government-set maximum an “administrative burden” that allowed the state to “monitor our practices”. Under the current system, patients

pay their GP for a consultation and the cost is automatically reimbursed by the healthcare system via a valid carte vitale, which the GP scans. This is different to a visit to the pharmacy where pharmacists are able to check a patient's cover via their carte vitale and also whether they have mutuelle top-up insurance. If they have full cover, no money changes hands and the pharmacist is reimbursed directly by the State - the tiers payant system. Under the current changes a visit to the doctor will follow this basis. “If the tiers payant works at pharmacies, it should be able to work everywhere else,” said the health minister, when first proposing the changes. She admitted that there was “a considerable technical challenge” in linking doctors surgeries with the estimated 400 differ-

ent mutuelles in France, but said “it will be a major advance for patients”. GPs say that not only will the changes increase their administrative burden, but they will also make patients less responsible and have voted 95% against the move. A recent poll, however, suggested that the changes were welcomed by 66% of the public. As part of the battle, many GPs have indicated that they will stop accepting cartes vitales and will instead hand patients a form that needs to be filled in to claim a reimbursement. Where they continue to accept cartes vitales, they have said they may only transmit the information once a month instead of several times a week. With the increase in paperwork this would cause, it is feared that reimbursement times for patients may reach two months! ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2015

Foie gras producer in landmark trial

rance's love affair with foie gras - and the process of force feeding (gavage) often used to produce it - is again under the spotlight following a recent landmark trial. Ernest Soulard, who supply foie gras to top chefs such as Gordon Ramsey and Alain Ducasse, found themselves in the dock following a private prosecution brought by animal rights group L214. The trial, which took place in La Rochesur-Yon in western France, focused on a video which L214 claims was taken by an employee of the company and highlighted “animal cruelty”. The video, which makes for uncomfortable viewing, shows ducks covered in filth and confined to individual feeding cages; some have open wounds, others have abscesses and shake with distress. Several lie dead along the production line. When the group first published the video to YouTube in 2013, it sent shockwaves through the food industry. There was widespread revulsion among the public and several top chefs said they would no longer use foie gras produced by Ernest Soulard. The company faces a maximum fine of €30,000 if found guilty of animal cruelty and its managers could be jailed for up to two years if found personally responsible for unlawful practices. In turn, however, the foie gras producer is suing L214 for €10,000 in damages for trespassing and damage to its property - the campaign group is accused of drilling holes to insert hidden cameras in several facilities. Speaking before the trial, Roland Tonarelli, the head of Ernest Soulard, said that the video was both fake and misleading. “We’re not barbarians,” he told Europe 1, adding that the birds with infections “had conjunctivitis, which can happen”. “These images aren’t from our factories,” he continued. “Like the scene where you can see a goose with a broken wing - you’d never find something like that in one of our buildings. These images have been falsi-

fied. Gavage is not on trial. The question is was there cruelty or not? We will show step by step, minute by minute that this is not the case. We have factual evidence to show that the video is a montage... and not all of it was filmed at our plant.” Speaking in court, the animal welfare campaigners insisted they had obtained the images via an employee with access to the different feeding rooms and were “certain” they were genuine, pointing to the company logo that appears on the building’s doors and staff clothes. This version was questioned by lawyers for the foie gras producer, who asked why the holes were drilled “if the person filming really did have access to Ernest Soulard build-

Foie gras and gavage Foie gras, which literally translates as fatty liver, is made from the liver of a duck or goose that has been specially fattened. This is often achieved through a process of force-feeding known as gavage, whereby the animal is fed a concentrated corn solution via a tube inserted down the neck and directly into the stomach. French law states that “Foie gras belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage of France”, although no mention is made of the gavage typically used to produce it.

New smoke alarm rules introduced

>> continued from pg 1 French media of con artists showing up at people’s doors, claiming to be from the fire safety department or the town administration and trying to sell the devices at inflated prices. Whilst there are a number of more sophisticated - and expensive - smoke-detection devices on the market, any that meet the NF EN 14604 norms will satisfy the new law. ■

ings”. As the trial progressed, it looked increasingly likely that the case would be thrown out due to a lack of evidence, but Ernest Soulard said that the damage had been done and accused the activists of “taking possession of the dock to turn it into a means of communication”, saying the court had been “used” to publicise their anti-foie gras campaign. “Our inquiry shows that there is only one way to produce foie gras and it comes at the cost of severe suffering to the animal,” the L214 group said in a statement, pointing to its ongoing ‘Stop Gavage’ campaign. “Even on the tables of the most prestigious restaurants, foie gras is noth-

ing more than the diseased liver of a bird trapped in a cage, stuffed and sickened.” A verdict is due on 19th March. The case comes amid signs that the country’s love of foie gras may be on the wane. There are 8,000 producers in France, manufacturing 74 per cent of the world's foie gras, although consumption is dropping, with the product facing increasing pressure from public opinion and outright bans in places like India and California. Recent polls suggest that 47 per cent of French people want an end to force-feeding and 29 per cent would refuse to buy foie gras in protest against the ill-treatment of animals - a 10% increase since 2009. ■

Surprise EuroMillions win

ne French EuroMillions player recently got lucky twice when he first won €73 million and then came within 3 weeks of failing to claim his jackpot. The lucky punter had bought his ticket for the draw on 2nd December, but forgot to check the results and carried the winning ticket around for five weeks as he became preoccupied with Christmas and New Year. He finally checked the ticket at his local tabac at the beginning of January and his New Year got off to a good start when he was told he had won “more than €4,999” and would have to collect his winnings directly from Française des jeux, the company that runs the EuroMillions lottery in France. Expecting to be told he had won €5,000, he was in fact told “we've been waiting for you”, before learning that he was the sole winner of €72,971,665. Under EuroMillions rules, you have just 60 days to claim a winning ticket. “In

three more weeks, I would have lost everything,” the man said after receiving the good news. “But it's a story with a happy ending!” The lucky gambler can now enjoy an interest-only income of around €60,000 per month for the rest of his life without ever even touch-

ing the capital. The win was the largest of 2014 and the seventh biggest in French lottery history. Asked what he would do with his winnings, he said he would first help out one of his children, who had been made redundant during the Christmas holidays! ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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tres.jolie1@orange.fr Facebook: search for “Tres Jolie Milhaguet” siret 753 125 061 00014

here are many reasons - nutritional, ethical and financial - to shun imports and eat French food, but one health concern that does not spring instantly to mind is the danger from deadly predators! This was the case for a member of staff at a health food store in Haute-Savoie who recently found himself face to face with a Phoneutria nigriventer – better known as a banana spider. Banana spiders are famous for being aggressive particularly after travelling half way round the world - and are one the deadliest spiders on the planet. According to the Guinness Book of Records, its venom is 30 times more powerful than that of a rattlesnake, and the neurotoxins contained in just one bite can kill an adult human. Confronted with the

10-centimetre arachnid, the store worker remained surprisingly calm and managed to capture it before placing it in a vivarium. Reporting the unusual delivery to his boss, the manager called the sapeur-pompiers, who raced to the scene and, with the help of experts, confirmed that the spider was in fact the deadly predator with a predilection for bananas. Under the supervision of Edouard Senger, chief veterinary expert at Sallanches, the spider was “neutralised” to prevent any further danger to the public. In 2014, a British family were forced out of their home after a pregnant banana spider was delivered to their home by Waitrose. It escaped, leaving behind hundreds of eggs before pest-control experts were finally able to trap and remove the spider and her deadly brood. ■

World's most deadly spider visits France

Politicians call for return UK overtakes French economy of national service

ollowing the recent terror attacks, a growing number of politicians are calling for France to reintroduce compulsory national service, believing that it would increase the sense of national unity amongst the country's youth. National service was phased out in 1997 under the Chirac government which found that it had no problem recruiting enough soldiers for the army. One prominent politician that believes national service would solve a number of France's problems is Xavier Bertrand, a former cabinet minister under Nicolas Sarkozy. “I would like to see a period of at least 3 months, compulsory for boys and girls,” said Mr Bertrand. “This would engender a sense of belonging and allow us to negate any political, religious and social affiliations of the country's youth and the parents. It would also encourage the idea that everyone owes

something to their country.” Under the previous system, France's young underwent 10 months of military training at a cost to the state of €3.5 billion, a figure that many believe will stop any attempt to reintroduce national service in its tracks. Bertrand claims that with his proposals for a 3-month compulsory period, this

cost drops to €1.5 billion, although this is still a huge investment for a country battling austerity. Opponents also point to France's civic service, which already involves 35,000 young people each year, and argue that more efforts should be made in this direction. Bertrand, however, believes that his proposals would see 600,000 of France's youth

engaged. Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Front has also shown support for bringing back national service, calling for a sixmonth compulsory stint for French youths. “National service has been sorely lacking from this country and there's been nothing to replace it,” she said at a recent press conference. ■

ddressing the nation and outlining why France has every reason to be positive, François Hollande announced in his New Year address that “France is a great country... it is the fifth biggest economic power in the world”. Whilst this was true at the time, just days later it emerged that France had in fact been leapfrogged by the UK in the list of world economies. Le Figaro claimed that data on the European Commission’s website revealed France’s GDP, or the wealth created by the country, during the year was estimated at €2,134 billion - slightly less than the €2,232 billion posted by the UK. The news apparently caught the French government by surprise, despite the data being available for several days before the president's New Year address. “I am little surprised to be behind the UK,” France’s Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron told BFMTV. “The key point is that in the Eurozone we are suffering from a lack of growth. In France we are fighting hard to restore this growth.” Although the UK has seen better economic growth this year (3% versus the 0.5 per cent seen in France), much of the change is apparently due to a recent European Commission request that illegal activities such as prostitution and the drug trade should be included in GDP calculations. This provided a huge boost to the UK's annual accounts, but France does not yet include this “income” in its own figures. Christophe Blot from the French Economic Observatory in Paris, believes that France will soon again overtake the UK, but also stresses that not too much should be read into these figures. “There’s no reason to contest these estimates but the figures are close and they can easily change again over time,” Blot told The Local. “It’s not really a surprise that the UK is above France given the problems the French economy has faced, such as record unemployment and a lack of growth. Of course the data will be used by politicians and the French bashers and it is a blow to morale but it doesn’t really matter.” ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Prosthetic heart patient returns home

he man who received the second ever artificial heart transplant has returned home 5 months after undergoing the pioneering surgery. The 68-yearold man, who has still not been named, received his artificial, battery-powered heart on 5th August last year, but is now “living a normal life”, according to the team behind the device, after leaving the university hospital in Nantes on 2nd January. “He told us that he had been to dinner 70 kilometres away, without any technical assistance, at his son's home. Isn't that the most perfect definition of a normal life?” said Professor Alain Carpentier, cardiac surgeon and scientific director of Carmat, the French biomedical company that designed the heart. “If we had done nothing, he would have died a long time ago, he would certainly not have seen autumn or winter,” added Professor Daniel Duveau, who led the team that performed the transplant back in August. “I have found a new life,” the patient was quoted as saying by doctors. “I can do everything I want to do. What is most amazing is that I completely forget that I have an artificial heart. I don't think about it, I don't feel it, I don't hear it... I just have a small control panel and a bag with my batteries.” The heart, powered by watch-

Professor Alain Carpentier - inventor of the artificial heart style batteries worn externally, was first put into a patient at Paris’ Georges Pompidou Hospital in December 2013. The 76-year-old man, who was suffering from severe heart disease and had only days to live, died from complications 75 days after receiving the transplant.

According to those behind the device, this second transplant patient, despite also having terminal heart disease, was in better overall physical shape. “We chose a younger patient with better renal and liver functions and with good lung capacity,” said professor Carpentier.

The artificial heart, which is designed to operate for as long as 5 years, uses a range of “biomaterials”, including bovine tissue, to reduce the likelihood of the body rejecting it. Unlike previous artificial hearts, created mainly for temporary use before a live transplant,

Cross-border pizza problems

witzerland's decision to remove the exchange rate peg between the Franc and the Euro caused pandemonium recently in European markets, but the move also highlighted the problems faced by one particular French industry... pizza delivery. The Swiss have long preferred to order their pizzas from across the border, with prices being up to 30% cheaper in France and Germany than at home and the recent changes in exchange rate have made French pizza even more attractive. The problem for pizza delivery companies is that their pizzas have been going cold at the border after Switzerland removed a customs exception for food deliveries. Since customs offices are closed at night - the peak delivery time for pizza companies - one chamber of commerce on the German side of the border recently lodged a complaint, saying that the customs checks amount to an unfair export ban. The Swiss authorities did agree to listen to their neighbours' concerns, but after several months of talks

the director-general of the federal customs agency, Rudolf Dietrich, has ruled that there is no case for a “special pizza solution”, arguing that it would set a dangerous precedent. “Bakeries, pharmacies, catering companies, craftsmen, and not least courier companies and the post office could make a similar

request,” he said. “It is extremely difficult to draw a line in this case.” For now, Swiss lovers of a deep pan will have to travel across the border themselves in the search for cut-price pizza as the delivery companies have been at pains to stress that they also offer a collection service. ■

this French-designed device is intended to be a permanent replacement for a real heart. The team behind the heart is hoping to perform a further 20 transplants in the near future into patients with less severe heart failure, as clinical trials continue. ■

Dog owner forced to change names

An unnamed Frenchman has bowed to pressure to change the names of his two dogs after a local mayor refused to sign the licence. The angry mayor said that the names, Itler and Iva, were obvious nods to Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun. “I don't want to sign this licence ... of course 'Itler' and 'Iva' make you think of Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, a dubious play on words. I have written to the local prefect to ask him what I can do. In the meantime, I'm not signing,” said Mayor Luc Binsinger, adding that he believed the owner of the two dogs was a local National Front official. “It's completely mad. Stupid even,” he fumed. The owner had already successfully obtained the initial licence required to own a dangerous dog without raising eyebrows, but needed mayoral authorisation after a compulsory visit to the vet to check whether the dogs displayed any aggressive behaviour. “It’s not a question of how dangerous the dogs are, it’s a question of principle,” said Mr Binsinger. Ultimately, the mayor got his wish and the owner of the two American Staffordshire Terriers agreed to change the names on the licence to “Ilisa” and “Isio 4”. There are in theory no restrictions on naming animals in France, although there is one notable exception: you cannot call a pig Napoleon, due to a law aimed at preserving the image of the emperor which is still on the statute books. ■

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 11

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In the garden - jobs for February

t the time of going to press, the weather is still reasonably mild, with just a few frosts and cold episodes under our belt (but of course it may all change!) so things are still growing, despite the season. The days are getting noticeably longer in the evenings, and you can sense that Spring is round the corner. Lovely! The desire to get back out in the garden is waking up. But prudence, don't get carried away. You won't gain time if you sow some things too early only to find that they get frosted out. Don't get too far ahead of yourself, and have a plan B if the weather turns. You can start sowing leaf vegetables, things like oriental leaves, land cress, mustards, spinach, chard and mâche (lambs lettuce) outside, especially if you have some protection - fleece or cloches. Try also some really quickgrowing things - radishes are perfect, and if the weather turns cold, eat them as micro leaves. You can start thinking about planting out garlic, onion sets and grey shallots - if you have a waterlogged site or really heavy ground, plant them on a little mound to improve drainage. Prepare a place to sow broad beans and peas. Earth up your asparagus bed if you have one, or let yourself be tempted when the crowns come into the shops and plant a few. Under cover, sow spring lettuces and rocket. Don't forget the flowers! Har-

by Michelle Pierce

dy annuals and biennials - marigolds, sweet peas, nigella, wallflowers, etc. can get sown and it's a good time to wander round the garden and see what selfsown things have come up. Keep them where they are if it suits, pot them up for moving later and giving away if not, or move directly into a new location. One good combat at the moment is to limit your blackberries - prune them back and make sure they don't arch over and root from the ends, or you'll have double or triple the number of plants. Just cutting them back won't be enough. Don't forget to dig up the roots. Remember that blackberry canes make really good compost, so shove them on the compost heap instead of burning them. February is also a good time to look at your hedges, adding extra plants to any spaces, and giving them a prune before the birds start building their nests. Speaking of which, don't forget to put up some nest boxes, or clean out existing ones. Dig up any superfluous suckers of things like sloes, to stop them encroaching later in the year. Resist the temptation to cut back the stems of herbaceous perennials - later will be better, all the more so that the dry stems help conduct the warmth of the sun right down to the centre of the clump, helping a good growth spurt later, and also creating shelter for insect life. On wet weather days, it's the perfect time to make a rough plan of what you plan to sow,

plant, grow during the year. This helps with the endless lists of must-have seeds; you can see whether you actually have the space for those 50 different types of lettuce you desperately want to grow!! Whilst the sap of your vines is not rising, it's a good time to prune them at the end of February or start of March. Obviously not at a time of strong frosts or really cold weather. Keep the prunings for your summer barbecues, to flavour the food. Prune your soft fruit bushes raspberries, gooseberries, redcurrants. You should also be able to

see the old canes from last season on your tayberries and wineberries, since they look dry and static. Cut them out to leave the place and resources for the year's new growth. Make sure you tie in any very vigorous plants like blackberries and tayberries. And tidy up the raspberry bed by removing weedy new offshoots or plants in the wrong place. This is a good time of year to clear things out, before there is strong growth and a lot of vegetation to deal with. This doesn't automatically mean getting rid of them - recycle, replant or give away, but the more that you can

organise now, the less work later. Any bare rooted trees and shrubs should be planted this month. Climbers need to be tied in, or pruned back. Check whether they flower on the old or the new wood before doing so. Give plants a food of good rotted manure or compost at their base. Notice where noxious weeds like couch grass are poking up through the ground and aim to weed them back. Lots to do, but it's really starting to feel like it's fun to do, and less of a chore! So, good gardening! ■

olehills are the bane of any good lawn. A molehill is the excess dirt from the tunnel a mole is using; the dirt makes fantastic topsoil - use it for your potting plants. Moles are fast movers, they can tunnel at about 30cm per minute and travel at about 60 metres a minute in an existing tunnel. Moles are generally solitary animals, only meeting up for mating. They are territorial, males will guard their own territory to the death. A female will give birth to between 3 and 7 pups in the springtime and wean them for about a month before sending them off to make their own territory. They are true carnivores, eating any grub, worm or slug that falls into their tunnel. Moles are not haemophiliac, they have thin blood due to their high metabolic heart rate. They are usually active (eating) for 4-6 hours then sleep for 4-6 hours, etc.

If you make their life uncomfortable, they will go elsewhere, so plastic bottles or a child’s windmill can have an effect as their fur is highly sensitive and can detect vibrations. Alternatively, this is a proven method for trapping them: You will need a trap (scissor traps are good but other traps are available), a trowel, and a spike. Firstly, flatten all your molehills (use the topsoil for potting). Moles usually work the same tunnel for a couple of days before moving to a new part of the garden. When you see new activity, find the tunnel using the spike. The tunnel will be about 5cm in diameter and 15-25cm deep. The spike will move freely in the ground when you find the tunnel. With a trowel dig a hole only as big as the set trap. Any bigger, the mole will just go around it. Put the trap in the tunnel so that the pincers are parallel with the tunnel, cover lightly with moss or leaves, so it

I am a mole and I live in a hole

doesn't obstruct the trigger movement, cover with a pot if you have pets... and remember where you left it!! Finally, press your heel a couple of inches either side of the trap to collapse the tunnel, it will slow the mole down before heading towards the trap.

If set correctly, you should have your mole within 12 hours. If you don't catch a mole within 2 -3 days, your mole is not using that tunnel so repeat the process where new molehills appear. Don’t get disheartened, it takes practice. All pest controlling is, is controlling pests!

For more information on bed bugs, or how to deal with them, please contact Robert Moon from Applicateur 3D: 02 48 60 83 72 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com

12 ♦ PRACTICAL

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How to hire a child minder in France Prune CALONNE, The Bugle’s resident English-speaking French lawyer at Toulouse Bar informs you this month on what needs to be done to hire a nanny. This subject is very much talked about on social networks and some comments are misleading. Here are some general pieces of information on what needs to be done and checked. 1. Types of employment contract available Child minders’ legal status of “assistantes maternelles” in France deviates from the general principles from French labour law and from the “code de l’action sociale et de la famille”. Child minders can be hired through one of these employment contracts: a) Permanent contract to have all year round care i.e. 47 weeks with 5 weeks annual leave. b) A permanent contract for 46 weeks of care or less. c) A fixed term contract for replacements. 2. What elements need to be checked and what needs to be done by parents before hiring a child minder? - Check the nanny is registered with the departmental council (“agrée par le Conseil Général”) and that she or he has followed the required training. (Tip: the chances are that if she/he is really registered with the council, she or he will have received proper training) - Declare the nanny to the CAF and URSSAF if the child is over 6 years old. - Check the nanny has a professional insurance

policy to cover caring for children as a main job. - Check that she/he has a car insurance policy to cover transportation of the children she or he has under their care. - Draft ONE employment contract PER CHILD. - Fill in a pay slip every month and hand it over to the nanny. - Transfer the pay slip every month to the “PAJEMPLOI”, in order to be granted child benefits. - Check the nanny has received a copy of the collective convention applicable to child minders in France. TIP: As far as these pieces of information are concerned, all requests should be made in WRITING via recorded delivery with receipt slip (“lettre recommandée avec avis de réception”, LRAR) and you should demand the administration for WRITTEN answers. As for the contracts and pay slips, certain legal terms and information have to appear on these documents. Seek info and advice. 3. What are the basic employment rules applicable to child minders? The employment duration does not follow the basics of French labour law.

The following rules apply to child minders in France: - 11 hours of continuous rest every 24 hours (per working day). - She/he has to have one day of rest per week. - She/he is entitled to 5 weeks annual leave. - Every time the child is not cared for by the employed nanny, she/he still has to be paid. 4. How to terminate the contract? Parents have the right to terminate the contract. No reason has to be given, however, bear in mind that discrimination is illegal. If prejudices are the reasons behind termination, the child minder, if she/he has enough written evidence, could sue. TIP: If you relocate and you have no knowledge of French labour law and cannot address the administration in French, seek professional advice. For more information on this or any other topic, please do not hesitate to contact: Prune CALONNE, Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse, 117 route d’Albi, 31200 Toulouse Phone: 05 34 30 51 33 Mobile: 06 74 16 11 12 Email: scpcalonneadouedugast@hotmail.fr Web: www.cad-avocats.com My firm can arrange appointments in CAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.

French Personal Taxation 2015

he French Finance Bill for 2015 became law on 29th December 2014 and is a fairly uneventful affair with the principle measure being that more people, who are currently paying little tax, will become non-tax income payers this year. Detailed below is a brief summary of the new rates and bands:

1. INCOME TAX BANDS & RATES The nil rate band has been extended by over 50%, however, with the removal of the 5.5% rate band the 14% band has been lowered. As concerns the rest of the bands they have been increased by 0.5% to reflect the very low level of price increases.

Per household part: Up to €9,690 0% €9,691 t o €26,764 14% €26,765 to €71,754 30% €71,755 to €151,956 41% €151,957 and over 45%

Additional tax on high income For a single person: 3% of income between €250,000 and €500,000 4% of income over €500,000

ment income taxed at 15.5%. All non-UK government service pensions, pre-state retirement age, pay 7.4% taxes. 3. WEALTH TAX BANDS & RATES Here too there are no changes, with Wealth Tax being imposed on total taxable assets that exceed €1,300,000 as at the 1st January each year: Band Rate % Up to €800,000 0.00 Between €800,001 and €1,300,000 0.50 Between €1,300,001 and €2,570,000 0.70 Between €2,570,001 and €5,000,000 1.00 Between €5,000,001 and €10,000,000 1.25 Above €10,000,000 1.50 The information contained is a summary of our understanding of some of the main changes.

Age Allowances & Thresholds

For most residents in France, careful financial planning can mitigate personal taxation, but, as ever, the key is to take independent advice from experts who are fully familiar with the most appropriate financial and tax planning strategies for one’s individual financial circumstances and objectives. ■

For those over the age of 65, there is an extra taxfree allowance of €2,344 if total income does not exceed €14,710 and of €1,172, if total income is between €14,710 and €23,700.

Peter Wakelin is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers, specialised in tax, inheritance, pension and investment planning for the British community in France since 1996.

For a couple: 3% of income between €500,000 and €1,000,000 4% of income over €1,000,000

2. SOCIAL TAXES (CSG, etc.) There are no changes with bank interest and invest-

Telephone 05 56 34 75 51 Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net Web: www.siddalls.fr

LEARNING FRENCH VIA INTERNET

Perhaps you would like to learn French in comfort at home or from your office? You are not in France and you wish to communicate with a native French person for one hour per week? LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING is the answer. You only need internet access and a free Skype account. It can be a one-to-one lesson or you can share the lesson with a person of the same level.

TRANSLATION SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE

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

Greenwich - centre of the world

ost countries consider themselves to be the centre of the world to a greater or lesser extent, but only one place can claim to officially hold that title - Greenwich in London. How Greenwich came to be the centre of the world and the location that everyone sets their watches by begins hundreds of years ago with Britain's dominance of the waves. For a long time, mariners could easily calculate how far north and south of the equator they were, but knowing their exact longitude - their relative position east and west - proved impossible. The key to knowing your longitude lies with accurately knowing the time: you can calculate the time where you are from the sun or stars, and if you also know the exact time at another fixed location, then you can accurately calculate how far east or west you are from that point. The problem for mariners was that timepieces in the 17th century were large, delicate and inaccurate. Britain was a

dominant seafaring nation and relied on its navy to maintain its influence across the world. The problem of longitude finally became critical when the Royal Navy lost 4 ships and 2,000 men after its fleet was unable to calculate its exact location following a storm and ran aground on the Scilly Isles. It remains one of the worst maritime disasters in British history. So serious was the problem that the government offered 20,000 pounds - over €3 million in today's money! - to whoever could devise a method to accurately determine longitude. This was finally solved in the middle of the 18th century by watchmaker John Harrison, who developed a timepiece accurate enough for Britain's navy to know exactly where they were at all times. The location the navy chose as its “standard” meridian - zero degrees of longitude - was the Greenwich Observatory in east London, with all points on the globe either east or west of this “central” location. As technology advanced,

the notion of “time” became increasingly important and the concept of “time zones” was created. A big factor in this was the introduction of railways. Passengers from London travelling to Bristol would find that the “local time” when they arrived was 10 minutes different to that in London. When you consider that every station in between also set their own local time, this made catching trains a complicated business! The railway companies soon instructed all their stations to keep London time and before long it was always the same time across the whole of Britain. In 1884, with the world needing a standard meridian, and with London having built an international reputation for the accuracy of its timekeeping, Greenwich was chosen to represent the centre of the world. Interestingly, despite the international agreement, France continued to show Paris as the meridian on all its maps and did not officially adopt London time until the First World War. ■

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

Bilingual Crossword Clues in English - answers in French

Across:

1. flights (4) 3. factory (5) 7. friends (4) 8. to write (6) 10. dozen (8) 13. spectacles (8) 16. curve (6) 17. tyre (4) 18. teeth (5) 19. baby (4) The Greenwich Royal Observatory - the centre of the world

a plupart des pays ont plus ou moins le sentiment d’être le centre du monde mais un seul endroit peut officiellement revendiquer ce titre : c’est Greenwich à Londres. Afin d’en comprendre la raison et d’expliquer pourquoi nous réglons nos montres sur l’heure de Greenwich, il faut remonter quelques centaines d’années en arrière, lorsque la Grande-Bretagne dominait les mers. Pendant longtemps, les marins pouvaient facilement calculer leur distance par rapport au nord ou au sud de l’équateur. Par contre, il leur était impossible de déterminer leur longitude avec exactitude, c’est-à-dire

leur position relative estouest, dont le calcul repose sur la connaissance précise de l’heure. L’observation des astres permet de déterminer l’heure locale et si vous connaissez l’heure exacte d’un autre endroit fixe, vous pouvez calculer avec précision la distance qui vous sépare de ce point. Au 17ème siècle, les horloges étaient volumineuses, fragiles et peu fiables. La Grande-Bretagne dominait la navigation maritime et elle comptait sur sa flotte pour maintenir son influence au niveau mondial. Il devint crucial de régler le problème de la longitude lorsque la Marine royale britannique perdit 4 navires

SIRET 502 409 212 00011 – APE 8559B

BILINGUAL ♦ 13

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Down:

1. meat (6) 2. lettuce (6) 4. seconds (8) 5. night (4) 6. beak (3) 9. ocean liner (8) 11. amazed (6) 12. confident (6) 14. here (3) 15. cube (4)

Bilingual crossword solution can be found on page 18 et 2 000 hommes. Après une tempête, la flotte avait été incapable de calculer sa position exacte et s’était échouée sur les îles Scilly. Ce fut l’un des pires désastres maritimes de l’histoire britannique. La gravité de la situation incita le gouvernement à proposer 20 000 livres (soit plus de 3 millions d’euros !) pour toute personne qui saurait inventer une méthode de calcul infaillible de la longitude. John Harrison, horloger de son état, trouva la solution au milieu du 18ème siècle. Il conçut une horloge dont la précision était telle que la flotte put déterminer sa position exacte à tout moment. La Marine royale choisit

de situer le méridien de référence (longitude zéro) à l’Observatoire de Greenwich, à l’est de Londres. Désormais, tous les autres points du globe seraient à l’est ou à l’ouest de cet emplacement central. Avec l’avancée de la technologie et notamment l’invention du chemin de fer, la “notion de temps” devint de plus en plus importante et l’on créa le concept des « fuseaux horaires ». Les passagers qui se rendaient en train de Londres à Bristol constataient que « l’heure locale » différait de 10 minutes avec celle de Londres. Sachant que chaque gare sur le trajet fixait sa propre heure locale, c’était toute une affaire de prendre le train ! Les gares furent donc rapidement priées

par les compagnies de chemin de fer de régler leur heure sur celle de Londres et bientôt, cette dernière fut identique dans toute la Grande-Bretagne. En 1884, le monde entier eut besoin d’un méridien de référence. Londres ayant acquis une réputation internationale quant à la fiabilité de sa gestion de l’heure, Greenwich fut choisi pour représenter le centre du monde. Il est intéressant de préciser que malgré cet accord international, la France continua à indiquer sur toutes ses cartes que Paris était le méridien et qu’elle n’adopta officiellement l’heure de Londres que lors de la première guerre mondiale. ■

14 ♦ LANGUAGE & GAMES

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Crossword Clues and answers (page 18) in English

Across:

1. A kitchen device (6) 4. A game of snooker (5) 8. Area of tall perennial grasses (5) 9. Freedom from demands of work or duty (7) 10. To make sugary (7) 11. Male animal (4) 12. Type of antelope (3) 14. Volcanic mountain (4) 15. Plying into other peoples business (4) 18. A device for capturing birds, Butterflies and fish (3) 21. Hollow in a surface caused by a blow (4) 23. Male of a domestic fowl (7) 25. To insert or graft into the body (7) 26. Metric measure (5) 27. A place in Africa (5) 28. A former treatment for freckles (6)

Down:

1. Lightly stroke or touch (6) 2. To eat too much (7) 3. A person from 27 accross (8) 4. To lose strength or vigour; become weak (4) 5. Fully developed and mature (5) 6. Capacity for preforming work (6) 7. In accordance with (5) 13. To set free; release (8) 16. A pioneer or immigrant (7) 17. A proposal for an appropriate course of action (6) 19. The actual state of a matter (5) 20. Melancholy (6) 22. Absorbent garment usually worn by infant (5) 24. Being the only one remaining (4)

SEARCHWORDOKU © - by Anthony Parson Complete the alphabetical Sudoku grid to the left using only the letters already shown, then use the result wordsearch grid to find: A make of car

How does it work...? Complete the Sudoku grid in the usual manner, using only the 9 letters already shown. Once complete, you will be left with a 9x9 wordsearch grid, in which to find the final piece of the puzzle. See the completed example to the right, the clue for which is "An English county". Be careful not to jump to conclusions, as with the letters available, the answer could be SURREY, SUSSEX, ESSEX, or as it turns out in this case... SOMERSET.

Solution on page 18

SUDOKU - EASY

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 18

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Activities & Leisure

Animals & Pets DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS

Clipping, cutting, hand stripping, bathing, ear care & nail trimming. INGRID GELAUDIE ** New address ** La Baronnie, 24260 Audrix

Tennis in Bergerac SHAMPOOCHIENS Summer 2015 Dog Grooming Parlour Summer camps for kids 7-13 years old - August 2015 See www.dordognetennis.com Over 10 years experience from the leading provider of public tennis in the UK Camp runs Monday- Friday 10-12 and 1-3pm

Email : dordogne@willtowin.co.uk

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

All breeds catered for Clipping, hand stripping and bathing 30 years’ experience 24500 Eymet

05 53 58 55 38 and home of CANOUAN ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS Puppies sometimes available Siret: 499 234 615 00015

Your advert here

06 31 98 92 07

05 55 41 17 76

Auto Services

Building Services

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE Renovating your French property? New build? Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

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

Architectural Services MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

Suppliers of Car & Van Spares & LHD headlights Direct to France at big savings! also Mower Batteries and drive belts!

www.motorpartscharente.com

sales24@thebugle.eu

Delivery via Parcelforce Worldwide to your door in France

05 55 41 17 76

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

JOHN SOWERSBY motorptscharente@aol.com

ElsaConception

(Architecture/ Design/ Decoration) Need interior design advice? Planning a project? Giving a space a makeover? Need to submit a building permit or a declaration? I can support you in all your makeover, renovation or construction projects. Sarlat and surrounding areas (up to 100km)

Tel: 06.87.09.38.94

Web: http://www.elsaconception.com

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions. Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

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

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

ADVERTORIAL

FRENCH PROPERTY MARKET CONTINUES TO PICK UP

ouses on Internet, the successful internet-marketing company that helps people sell their French property without using an agent, sees that the trend which started in 2014, a serious increase in the number of sales, is continuing this year. “When we compare the figures of 2014 with those of the previous year, property sales increased by 58%,” says Richard Kroon, founder and director. About 85% of buyers through their website are foreigners. As the UK property market is also improving rapidly, a lot of buyers are now British, but other countries like Holland, Belgium, Germany, Switzer-

land, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and of course Australia keep showing an increase in buying French property, loooking for both holiday homes or to live here permanently. The key to their success is without doubt the extensive global network which enables them to reach prospective buyers wherever they are. Another strong and unique quality of Houses on Internet is the way they present each property. The number of photos, depending on the type of house, is usually between 50 and 60, and everything is described in three languages, translated by professionals. The information given is not just about the house, but also about shopping facilities, schools, airports and leisure

activities. The most important thing is to reach the buyers. Richard: “An excellent Google ranking is crucial and so we keep optimizing our website and advertise all over the internet, literally worldwide. As we advertise each property on other large, international sites as well, the total exposure is enormous.” Throughout France, Houses on Internet has over 90 photographers who visit their clients when they decide to sell their property through them. And of course, any summer photos these clients already have themselves can be copied too, in order to make the best possible presentation. Signing up to sell your house

through Houses on Internet is easy. Visit their website which is available in four languages, it contains all the information you need and everything is explained step by step. When you have decided to sell your property through them, one of their

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

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

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2015

ADVERTORIAL

Quicker sales and better prices for property owners across France

ome owners can now hope for a faster turnaround when selling their property in France. Whether privately or through an Agent, thanks to better technology and online sharing tools, marketing with the use of a video drastically increases the chance of a sale, and closer to the asking price. YouTube is now the most popular social network in the world. In a Google search, properties on video achieve considerably better visibility than on other standard websites. For both buyers and sellers the advantages of video speak for themselves.

Building Services Architectural Services Plans, Permissions & Photo-Realisations Comprehensive CAD drafting & design service for your planning application. Dossiers compiled and submitted, including all local & departmental liaison.

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mbl: 06 33 07 29 72

web: www.masterplans.eu email: info@masterplans.eu

Searching for the perfect property can be extremely time-consuming. With video, prospective house buyers can gain a significantly better understanding of a property’s location and layout prior to viewing, meaning much less time and money wasted on travel and visits. IT Director Scott Pearson has recently sold a 6-bedroom property in the Dordogne after his video received 1400 views in three months. When asked about the process of selling their family home he explains “The cost (of the video) wasn’t significant in comparison to other selling costs. Simply put, I know that without this professional video we wouldn’t have sold at the price we did or as quickly. ”. He adds “And I love the video of the house, it’s a great souvenir of our time there”. In promoting his house, Scott used the services of English entrepreneur Joanna Urwin who has been producing professional videos on both sides of the Channel since 1991. Joanna has just launched a new service in France covering

Leigh Dodd

Electrical Services Full house rewiring, renovations EDF/Consuel arrangements Fully qualified & Decennale insured Established in France since 2007 Based near St-Yrieix-la-Perche

VideoProFrance produces short ‘optimised’ property videos in English and/or French, whether for sale or for holiday rental. properties all over the country. Joanna explains: “Video is a great format for storytelling – particularly for describing the surrounding area and its amenities, which is important for potential home buyers who are looking for their ‘French dream’. ■

David’s Services

What can I offer you?

www.saraleigh.com

22 Years’ experience working in France A complete service of Repairs and Maintenance (interior and exterior) A house opening and closing service Good solid technical advice on future projects Trustworthy, reliable and conscientious Based in the North of Dordogne

Siret: 507 643 336 00013

No Siret: 402 444 871 00022

O5.55.48.95.86 contact@saraleigh.com

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Building Services

Building Services Electricians

General Solaire Power

Your contact in renewable energy Use the power of the sun and/or wood. We sell, or sell and install, heating & domestic hot water systems. For more information:

www.solaire-power.eu

Building Services

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER

Painters/ Decorators

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

Painter & Decorator Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK experience, now based Haute-Vienne/north Dordogne border.

Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting & decorating, wallpapering, plastering. FREE QUOTES

siret : 511 301 038 00036

siret: 792.130.932.00017

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

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

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

sales24@thebugle.eu

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com

harlequindevelopments@live.com www.harlequindevelopments.com

@iret: 794 282 368 00016

SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

05 55 41 17 76

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

- Installation, from kitchen taps to full central heating systems - Breakdown / Replacement boilers - Emergency plumbing repairs - Full analysed testing ** February Special Offer ** BOILER SERVICE € 60 - with certification

M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02 E : wellers@orange.fr

Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

Computers & Satellites

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

BARWICK Harlequin ÉLECTRICITÉ Developments SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Simon Carter

WiFi Anglais

Solve your Internet, wireless and computer problems Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

Email: Stephen@Wisedale.com

Plumbers

Tel : 05 53 56 66 61 / 05 53 91 85 32 24340 Ste-Croix-de-Mareuil

Building Services

Contact David: 05 53 09 42 18

siret: 790 016 984 00011

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

For more information about marketing your property with video, contact Joanna: VideoProFrance www.VideoProFrance.com Te: +33 (0) 6 99 07 64 28 contact@videoprofrance.com

Tel: 05 53 30 23 96 Mob: 07 78 52 20 46 Siret: 800 525 040 00013

Food & Drink

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine. Themed nights each Friday: 1st Friday - Curry night 2nd Friday - Quiz night 3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!! 4th Friday - Live Music night Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Saturday 6pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditional English roasts served For further details call Steve:

05 53 80 29 54

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

Sat-Elec Formerly Electrosat

UK & French Satellite TV

Dishes & Freesat boxes always in stock Terrestrial digital aerial installations From a single outlet to multi-point systems

TOOWAY BROADBAND Approved Supplier

Wi-Fi, Data Networks, CCTV For sales, service or advice call Mike G on:

05 55 09 15 73

We only use our own qualified staff No call out charge Free quotations All areas covered Quality work from qualified Staff 5 Place de la Republique Sauviat-sur-Vige 87400 siret no 798 364 600 00014

The Dordogne Chippy Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Monday: Le Champsac (every other week) Tuesday: Tremolat Wednesday: Star Inn, Périgueux Thursday: Eymet Friday: Lauzun

(except the last Friday of the month when it is Daglan)

See our website for full details:

www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62 siret: 444 925 630 00014

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Calling ALL private property sellers!

Try a radical new approach Bringing your house to market!

Advertising your property and getting an agency involved is easy, however to reach out to a new marketplace is not. With our 2 million business database we are able to send weekly property alerts and have a great deal of interest from our smaller list of 20,000 who are

Karen’s Kitchen Catering for you in the Dordogne

Specialising in home-made pastries: Sausage rolls, Pasties - Cornish, Cheese & Onion, Steak & Stilton, Vegetarian & Chicken. Eccles cakes. Scones made to order. All prepared and baked daily on the premises you cannot get fresher! Bacon, cheese, bread, tea bags & tinned produce all in stock. Find me at your local market: • Tue - Le Bugue • Thu - Eymet • Fri - Le Buisson • Sat - Villereal • Sun - Issigeac

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

05 53 74 01 91 or 06 01 31 07 47

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

really keen. We make our messages compelling, so we get the best results. Have a look at our dedicated website www. buyfrenchproperty.co.uk - we get very high levels of traffic to the site weekly. On our site you will see our charges; they are a fraction of an agent as we do not do their job, you do that. When we feel the buyer is ready to talk to you, we hand them to you to do the deal, show them around and fill in the detail. Essentially I am your marketing agent, seeking potential buyers of your property by means of our “radical” advertising approach, for a fee in the event of a successful introduction.

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

Pest Control

Central France Pest Control 05 55 41 17 76 Dératisation, Déinsectisation,

Health & Beauty

Désinfection

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

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

● HAIRSTYLIST ● COSMETICIAN ● MAKE-UP ● MASTER ARTISAN

Handmade, fully interlocking, multi-layered 3D puzzles from just €9. Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas. Customisation and personalisation possible. Postal delivery options across France.

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

WWW.CARDBUBBLE.COM BUY YOUR BRITISH GREETINGS CARDS ONLINE! QUALITY CARDS AT UK PRICES! E: ANGI@CARDBUBBLE.COM FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER €10 WORLDWIDE siret: 751 978 917 00019

Property Maintenance

Short ‘optimised’ web videos in English and/or French for your property sale or your business. Contact Joanna:

www.VideoProFrance.com Te: +33 (0) 6 99 07 64 28 contact@videoprofrance.com

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Transport, Removals & Storage

Tel: 05 24 13 65 58

sarldesouchevicente@sfr.fr 47, rue du Gén. de Gaulle, 24660 Coulounieix Chamiers

05 55 41 17 76

Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning

PROCHEM trained and Qualified

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

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

aka The Shed

Tue - Fri: 9h - 19h, Sat 9h - 17h

Your advert here

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

Eco Entrepot

ENGLISH SPOKEN

05 55 41 17 76

Efficient parking for all types of vehicles Book now!!

General

• Air-conditioned • Shiatsu massage chair

sales24@thebugle.eu

Parking For Limoges Airport

06 13 38 59 68 05 55 14 49 45

sales24@thebugle.eu

Gifts & Crafts

Ivan Petley

Property Sales

www.parkinglimoges.com

Curative and preventative

3D Puzzle Maker

For more information and to start getting those enquires coming: see our website - www.buyfrenchproperty.co.uk call me - 06 77 80 20 68 or email - rod@stayinfrance.fr

Dyal Consulting

Your partners for peace of mind

Man & Van Transport

While you’re away, we can look after your house, check for weather damage, perform small maintenance jobs, take care of the garden, get your home ready for winter. On your return, we can prepare your house, stock up on groceries, etc... everything to make your arrival stress free.

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

We are here to keep your house alive throughout your absence and to make your life easier! Call your concierge today:

05 55 33 21 59

07 77 95 31 36

French Spoken 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

32,000ft2 of great products incl. British Groceries, DIY, Housewares, Furniture, Clothing, Toiletries plus loads more!!

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2015

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

simple solar energy system that runs on its own, even when you are not there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter. The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the backing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s energy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with discomfort, lots of work and expense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi model came

together. How it works The principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, built-in, solar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a control unit and an on/ off switch. Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour. The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season. Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th generation Solarventi have exceed-

ed all expectations. In Southern Europe, Solarventi is not only used for ventilation/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement. Several technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C. A DIY Solution? The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours. All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product - in Scandinavia it still is. There are no electrical or water connections and it can be safely left running, even when

the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €630 TTC

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

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

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

6-Month Contract €108

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€18/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€24/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€27/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€36/month)

€144 €162 €216

12-Month Contract €162

(€13.50/month)

€216

(€18/month)

€243

(€20.25/month)

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

30 words max

€324

(€27/month)

Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format. Directory adverts may only contain text - no logos, images or artwork are allowed. The minimum contract length is 6 months. Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory 05 55 41 17 76 - sales24@thebugle.eu

COMMUNITY ♦ 19

FEBRUARY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

Beaumont du Périgord Bergerac Brantôme Cénac-et-Saint-Julien Lanouaille Le Bugue Mareuil Neuvic Ribérac Salignac Eyvigues Thenon Trémolat Villefranche-de-Lonchat Bergerac Hautefort Jumilhac-le-Grand La Tour Blanche Montpon-Ménestérol Montignac Périgueux

We are able to consider assisting financially in numerous ways. For more information contact: Mary Hughes - Case worker France, Elizabeth Finn Care tel: 04 68 23 43 79 or visit: www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk and: www.turn2us.org.uk

Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France Monthly circulation: 11,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited. Dépôt légal à parution.

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord

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

Tirage mensuel:

11,000 copies

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.

EASY

MEDIUM

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

editor@thebugle.eu

Registered charity Elizabeth Finn Care is able to offer direct financial assistance to British and Irish nationals or residents who live overseas. We ensure

1. Are British or Irish residents or nationals. 2. Are living on a low income or means-tested benefits. 3. Have formerly been employed in one of a wide range of qualifying occupations. Have, or have had, a partner employed in a qualifying occupation.

Sunday

Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Sigoulès Vergt

Wednesday

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

Friday

Thursday

Tuesday

that our help does not affect any means-tested payments. Briefly we can consider assisting those who:

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

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

Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

05 55 41 17 76

Monday

Market Days

HARD

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES – FEBRUARY 2015 The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers). All services are held in English. For further details, please see our website: www.churchinaquitaine.org or contact the Chaplain: Revd Dr Paul Vrolijk T: 05 53 23 40 73 E: paul.vrolijk@gmail.com SUNDAY 01 FEBRUARY 10:30 Service of the Word – Bertric Burée 10:30 Prayer and Praise – Limeuil 11:00 Holy Communion – Carlux, chez the Wiltons 16:00 Evensong – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Morning Worship – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes Wednesday 11 February 11:00 BCP Holy Communion – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship - Limeuil 11:00 Service of the Word – Carlux, chez the Wiltons Wednesday 18 February TBC Ash Wednesday Service – Bertric Burée 18:00 Ash Wednesday Service – Limeuil Thursday 19 February 10:30 BCP Holy Communion - Limeuil SUNDAY 22 FEBRUARY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2015

First World War photographic exhibition « La vie de la territoriale de autour de Verdun (1916-1918) » 4th February to 1st March

Issigeac Tourist Office this month hosts an exhibition of photos on the theme of the Great War. Photographer Marc Grazillier (1876-1937), from Champmillon in Charente, was a poilu who took his view camera to the trenches during the First World War. He wanted to recreate and capture the atrocities of war through photographs chronicling the daily lives of soldiers, the trenches, but also the completely devastated landscapes of country life. Like many soldiers, he never managed to talk to his family and loved ones about his experiences. A hundred photographs lay untouched for nearly a century until his grand-daughter made an incredible discovery in the attic of the family home. Office de Tourisme du Pays Issigeacois - Salles du caveau Place du Château 24560 ISSIGEAC T: 05 53 58 79 62 – E: ot.issigeac@orange.fr Open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 12pm and 2pm to 5:30pm and Sunday from 10am to 12pm. Free entry.

Walnut Festival, Sarlat Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th February The nut in all its forms... For centuries, the Périgord Walnut has enjoyed an unrivaled reputation. Over 2 days, Sarlat offers a discovery of the Périgord walnut with conferences for professionals and the general public, activities for all ages, the regional walnut oil competition and stands with a variety of nut-based products (oil, cakes, sweets, breads, ice-cream, cheeses & alcohol).