The Bugle Dordogne - Feb 2019

McDonald’s loses EU rights to “Big Mac”

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Irish burger chain Supermac’s have won a legal battle with the fast-food giant McDonald’s over rights to the Big Mac trademark

>> Page 10

www.buggscarhire.com bergerac - biarritz - limoges

November 2016 - Issue #85

Dordogne

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France and Germany INSIDE > > > sign symbolic treaty

PETA outrage over Issigeac street - pg 3

President

Emmanuel

Macron

Who really did invent the humble French fry? - page 13

and

Chancellor Angela Merkel have signed a symbolic treaty in the German border city of Aachen, re-enforcing ties between the

Pétanque world rocked by drugs scandal - pg 11

two countries that were first agreed in 1963. lemagne, the “father of Europe”.

Under the unsettling cloud of Brexit and with populism and nationalism on the rise across the 28-member bloc, the leaders of the two largest Eurozone economies were seeking to renew their nations’ commitment to the European project and limit the gains Eurosceptic parties are expected to make in European parliamentary elections in May. “Populism and nationalism are strengthening in all of our countries,” Merkel told French, German and EU officials at the ceremony. “Seventy-four years - a single human lifetime - after the end of the Second World War, what seems self-evident is being called

The greatest national anthem ever? pg 15

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 16-18

>> continued on page 7

© Pixabay

A

s Britain’s exit from the EU limps towards a resolution, two of Europe’s powerhouses have renewed their vows of post-war friendship by signing a bilateral treaty, aiming to show that the traditional engine driving the European project is still going strong. During an event high on symbolism, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel signed a 16-page update to an original 1963 Elysée treaty in the German border city of Aachen.

The location of the signing held its own meaning: Aachen, known as Aix-laChapelle in France, has changed hands several times over the centuries and was the residence of Char-

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

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used to get annoyed by the seemingly endless number of calls I would receive each day from people pretending to be working on behalf of EDF, or telling me they could help fix my Microsoft security flaw. I guess that is the danger of publishing your phone number and email address 30,000 times each month... you should see the state of my inbox! These days, since I dropped my old landline number, the problem is now just the odd text message, which is far easier to stop and block.

A new kind of pestering has reared its head recently, however: “Hello, I am from [insert media organisation here] and I am preparing a story on Brexit… I just wondered if you could talk to me about your views and how you think it will affect people living in France?”

I used to patiently answer the questions, explain that I could only speak from personal experience and then discuss what I hope will and won't happen.

But I'll be honest, these days I just politely decline the call.

This is mostly because I literally have no idea what is going to happen next! There is no logic to any of it and I gave up making predictions long ago. Before you

start to panic, I am not about to start banging on about Hard Exits, People's Votes or Back Stops... in fact, I promise not to mention Brexit again until there is something concrete to say.

So, on to safer ground - the weather! The disappearance of spam calls was due to a change of landline following a relocation westwards early last year from the Creuse department to the Charente-Maritime. It is stunning here and I walk out of my front door to picturepostcard views of rolling vines in all directions, but it didn't take me long to notice the things I missed, but took for granted, from my former home.

First of all it was the woods, forests and hills - it is rather flat around here and any wooded areas among the vines tend to be little more than small copses. Then I was surprised to find that I missed the livestock, both the caramelcoloured cows of the Creuse and the numerous herds of sheep in the Haute-Vienne. I really notice the lack of animals when I travel round this part of France!

And above all, I miss my chickens, but that's one that will be easily fixed once the weather clears up a bit!!

The end of the world it isn't not good, not bad, just different

as I've always told myself - plus we still have many friends in the Limousin and return often. I also spend at least a few days each month delivering papers far and wide in my van, so I get to enjoy a hit of the different topography, flora and fauna on offer across the region.

This last month or so, however, I have realised that I do really miss one of the things I used to complain about most often... the cold weather!

There has a been quite a lot of snow in recent weeks across France, but none of it fell on department 17 and my kids were devastated to find out that it's very rare to get much snow here.

I'm told that there is occasionally enough for a snowball, but almost never enough for a snowman. Whilst it can make getting around a bit harder, you soon get used to driving in icy conditions and there is something special about walking through a pristine layer of fresh, crisp snow... crrrmmmppphhh is the best way I can describe it in black and white. For me it really symbolised winter and I loved the fact that each season was so distinct.

But in actual fact, the slightly lower temperatures in the Creuse had one other, thenunappreciated, benefit... frost!

For at least a few months of the year I would be able to let my dog out in the morning and feed the chickens in a pair of slippers.

The ground outside the house was usually frozen so hard that there was never any risk of dirty feet and soggy socks. Here, whilst it's annoyingly still cold enough for frost to form on the car

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windscreen on a cold morning, the ground never freezes (not yet at least!) The result is the dog bringing half the garden back in with him every morning. And any expedition much beyond the back door requires a sturdy pair of wellies that feel like they've been clad in concrete by the time you stagger back, squelching loudly and a few inches taller in your muddy platform boots...

It's true what they say: you really don't appreciate what you've got 'til it's gone!

Finally, having said I won't ever mention Brexit again, I'm going to instantly return to it.

For years, the best joke I'd seen on Facebook was “Feeding five thousand people with five loaves and two fish isn't a miracle... it's tapas!”, but that has recently been replaced by “Brexit: what an overweight Yorkshire lass does to a plastic garden chair!”

Until next month!

Steve Martindale, Editor

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Animal rights’ activists 2019 census season demand street name change gets under way

T

he small medieval town of Issigeac, in the south of the Dordogne, has found itself in the world’s press after the animal rights’ group PETA demanded that one of its streets be given a more veganfriendly name. Publicity stunt, political correctness gone mad, or an accurate reflection of the changing public consciousness... you decide!

The association wants rue de la Saucisse (literally Sausage Street) to be rebranded rue de la Soycisse after the vegan ingredient ‘soy’ which can be used to make vegan-friendly sausage substitutes.

The town’s mayor, Jean-Claude Castagner, confirmed that he had received a letter from the charity, officially asking him to change the name of the alley. “At first, I thought this was a joke,” he explained. “But when we looked at it further, we realised that this was an official request. They are vehemently opposed to this name and are advising us to rename it Soycisse, after the English word for soja!”

In a region famous for its foie gras and tête de veau, it is unlikely that PETA is going to get its way. Whilst the mayor didn’t exactly say “pigs might fly”, least of all because the expression does not really exist in French, he did appear to have little time for the strange request. “It is utterly ridiculous and is completely out of the question!”

This sentiment was shared by local Elma

Laporte, the only permanent resident of the apparently controversial 15-metre long street in the heart of the town. “These people are completely out of order. La Saucisse in question has nothing to do with pork. It was the nickname given to a local lady at the beginning of the 20th century because she walked with a stoop, similar to the shape of a curved sausage,” explained the Scottish-born resident, who bought the house of ‘La Saucisse’ 18 years ago. “Her name was Suzanne Tessier and the old folk say she loved this nickname, so why are we going through all of this now?”

Elma, and the vast majority of the town’s 750 inhabitants, would like to keep the street’s name and have instead suggested that the charity’s ire should be directed towards the Ain department, more specifically the commune of Collonges, where you will find “not a rue, but a chemin de la Saucisse!”

PETA’s request to the Dordogne town is not an isolated incident and some would argue it is fast-becoming a trend. The animal rights group also recently lodged an application to the UK town of Wool, who they urged to change their name to Vegan Wool as “an act of kindness towards their sheep”. Wool councillor Cherry Brooks swiftly dismissed the proposal: “It is a ridiculous request and it’s caused quite a stir in the village,” she told the Bournemouth Daily Echo. ■

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I

f someone you don't recognise knocks on your door in the coming weeks speaking French, don't panic, it is quite likely that they are part of the national census. The annual event began on 17th January and will run until 23rd February and if you live in one of the communes being surveyed this year, you should have first received a letter through the post informing you who has been appointed as the agent in your area.

Whilst the survey is run by the government's statistics gathering agency, INSEE, the agents who perform it are recruited by the commune.

Always be on your guard, however, and check that anyone coming to your door first shows you the appropriate forms of identification, which should be signed by your mayor.

You will be given a paper questionnaire which can be filled out there and then, collected at a later date or handed in to the mairie. You can also choose to answer the questions online at the website address below.

Secondary documents containing explanatory notes are also available in several languages, including English.

Since 2004, France has operated a different method of carrying out its census compared with many other countries. Rather than sporadically survey the entire country at once, France aims to survey one quarter of the population every year, a method that allows it to update its statistics on an annual basis and in principle leads to more accurate data.

While cities with over 10,000 inhabitants are surveyed every year, smaller communes are surveyed periodically. To find out if you are part of the 2019 survey, visit the website below.

Respondents are required by law to answer truthfully and in full; failure to do so can in theory lead to a fine. ■ www.le-recensement-et-moi.fr

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ne local Dordogne farmer has moved a step closer to his goal of ensuring that all his animals will be born, raised and killed on his farm, without the the need for a final, stressful trip to the abattoir. It is an uncomfortable truth for consumers that meat comes from an animal and that animal needs to be killed.

Many prefer to simply not think about it and just purchase a piece of meat in a sterile polystyrene tray. Others eschew meat, or any animal products, altogether. For farmers, however, who breed and raise the meat destined for the country’s boucheries and supermarkets, there is also the fact that they care about their animals and would prefer them to have the most stress-free and humane death possible. This often means not packing them into cramped vehicles for the final journey to the abattoir.

“I have always said that I will never take my animals to the abattoir and that will never change,” explained Stéphane Dinard, a farmer from Eygurande-et-Gardedeuil, who has risked prosecution for giving his pigs and cows a dignified death on his farm. Stéphane believes that animals should neither see, nor feel, death coming and “keep their feet on the land, their snout in the sun”, something he considers as a natural extension of a life spent on the farm, far from the mass-production meat factories and industrialised slaughterhouses.

Under current legislation, it is not illegal to kill an animal on your own land, but it is strictly forbidden to then sell any of the meat produced. Anyone who breaks this law faces a fine of €15,000 and six months in prison.

His solution is not revolutionary and indeed already exists in other countries: mobile abattoirs. As such, in 2015 he created the association Quand l’abattoir vient à la ferme - when the abattoir comes to the farm - which today numbers more than 2,000 members and their persistence is finally paying dividends. In October 2018, the government unveiled a fouryear mobile abattoir trial which would “evaluate the economic viability of mobile abattoirs and their impact on the animals’ well-being”.

Few would disagree with the idea that animals being killed on the farm is more humane than in a factory, but as is so often the case, it is the economic model that stands in the way. While an industrial slaughter unit may cost €15,000-20,000, a mobile one can cost well over €1 million. The only solution for the large number of farmers who support the idea is collectivity - a large number of farms coming together to share one mobile unit.

“I am absolutely in favour of slaughter on the farm. Ethically, there is no argument against it,” explained Jules Charmoy, spokesperson for the Périgord Confédération paysanne. “Economically, however, it is more complex.”

One of the pioneers in this area is Sweden,

Credit: E. HÄLSINGESTINTAN

The local farmer fighting for a mobile alternative to the abattoir

siret: en cours

A successful mobile abattoir currently in operation in Sweden. and the Hälsingestintans company has been performing mobile slaughter for years. The organisation has a mobile slaughterhouse, which cost €1.5 million and regularly crisscrosses the country visiting small farms. The unit needs to process just 12 animals a day to be cost-effective. “They produce ethical meat according to strict criteria: specially selected farms, attention to welfare throughout the animal’s life and a high level of traceability,” ex-

plained the association Quand l’abattoir vient à la ferme, who have been closely following the Swedish example.

Previous trials have suggested that this new model of animal slaughter increases the perkilo cost of beef burgers by €1 rising to €10 for choice cuts of beef. Only time will tell if the Dordogne public is willing to pay this price for the well-being of the animals they are consuming. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 5

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Huge success for ethical eggs Fresh driving test in no-deal scenario

A

s consumers become increasingly aware of the provenance of their food and the ethics behind its production, one group of enterprising locals has found a way to provide healthy, local eggs, whilst also saving the hens that lay them from a premature end. Under the tag line “l'oeuf qui ne tue pas la poule” - the egg that doesn't kill the chicken - Poulehouse was founded two years ago offering a home to retired chickens. The ageing hens, which typically come from partner organic egg suppliers across the country, in turn earn their rent through the eggs they lay, which are sold in the shops.

Based in Coussac-Bonneval, on the border of the Haute-Vienne, Dordogne and Corrèze departments, Poulehouse welcomed its first feathered retirees in early 2018 after successfully raising €25,000 on crowdfunding site Kisskissbankbank. The money allowed them to fund the work necessary to accept their first chickens at the former cattle farm in central France.

Just 12 months later and, having recently sold their one millionth egg, the small team of entrepreneurs have proved that creating a successful business does not mean you have to compromise on your principles. The ethical eggs, which cost around €1 each, are available from bio shops across France, and are also stocked by major retailers such as Monoprix, Franprix, Biocoop, Naturalia and some Carrefour supermarkets.

“Our project is rather simple: laying hens are typically removed

T

after 18 months and sent to the slaughterhouse. We provide them with a home. They will continue to lay eggs and we will sell their eggs,” explained Fabien Sauleman, one of the founders of the project.

Although the number of eggs hens produce does begin to gradually decline after they reach 18 months of age, many would happily live on until an average age of six, sometimes reaching as old as 10.

It is simply cheaper for the poultry farms to replace them with younger models, but the happy hens on this farm will never have their beaks cut and will never see the inside of the slaughterhouse.

“We are planning to continue trials, working out what breeds, what techniques and which foods best help the hens lay as they grow older. We want to make it more expen-

sive to kill the chickens than to keep them! There has always been an accepted economic model of killing the hens as their production tails off; consumers have also become used to low prices. We are delighted that people have come with us on this journey and, as we have explained to them how it works, they are happier to pay a little bit more for the well-being of the animal.”

Whilst it would appear that many are indeed happy to pay extra for eggs from happy chickens, the group are conscious others simply can not afford to back up that moral stance. After such a successful start, the business has big plans for the future and hopes that they will soon be able to increase production, lower prices and allow more people to support this unique venture. ■

here have been a number of scare stories doing the rounds over the impact of a “no-deal” Brexit, but one that emerged in January could have an immediate effect on many British expats living in France. According to advice published by the government's Department for Transport (DfT), British people living in the EU may have to take a new driving test following a no-deal Brexit, if they have not already exchanged their UK licence for a European one before 29th March.

The DfT said in a statement: “In the event that there is no EU exit deal, you may have to pass a driving test in the EU country you live in to be able to carry on driving there”.

Ireland is the only EU country where British drivers will definitely still be able to travel without additional checks after Brexit, according to the government.

Currently, British driving licence holders can drive in all EU and European Economic Area countries using their normal licence, without the need for an international driving permit (IDP). From the end of January, these permits, which were previously available online for £5.50, will only be obtainable at UK post office counters. Adding further con-

fusion, different European countries require different IDPs, depending on the year they initially signed up to the convention on road traffic.

France and Spain, for example, require different ones.

The AA described the situation as “a real mess”, with the motoring organisation’s president Edmund King saying: “Thousands of expats, many of them elderly, will not relish the prospect of having to retake their driving test in a different country and different language if there is no deal.

Drivers without the appropriate IDPs could also be turned back at the ports. It’s another thing which is a real mess and could potentially catch people out, particularly expats. It really does seem a backward step that drivers will no longer be able to apply for IDPs in the post.”

Before panic sets in, it should be noted that the DfT confirmed that the UK will continue to allow EU citizens to drive in Britain with their EU licence for up to three years after coming to live in the UK, and will still allow drivers to exchange their licence for a British one during this time. It remains possible, if not probable, that many EU countries will reciprocate this arrangement in the event of a no-deal Brexit. ■

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Amazon condemned for destroying new goods

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etail giant Amazon is facing a backlash after it was revealed that the company destroyed as many as three million unsold-but-new items from its warehouses in France in the past year alone. The allegations were made by the investigative programme Capital on television channel M6, which embedded a journalist wearing a hidden camera at the Chalon-sur-Saône warehouse in the Bourgogne-FrancheComté region. The programme showed that Amazon destroyed almost 300,000 unsold, new objects in just three months from that one warehouse alone.

The findings tally with a previous, similar investigation

by Le Monde newspaper and if this same level of destruction is replicated across all five of Amazon’s warehouses in France, that would total well over 3 million objects per year. The programme's footage revealed a wide range of items being destroyed, ranging from nappies and unopened boxes of Lego, through to coffee machines and flat-screen televisions. The report also showed drone footage of discarded items headed to incinerators or land-

fills, which environmental activists have denounced as an “ecological disaster”.

The root of the problem lies with the fees that Amazon charge third parties to stock their goods in its warehouses. Retailers can place their products at an Amazon warehouse for €26/m³ per month, which is an attractive option as it allows items to be shipped as “Prime” directly by the online giant for next day delivery. However, after six months this fee rises to €500/m³ and an eye-watering €1,000/m³ after a year.

The result is that suppliers prefer to have their unsold goods destroyed rather than stocked at these high rates.

“I am shocked, outraged!” said Brune Poirson, secretary of state for ecological transition, after the programme aired. “In the coming months, we will be introducing a series of laws before parliament that will ban this kind of practice. Companies such as Amazon will no longer be allowed to throw away perfectly good products. They need to get moving and find a solution.”

In its defence, Amazon released a statement saying “We

are working with organisations, such as the charity Dons solidaires and food banks, to make donations of these unsold objects to people who need them”, but the company added that it was not financially possible to do so on a large scale because, it claimed, French law imposes VAT on all objects that are given as donations. ■

Country's first smart supermarket No meat Monday campaign

R

ecent plans to target the lucrative grocery market by large online retailers such as Amazon have left many traditional supermarkets looking for innovative ways to fight back and move with the times. One solution could be socalled “phygital” shops - physical retail spaces that are digitally run - and which are set to hit France this year.

The company at the forefront of this new concept is Auchan, which is planning to open its first “smart supermarket” next month in Villeneuve d'Ascq in the Hauts-de-France region in northern France. The 18 m² store, branded as Auchan Minute, will operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week but will not have any permanent staff.

Shoppers using these new digital stores first need to download an app. Then, as they collect physical products from the shelves, the purchases are scanned and also placed in their virtual shopping trolley. Their bank account is debited accordingly as they leave. Although there are no staff on hand, shoppers are able to contact remote customer service agents via screens placed throughout the store. Real hu-

mans will occasionally be on hand to restock the shelves.

“For the time being, this is just an internal test and only Auchan employees will be able to shop here,” explained Olivier Louis, a public relations official for Auchan. If the test is successful, however, the concept could be rolled out across the country. And there is no reason to doubt that the test will not be a success; Auchan already operates 700 such smart stores across China, and a similar “phygital” shop was launched by Amazon in Seattle last year.

Predictably, workers' unions have complained that the idea will lead to job cuts in France and others have complained that this type of digital commerce excludes older, less technologically competent people and also punishes the less well off, who may not be able to afford the necessary smartphone. Auchan have not yet commented on the impact the new stores would have on staffing levels.

The fact remains, however, that this model will likely prove an attractive one to many retailers, particularly in larger cities where the emphasis for consumers is less on price, but more on speed and convenience. ■

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ovember, dry January, Steptember... hijacking the name of a month has become a staple campaign idea for charities and pressure groups in recent years. And now it would appear that individual days of the week are also a fair target for organisations looking to promote their message: a group of 500 French celebrities have signed a petition vowing not to eat meat or fish on Mondays in a bid to save the planet and improve animal welfare.

“To produce a kilogram of meat, you have to grow 10 kilograms of cereals and the impact of this farming on the planet, in terms of greenhouse gases, is enormous,” explained the philosopher Dominique Bourg. The signatory, a close friend of former ecology minister Nicolas Hulot, believes that eating a plantbased diet rather than meat “would have a lower cost in terms of carbon emissions”.

As well as being supported by actors, politicians, scientists and animal rights' activists, the initiative is also being backed by an advertising campaign on the Paris Metro. The idea

is not a new one, however, and Paul McCartney has been promoting the idea of “Meat Free Monday” for ten years.

Although it has generated a number of attention-grabbing headlines, not everyone has welcomed the campaign. “It's not the first time we've seen this kind of appeal,” said Christiane Lambert, president of the farming syndicate FNSEA. “In France, the production of meat is not linked to deforestation and in actual fact breeders often improve their local environment.”

Current ecology minister Ségolène Royal was equally unimpressed, describing the campaign as a “bobo idea” - in French, bobo is a contraction of bourgeois-bohème, and is typically used in a pejorative sense to describe wealthy, left-leaning liberals living in large city centres. “I know a number of people among the signatories who take several flights every month and who have disastrous carbon footprints,” said the former presidential candidate. “There are plenty of French people who would love to eat meat every day, but can't afford to!” ■

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>> continued from pg 1 into question once more.”

“Those who forget the value of Franco-German reconciliation are making themselves accomplices of the crimes of the past,” added President Macron. “Those who spread lies are hurting the same people they are pretending to defend, by seeking to repeat history. I would rather look our Europe in the face and strengthen it to protect our peoples. That is what we are doing.”

Much of what was agreed simply re-enforces previous commitments and many of the pledges were light on detail. France and Germany did agree to establish common positions and issue joint statements on major EU issues - formalising their existing cooperation - but they also announced plans to act as a joint force at the United Nations. Germany has sought greater influence within the international body for many years and the new agreement now stipulates that it will be a priority of German-French diplomacy for Germany to be accepted as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Currently, the so-called “Big Five” consists of France, the United Kingdom, USA, China and Russia.

Key areas of the treaty involve a deepening economic integration between the two countries and the creation of a Franco-German “economic zone” along the border. There is also the commitment to closer military ties, including possible joint deployments, for example in the event of a terror attack. It also includes a “mutual defence clause” in the event of one country being attacked, although Germany and France are already committed to this as members of NATO. On a cultural level, there is a commitment to focus on

cultural exchanges and an increased learning of each other’s languages, with the ultimate aim of creating a Franco-German university. There are also plans for closer cross-border links and greater “bilingualism” on both sides of the frontier, as well as support for city partnerships, with some cross-border regions to be granted greater autonomy to cut through rules and red tape.

Elsewhere, the treaty promises a “common military culture” that Merkel said could “contribute to the creation of a European army” and this idea of a European army was jumped upon by many Eurosceptics across the 28 member states. Brexiteers in the UK have pointed to the treaty as further proof of France and Germany’s desire to impose their views on Europe as a whole.

Whilst Macron and Merkel both spoke movingly of the importance of close ties between two countries which share such a brutal history, other European leaders bristle at the idea of an all-dominating “FrancoGerman motor”. Speaking in Poland, Italy’s far-right interior minister, Matteo Salvini, said ahead of European parliament elections in May that he wants to challenge Merkel and Macron’s staunchly pro-European message with a Eurosceptic “Italian-Polish axis”.

Alexander Gauland, parliamentary leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, said: “French President Macron cannot maintain order in his own country. The nationwide protests in France are never-ending. So it is inappropriate for this failing president to impose visions on us for the future of Germany. The EU is now deeply divided. A German-French special relationship will alienate us even further from the other Europeans.”

As has become worryingly predictable, the signing also generated its fair share of “fake news”, with

© elyssee.fr

France and Germany renew historic treaty

many claiming that Macron was “handing over AlsaceLorraine” to Germany, an area partially annexed by Germany in 1871 and returned to France after the First World War. Despite being immediately debunked by numerous respected media outlets, the rumours gained significant traction amongst online, right-wing commentators and led to Marine Le Pen accusing Macron of “an act that borders on treason”.

Another (untrue) conspiracy theory was that France aimed to share its permanent seat on the UN Security Council with Germany, part of broader accusations that the centrist president was determined to “dismantle the power of our country”, as Le Pen alleged.

The two leaders signed the deal on the anniversary of the original Franco-German co-operation treaty in 1963, which was agreed by Charles de Gaulle and the German chancellor of the time, Konrad Adenauer. ■

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8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

A

French search engine is hoping that recent changes to European data protection laws, combined with increased public distrust of large technology companies, will help it build on a growing reputation and even one day take on the might of Google.

Launched in 2013, Qwant bills itself as “The search engine that respects your privacy” and claims that it does not use cookies, does not keep a search history and will not filter results based on your user profile.

The French start-up today operates all across Europe - indeed it describes itself as “The only European search engine” - and is available in 13 languages. A child-friendly version has also been developed in co-operation with the French Ministry of Education.

In the wake of the Cambridge Analytica scandal and accusations of illegal data gathering by the likes of Facebook and Google, the data protection stance of Qwant has seen its market share surge in 2018, hitting the symbolic mark of 100 million unique users. The French government also

decreed in 2018 that all searches by government employees should be performed using Qwant. Today, the search engine is the 64th most visited website in France.

The company's fortunes have also benefited from the European Union's introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in May 2018. The GDPR requires companies to actively seek permission to collect and store your information and imposes strict rules on what companies can do with that data within the EU. Whilst the big internet giants fight costly court battles and tweak their terms and conditions to get around the new GDPR rules, Qwant has benefitted from its ethical stance on private data, “unlike Google, who track what we are doing, where we are going and what we are saying,” underlined the company's co-founder Éric Léandri.

The fledgling technology company has a long way to go before it can hope to challenge Google's dominance. “Our 15 billion search requests in 2018 represent just 6 days' work for Google,” explained Éric Léandri, who has ambitious plans to increase the

Screenshot (www.qwant.com)

Qwant - the European search engine

company's turnover to €10 million in 2019 and €100 million by 2022. To achieve that the company is busy raising €100 million from investors, which is no mean feat in the current economic climate.

“The problem is convincing investors to come onboard as you

need to be profitable very quickly in Europe,” explained the cofounder. “Amazon has only been profitable in the last year and a half and Uber is losing money hand over fist. I could be profitable tomorrow if I let go 100 staff [Qwant currently employs 160 people], but then we would not be

able to grow the business to the next level.”

For now, the company is enjoying rapid growth in a competitive market and hopes to one day become the search engine of choice across Europe.

Visit www.qwant.com to give it a go yourself. ■

Government minister hints at 80 kph limit reversal

The government has given its first concrete indication that it might be prepared to reverse last year's wildly unpopular reduction in the speed limit from 90 kph to 80 kph.

Speaking at an event in the Aude department, interior minister Christophe Castaner made the surprise announcement.

“If the 80 kph measure has not helped in terms of road safety, we could go back to 90 kph,” the minister told an audience of civil servants. “The 80 kph limit has only one objective: to save lives, and I think this is something we can all agree with. Those who destroy speed cameras, at night, must take significant responsibility. People must urgently consider their priorities. Between one minute lost and one life saved, there is no contest. We have committed to re-evaluating the measure after two years, and we will be totally transparent about the results. If this measure achieves nothing, we may go back to 90 kph. But if deaths on the roads have dropped thanks to this measure, and we have saved lives, what should we do? Go back on it?”

Whilst both Christophe Castaner and President Macron have said in the past that the success of the speed reduction would be evaluated after two years, this is the most clear indication yet that the government would be prepared to roll back the changes. ■

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10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

I

rish fast-food chain Supermac's have won a major trademark victory following an EU decision to revoke McDonald's rights to the name “Big Mac”. In a judgement from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), it was found that McDonald’s had not proven genuine use of the contested trademark as a burger or a restaurant name and has now lost the rights to it in the European Union.

Supermac's are an established fast-food chain in the Republic of Ireland; they currently operate over 100 restaurants, including three in Northern Ireland.

While the company has trademark protection for the Supermac’s name in Ireland, any extension of the trademark across Europe has previously been contested by McDonald’s. In the 1990s the American giant registered Big Mac in Europe both as

a food, but also under a category for restaurant names, meaning that McDonald’s had the right to call a restaurant “Big Mac”. As a result, the company has been able to argue that if the Supermac’s name was successfully trademarked in Europe, it could cause confusion for customers.

The EUIPO's judgement was that the world’s largest fast-food chain had not proven genuine use of the trademark over the five years prior to the case being lodged in 2017. Removing McDonald’s exclusive rights to use the “Big Mac” name in the EU will now clear the way for Supermac's to register their trademark in the rest of Europe. Lawyers for McDonald's have said they will appeal the decision.

“Supermac’s are delighted with their victory in the trademark application and in revoking the Big Mac trademark which had been in existence

since 1996,” founder Pat McDonagh said following the ruling. “This is a great victory for business in general and stops bigger companies from 'trademark bullying' by not allowing them to hoard trademarks without using them. We knew when we took on this battle that it was a David versus Goliath scenario but, just because McDonald’s has deep pockets and we are relatively small in context, doesn’t mean we weren’t going to fight our corner!

“The original objective of our application to cancel was to shine a light on the use of trademark bullying by this multinational to stifle competition. They trademarked the SnackBox, which is one of Supermac's most popular products, even though the product is not actually offered by them,” he added. “This is the end of the McBully. This decision by the European Trademark Office is

Instagram

Supermac's win Big Mac trademark battle

also an indication of how important the European institutions are to help protect businesses that are trying to compete against faceless multinationals.”

In addition to paving the way for Supermac’s to use its brand on restaurants outside of Ireland, the ruling also had the unintended consequence of now allow-

ing Supermac’s - and any other fast-food chains - to use the “Big Mac” trademark on any food for sale, if it so wishes!

It is not yet known if Supermac's have plans to expand into the lucrative French fast-food market; France is one of the biggest markets for McDonald's outside of the US. ■

Roundup weedkiller banned Whatever happened to

F

rance has banned the sale of the popular but controversial weedkiller Roundup, following a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing the widely used herbicide.

Roundup, owned by Germany company Bayer after its purchase of US agro-giant Monsanto last year, contains glyphosate which environmentalists and other critics have long

believed causes cancer.

Emmanuel Macron has been a prominent voice calling for glyphosate to be banned in Europe. The European Union renewed its authorisation for five years in November 2017, but President Macron has vowed to outlaw its use in France by 2021. The French food and environmental safety agency ANSES said in a statement that sales of Roundup Pro 360 were already banned following the

Is it about time you put that door or window in...?

court order.

“As the ruling takes immediate effect, market approval for Roundup Pro 360 has been cancelled,” ANSES said in a statement. “The sale, distribution and use of Roundup Pro 360 are forbidden as of today.”

Environmental activists hailed the ruling, noting a 2015 study by a World Health Organization agency which concluded that glyphosate was “probably carcinogenic”. In August 2018, a California court ordered Bayer to pay $78 million to a groundskeeper with terminal cancer who claimed he had not been adequately informed of the alleged health risks of the weedkiller.

“It's a major ruling because it should eventually cover all versions of Roundup, as the court determined that all products with glyphosate are probably carcinogens,” said Corinne Lepage, a lawyer for the CRIIGEN genetics research institute.

Bayer is appealing the ruling, saying scientific studies have proven glyphosate's safety. Glyphosate is used in weedkillers made by several companies, and is currently the most used herbicide around the world. ■

expat Votes for Life?

A

s the Brexit debate in the UK reaches fever pitch, it is quite likely that Britain will be going to the polling booths in the near future, be that for a general election or a referendum. Those of us who were unable to vote in the first referendum due to the 15-year-rule - and that number will have increased significantly in the intervening two-and-ahalf years - will be disappointed to learn that it is very unlikely that we will have our right to vote restored any time soon.

The so-called idea of Votes for Life was unveiled as a government policy in the 2015 Queen's Speech and removing the 15-year-rule was again part of the Conservative Party's manifesto during the 2017 general election, but so far no changes have been made.

Backbenchers had tried to introduce the legislation using a Private Member's Bill, put forward by Welsh Conservative MP Glynn Davies.

Private Member's Bills are given limited debating time in parliament (13 sitting Fridays per parliamentary session – usually 12 months). The bill had its first reading in the House of Commons in July 2017 and its first full debate at the second reading in February 2018 after which the government announced its intention to back the bill.

It was scheduled to be debated again on 25th January and could have become law shortly after, but with the chaos in parliament surrounding the ongoing debate over Theresa May's deal, the Friday in question ceased to be a sitting Friday and the bill is now listed on the government's website with the date “to be announced”.

The news means that it is almost certain that voting rights will not be restored to those who have lived outside the UK for more than 15 years in time for any upcoming referendum or election. ■

Government increases diesel scrappage grants

For a rapid response and a job well done, call

From January of this year, the government has increased the grants available to motorists who trade in their old vehicles for newer, less polluting ones, including second-hand cars. Although the prime à la conversion has been around for a while, in 2019 it is now worth as much as €5,000 and is no longer exclusively for new vehicles. The increased grant comes as the government has postponed a tax rise on petrol and diesel which was also designed to encourage road users to opt for hybrid, or fully electric, cars.

Whilst the war on diesel is showing some signs of success - diesel's share of the car market fell from 47.3% to 40% last year - the country has yet to fall in love with electric vehicles.

“Expanding these grants to the purchase of second-hand vehicles will really help to speed up the modernisation of the country's car fleet, because many people simply can't afford to upgrade their vehicles to new ones,” explained car expert Didier Laurent.

For more information, visit: www.primealaconversion.gouv.fr. ■

Martin: 05 55 61 93 07

Gilets jaunes protests lead to surge in benefit claims

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The ongoing gilets jaunes protests and associated civil unrest have caused chaos around the country every Saturday, costing the government and retailers billions of euros in lost revenues and increased costs. According to a study published in December

by Nielsen, the protests caused a loss of 1% of turnover for major retail operators, more than the June 2018 strikes at SNCF and Air France.

Carrefour alone reported a drop in revenue of €110 million at its hypermarkets and €39 million from its supermarkets. The government has also had to carry a heavy financial burden with the costs of repairing infrastructure and increased policing.

There is also now a new problem emerging for the State, caused by more than 43,000 workers claiming extra benefits after being placed on chômage technique, a semi-unemployed status that sees salaried staff temporarily sent home on reduced wages.

Le Figaro has reported that the government has already set aside €28 million to cover this added pressure on the welfare bill.

Some have argued that the situation has provided a glimmer of good news for smaller local businesses, however. The nature of the protests have seen the French change their habits, with many switching to doing their weekly shop in local stores during the week rather than at out-of-town hypermarkets at the weekend. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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P

étanque is one of the most popular participation sports in this country, and the image of a group of friends enjoying a game on the town square in the shade of a tree is an iconic one, likely to appear on many tourists' Instagram pages. Throw in a bottle of wine, a few glasses of Pastis or a beret and you have the quintessential image of the relaxed French way of life.

The sport takes itself seriously, however, and the Fédération française de pétanque (FFP) has been campaigning for Olympic recognition ahead of the 2024 Paris Games. Unfortunately, a substance abuse scandal involving more than just a little too much water in your Ricard or no filter in your Gitanes is threatening to rock the world of boules.

In recent months, a number of players on the cut-throat international scene have caused uproar by accusing their Belgian counterparts of snorting cocaine

to secure a competitive edge.

“I know enough Belgian players who use coke,” said Edward Vinke, a top Dutch player, speaking to the Vice sports website.

“They go to the toilet and do not throw a wrong ball when they come back. They really feel like the king.”

“I also experienced it once,” said Kees Koogje. “We were far ahead and had played flawlessly.

Then they went to the bathroom for 10 minutes and came back with huge eyes. Everything went well for them. The use of cannabis in pétanque tournaments also occurs in Belgium and France.

When I’m playing in Belgium on a large open area, I always smell a lot of smoke. Usually it is the players who participate in such a tournament for fun, not the top players.”

Reinold Borré, chairman of the Flanders Pétanque Federation in Belgium, did not agree and came out swinging: “Our players and players at the European Cham-

© KoS (WikiCommons)

Pétanque rocked by drug snorting scandal

pionships and World Championships were all checked, and all found negative. I think if you accuse people, you have to mention names. Otherwise you should be silent!”

The claims were also rejected by a leading Belgian bowler, Stefaan Kausse. “We know Vinke and Koogje,” the Flemish champion said. “Everyone who plays pétanque at a high level knows

each other. They are good players and good guys. Yes, there are those who drink a good beer during a tournament, and occasionally you smell a joint, but they make it appear as if every Belgian pétanque player is sniffing coke. That is not true.”

Whilst some may scoff at the idea that pétanque could feature at the Paris Olympics, comparing it to the UK applying for darts

at the London Games, the sport does have a strong argument for inclusion. The game is certainly huge in France, with more than 300,000 registered players, but it is also played by 200 million people across 262 federations in 165 countries around the world!

It also has precedent: pétanque did feature at the 1992 Barcelona games as a demonstration sport. ■

Lucky goat survives Gilet jaunes protester joins the nativity scene a narrow escape

W

ne lucky goat's New Year's resolution is probably to keep a better eye on the tide after it became stuck on a small rock at the tip of the island of Ouessant off the Brittany coast. Surrounded by a rising December tide, the animal was spotted by amateur photographer Cédric Cain, who alerted the local mayor.

The mayor contacted the goat's owner as well as the coastguard, who launched a small dinghy to rescue the stranded animal. By the time they arrived, the waves were already lapping round the goat's hooves and the animal would have been unlikely to survive without the quick thinking of the photographer and the intervention of the emergency services.

But how exactly did this little goat find itself trapped on a rocky outcrop? “It was almost certainly spooked by a dog, it wouldn't be the first time that had happened,” explained Cédric. “Usually it's the pompiers who help in these situations, I've never seen the coastguard called out!”

The island, the north-westernmost point of mainland France, is home to just a few hundred people, and is most famous for the Ouessant sheep, one of the smallest but hardiest breeds of domestic sheep. ■

© screenshot (www.santonsmagali.fr)

O

year's best sellers was a gilet jaune protester!

For just €15, the seven-centimetre figurine, sporting a bright yellow vest and holding up a blank banner (on which you can add your own protest statement), could join the others in your nativity scene, alongside the donkey.

“Every Christmas, we try to have something new to offer enthusiasts and collectors.

This santon was created at the very beginning of the movement, using our traditional methods. Of course, the gilets jaunes have nothing to do with the traditional nativity scene, but it can always be put elsewhere in the setting,”

© Cédric Cain

hilst most have been bemoaning the financial cost of the recent gilets jaunes protests, one enterprising company has found a way to profit from the civil unrest by unveiling a novelty festive figurine.

Santons (or “little saints” from the Provençal word “santoun”) are small, collectable handpainted figurines produced in the Provence region of southeastern France for home nativity scenes. A traditional Provençal crèche includes biblical figures such as the three wise kings who join the shepherds to visit Joseph, Mary

and the baby Jesus, as well as individual figures representing various characters from village life such as the washerwoman, the blind man and his son, and the chestnut seller.

In recent times, “novelty” santons have become increasingly popular, and one of this

explained a spokesman for Marseille-based Santons Magali, who said that orders for the figure flooded in from all corners of France, as well as overseas, and had taken the company by surprise. “We were caught a bit short and the first batch disappeared very quickly!” ■

12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

La Chandeleur - time for crêpes

alentines aren’t the only excuse for a feast in February - in France, at least.

On February 2nd falls La Chandeleur.

Americans would know it as Groundhog Day, though I’m not aware they have any associated food. The French, though, make crêpes.

La Chandeleur comes from 'chandelle', the French for candle. Also called la fête des crêpes, or (because of the candles) la fête de la lumière, it has as many origins and superstitions as the number of crêpes you could eat at one sitting. The specific date is picked as it’s supposed to be the day that Jesus was presented at the temple in Jerusalem. Or, if you prefer, the day the Virgin Mary was allowed back into the church having given birth to Jesus, associating it with purification and fecundity.

The Christian origin of the festival is thought to go back to Pope Gelasius I. Sometime in the 5th century, he inaugurated a candlelit procession through the streets of Rome. Like most religious festivals, the pope probably settled on February 2nd because it had long been established as a pagan celebration of the beginning of the end of winter (the Groundhog Day connection) and the forthcoming fertility of the earth.

Participants placed their candles in the churches they passed. Galettes, the salty buckwheat version of the sweet crêpes, were handed out to pilgrims who trekked to Rome for the festival.

Crêpes are a simple and delicious means of using up whatever’s left of stocks of wheat before the new harvest appears. Since the candlelit procession took place in the evening, that was the time established, to this day, for the eating of the crêpes.

The rituals and superstitions surrounding the festival are many. People enslaved by a bad spell hoped to be cured by a soothsayer clutching a blessed Chandeleur candle and drawing certain symbols on the ground.

In some parts of France, to succeed in bringing the candle home still lit will guarantee the holder won’t die during the year. By contrast, another predicts that if the candle’s wax runs only down one side of the candle, a loved one will not survive the year.

When actually cooking crêpes for La Chandeleur, you need to respect other strict superstitions. One

of the simplest is making sure you use your right hand to grip the frying pan and hold a piece of gold in your left. This encourages wealth and good luck throughout the coming year. Prosperity will also come your way if you put the first crêpe in a drawer, or on top of a wardrobe. (Will you welcome the mice?) Alternatively, place a gold coin on a hot crêpe, and once it’s cooled down, wrap the coin in paper and place it in the cupboard for a year’s worth of mouse-free prosperity.

Crêpes and cupboards seem to go together with La Chandeleur. Anyone who successfully flips six in a row will be married in the year, but a young wife who wants to remain married must toss a crêpe on top of a wardrobe.

On the eve of La Chandeleur, young women in the Vosges who flung a handful of ashes on burning embers as they recited, “Chandeleur, Chandeleur, show me while I sleep the one I will spend my life with,” expected to do just that.

Weather superstitions echo the weather superstitions of Groundhog Day, when winter’s end or its continuation is predicted by a groundhog emerging from its hole and casting a shadow or not on the ground. If it’s sunny, some say winter and the possibility of misfortune will continue: “Soleil de la Chandeleur, annonce hiver et malheur”, while for others a clear day means winter is over: “Quand la Chandeleur est claire, l'hiver est par derrière”.

If it rains or is cloudy on La Chandeleur, some say, “Quand il pleut pour la Chandeleur, il pleut pendant quarante jours”, while others chant, “Chandeleur couverte, quarante jours de perte”. Snow falling on 2nd February foretells a split in the family, or possibly a death.

Confusing enough contradictions that the one certainty is that La Chandeleur offers a good excuse to focus on the distraction of eating crêpes. If you have picked up this copy of The Bugle after 2nd February, not to worry. Given that crêpes are not eaten in France on Shrove Tuesday, you can repeat this recipe then! ■

Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

Recipe

Ingredients:

250g flour 50cl milk 3 eggs 2 tbs butter, melted ½ tsp salt 3 tbs sugar 1tbs rum or other liqueur, orange zest, lemon zest or 1 tsp vanilla extract Butter or oil for cooking Pour the flour into a large mixing bowl. Make a well in the middle. Pour in half the liquid and gently incorporate. Beat the eggs in a separate bowl and pour into the flour mixture. Add melted butter, sugar and salt.

Slowly mix in the remaining liquid. The batter should have the consistency of double cream. Add flavourings if using. Cover the bowl and rest at room temperature for at least one hour.

© Martha Stewart

V

by Julia Watson

Grease a frying pan with a little butter or oil and once very hot, pour in enough batter to just cover the bottom, turning the pan to cover evenly. As soon as the edges of the crêpe crisp up, slide a spatula underneath and flip to cook the other side. Always discard the first crêpe. Cook the remainder the same way. Serve with a quarter of lemon, sugar, Nutella, jam, or maple syrup.

France tax changes for 2019 - Blevins Franks

A

new year in France usually sees the introduction of some new tax rules or rates. This year is no exception, although the changes are rather muted compared to last year’s big reforms to the taxation of investment income and wealth tax.

The biggest changes in 2019 are the introduction of a pay-as-you-earn system for income tax, and a reduction to social charges imposed on investment income for many retired expatriates.

This is a good time to review your tax planning, to make sure you know where you stand with your taxes and establish how you can limit your exposure to unnecessary taxes.

Income tax

There are no changes to French income tax rates for 2019 (payable on 2018 income). The income tax bands for each rate have increased very slightly to index them for inflation, so the current bands rates are:

Income

Tax Rate

Up to €9,964

Nil

€9,964 to €27,519

14%

€27,519 to €73,779

30%

€73,779 to €156,244

41%

Over €156,244

45%

The ‘exceptional tax’ remains in place for 2018 income. This charges an extra 3% or 4% for income over €250,000 and €500,000 respectively, with higher thresholds for families.

Income tax is payable on earnings, pen-

sions and rental income at the above rates, and you are taxed as a household rather than an individual (which can be beneficial for some families).

Investment income is taxed at a fixed rate (the prélèvement forfaitaire unique or PFU) of 30% which includes both income tax and social charges. This has not changed since last year. If you do not earn much investment income you can opt to use the progressive rates of income tax instead, for all your income, plus social charges.

For non-residents, the minimum tax rate on French source income has increased from 20% to 30%.

PAYE France has begun implementing a pay-asyou-earn system from 1st January 2019.

It applies to employment income, retirement income (pensions, lifetime annuities), rental income (including French property rental income of UK residents), taxable state benefits, maintenance payments, non-French income taxable in France, business profits and consultancy fees/independent income.

Income tax will now be deducted at source for French employment income and pensions each month. For other affected income, such as self-employment earnings, rental income and UK pensions, tax will be collected through monthly or quarterly direct debit from your bank account.

The amount payable is calculated on your last income tax return (so for 2019 it will be your 2017 return), with any balance due by the end of the year.

Investment income – interest, dividends, capital gains and gains from life insurance

policies/non-French assurance-vie – is excluded from PAYE. It also does not apply to non-French income that receives a tax credit in France under a double tax treaty.

committee has been set up to review whether the ‘old style’ wealth tax (which applied to most worldwide assets) should be reintroduced next year.

Social charges

Other measures for 2019

Social charges remain at 9.7% for employment/self-employment income, 9.1% for pension income and 17.2% for investment income including rental income.

However, for individuals in receipt of pension income of less than €2,000 per month (€3,000 for a couple) the charges will be reduced back to the 2017 rate, i.e. 7.4%.

Individuals covered under the health system of another EU/EEA country are no longer subject to the contribution sociale généralisée (CSG) or contribution au remboursement de la dette sociale (CRDS) social charges on their investment income and capital gains. Instead, the new prélèvement de solidarité will apply at a flat rate of 7.5%.

This is good news for those holding Form S1 and non-residents, since their social charge burden on investment income reduces from 17.2% to 7.5%.

You can submit refund claims for any charges paid at the higher rate during 2018, speak to your tax accountant.

The changes to the calculation of taxe d’habitation, introduced in the previous budget, mean that 65% of French households will be exempt from this tax in 2019.

There are reductions for certain components of the social security contributions for employees and employers. The main rate of corporation tax reduces to 31% (from 33 1/3%).

Wealth tax / real estate tax (IFI) There are no changes from 2018, so ‘wealth tax’ is only levied on real estate assets. The threshold for this impôt sur la fortune immobilière (IFI) tax remains €1,300,000 and the scale rates of tax are the same as last year.

The 75% limitation also stays in place.

Following demonstrations in France, a

Tax planning It is important to understand how French taxation affects you personally, and establish tax planning solutions based on your objectives and family circumstances. Regular reviews are essential to make sure your arrangements are up to date. For expatriates, an adviser with cross-border experience can help you make the most of opportunities offered by the French tax system. ■ Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change.

Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com Web: www.blevinsfranks.com

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The wines of Bergerac

T

he Prix Ragueneau is known as the top cookery prize in south-west France, featuring the black truffles and foie gras, the lamb and fowl and walnuts that are the best-known specialities of this magnificently endowed region.

But is also important to winemakers since each of the two dishes prepared by the five chefs in the final must be accompanied by its own wine, which has to be explained and the choice justified before the jury by the sommelier who shares the prize with the chef.

That makes ten wines for those of us in the jury to taste, and a terrific selection it was, saddening me that we had to spit out most of them after tasting.

The Bugle was well represented with me, your wine columnist and Julia Watson the food writer both on the jury of ten, including French wine and food writers, Danièle Mazet-Delpeuch (President Mitterrand’s personal chef) and Patrick Jeffroy of the Carantec hotel in Brittany, who has two Michelin rosettes.

It got better since the Sunday before the day of tasting, all ten jury members gathered for lunch at the vineyard of David Fourtout of Les Verdots, one of my own favourites. David did us proud, offering all of his red and whites for the last three years and his top-of-the-brand Le Vin

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

by Martin Walker

from 2010 for us to taste. His wife hosted an excellent lunch of seafood salad, beef olives and a tarte vigneronne, apple tart with a red wine glaze.

Then we had a guided tour of the truffle plantation at Lentignac, outside Ste-Alvère, before a five-course dinner at the Vieux Logis with each course featuring black truffles, all cooked by the Michelin-starred chef Vincent Arnould, along with wines from more of my favourites, Moulin Caresse and l’Ancienne Cure.

The next morning began at the Ste-Alvère truffle market, followed by a casse-croûte of truffles in lightly scrambled eggs and cream, haricots aux couennes with aiguillettes of duck and tartines of truffled butter. Julien and Caline Monfort, of the famous Julien de Savignac cave in Le Bugue, were on hand with their own wines.

After all this, the tasting might have been an anti-climax. Not so. I was delighted to find many old friends among the bottles: Château de Tiregand, Château des Eyssards, Clos l’Envège and Château Monestier La Tour, on which I have written before in these pages. Château Le Payral of Saussignac is a wine I know well and will be writing about again, likewise for Château Poulvère on Monbazillac, where Benoît Borderie offers yet another example

of what good wines retired fighter pilots can make.

New to me were two wines from the Duras, which is now linked with the Bergerac vineyards and what splendid additions they are. The first was a very seductive and luscious red from Clos des Figuiers, where Sylvie Fechtenbaum and her husband Eddy (another exfighter pilot) and their daughter Sarah (an astro-physicist) have been making two organic wines, a Merlot red and a Sauvignon Blanc white for the past four years on a tiny vineyard of just 2.5 hectares. The vines are only fifteen years old but have suffered neither pesticide nor chemical fertiliser for the past ten years. At 12.50 euros a bottle, 2014 Merlot that we tasted was an excellent wine, well worth the money.

The other discovery from the Duras knocked my socks off, a bio-dynamic wine from Domaine Mouthes Le Bihan, a white wine called La Pie Colette, 2016. It was made of 45 per cent each of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon with ten per cent of Chenin. It was charming without being in any sense light, with a long finish and a tantalising mix of freshness and depth in the mouth. At 9.50 euros a bottle, I recommend it highly.

This Duras white wine stands

out in my memory because it was not overwhelmed by its partner wine for the winning dish (from the Restaurant Vin’Quatre in Bergerac), the Petite Fugue dry white wine from Château Le Payral.

Isabelle and Thierry Daulhiac are terrific winemakers, committed to biological winemaking and bio-dynamic methods, like many of their Saussignac neighbours. Thierry is the sixth generation of winemakers in his family.

The remarkable feature of their wine is Thierry’s belief in and skill with Sauvignon Gris, a somewhat obscure grape which my wine encyclopaedia dismisses as producing ‘less aromatic’ wines. Not in Thierry’s hands!

His Petite Fugue is sixty per cent Sauvignon Gris and forty per cent Sauvignon Blanc, and this wine is a little austere but then becomes inviting on the nose with just a hint of pear flavour. It is a delight in the mouth, a surprise in its almost playful richness with a final, delicate suggestion of vanilla.

Some of the best wines of Pessac-Léognan, including

Haut-Brion and Pape Clément use small amounts of the Sauvignon Gris, but Thierry goes to town with this unusual grape, a pinkish-blue on the skin but quite white inside. He and Isabelle keep it in barrels of French oak for six months, and the wine is fertilised with natural, local yeasts. In short, it is a handmade wine, an excellent choice to go with the cooking of the winning chef, Charlie Ray and his partner (and sommelier) Mélanie Legrand. They well deserve the 3,000 euro prize.

As for me, after all that splendid food and wine (and coming so soon after Christmas), I think I’ll need to fast for a week. ■

Martin Walker, author of the best-selling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

Bugle Editor, Steve Martindale, looks at the origins of the humble chip. As a proud Belgian resident for 6 years, but now raising a family in France, his loyalties are torn on the topic of who exactly did invent the French Fry...

S

prinkled with salt, dunked in ketchup, soaked in vinegar, covered with gravy or dipped in mayonnaise, everyone has their own specific way of enjoying the humble, crisp strips of fried tuber known the world over as French fries!

The origin of the fried potato, or chip to the British, is a matter of dispute among experts; both France and Belgium - where they are the national dish - have laid claim to the invention of fries, but until now there has been no definitive answer.

According to French legend, the frite was invented by street merchants on the Pont Neuf in Paris, just after the French Revolution in the late 18th century. “Fries, they are the orphan of street cooking, of low birth. That is why it's hard to establish where they really come from,” says French historian, Madeleine Ferrière.

This Parisian genesis story is popular in France and has been often quoted, but is bitterly disputed by the proud Belgians, who claim that fried potatoes were invented on their side of the border. Belgian folklore states that the chip was invented by accident in the 17th century by the people of Namur, in what later became southern Belgium.

The story goes that people there needing a cheap meal would fish in the river Meuse, frying what they caught. One day when the river was frozen, local fishermen chopped potatoes up into slices resembling small fish and fried those instead.

As part of a festival of food in the Belgian capital called Brusselicious, culinary experts and historians from both countries have previously examined the competing claims. Pierre Leclerc, a professor at the University of Liège, admitted that there was little proof of Belgium’s paternity.

“Belgians adore chips but serious scientific research on the subject has only just begun,” he said.

Then there are the Spanish. They once controlled the area that is now Belgium and claim that the recipe for French fries first appeared in Galicia, where it was served as an accompaniment to fish dishes. From there they say it travelled aboard Spanish galleons to Belgium.

Looks like the jury is still out on this one...

What's in a name?

The exact origin may remain unclear, but where does the “French” part come from?

One theory is that the term “French fry” is a shortening of “French fried potato” meaning a potato fried in the French style.

In 1802, Thomas Jefferson had “potatoes served in the French manner” on the menu at a White House dinner. Adventurous farmer, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and former ambassador to France, Jefferson had indeed brought the fried potato back to America with him from Paris. In fact, the recipe can still be seen today in a manuscript written in Jefferson’s own hand (although it almost certainly came from his French chef, Honoré Julien).

When he served these fried potatoes to his guests using this trans-Atlantic recipe... voilà, the French fry was born.

Some Belgians dispute this and believe that the term “French” was introduced when American soldiers arrived in Belgium during World War I, and

© Pixabay

So who really did invent the French fry?

consequently tasted Belgian fries. They supposedly called them “French” as it was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time.

Today, Belgian culinary experts insist that chips have achieved their pinnacle, in terms of both quality and cultural importance, in Belgium. The French use them as something to eat with meat. The British insist on fish. “We, the Belgians, have made the chip something noble in itself,” says Albert Verdeyen, co-author of a book on chips. “Above all, we have mastered better than anyone else the art of double-cooking them until they are golden and crunchy.”

Frites in the south, or frieten in the north, are an institution in Belgium - do not try to tell a proud Belgian that they were invented anywhere else! The Belgians are also the largest consumers of chips in Europe. They are eaten at any time of the day, usually from a cone with a large dollop of sauce on

top and can be a meal in themselves. You have not eaten chips until you have had twice fried chips from a friterie or frietkot on a square in a Belgian town.

“To go to a frietkot, that is the very essence of being a Belgian,” says Philippe Ratzel who owns the Clementine stall, one of the most popular in Brussels. “Here, you can meet anyone - the old lady who is taking her dog out for a walk, students or even the government minister who lives nearby.”

Whatever their origins and however they got their name, let's stop fighting and just agree that at their best they are hard to beat.

John Calvi, in a 1982 poem called French Fries, perhaps said it best, in his final stanza, when he wrote: Some think the army, the bombs and the guns Will one day save all of our lives, I don’t believe it – heat up your pans Make peace, and lots of French fries.

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

The Grumpy Granny Guide

A

For Richer, for Poorer

few years ago a neighbour inherited her grandmother’s old farmhouse together with some tumbledown barns. She did a minimum of renovation, just renewing the bedding, bathroom and toilet and then rented it out exactly as it was, with the old furniture and fittings, even the 1960s cooker. She describes it as a ‘traditional home’, a ’rural experience’ (which it certainly is) and it has been constantly booked up ever since. The reason for her success is not, as one might suppose, some longing for simpler, plainer times, but the fact that she rents it out for very little. I was intrigued by this approach at a time when everyone is keen to make as much money as possible and when the official tourist trend appears to be a shift towards the top end of the market. But, as my neighbour put it, “I don’t see why people who are struggling on a limited budget shouldn’t have the chance to come here like anyone else, it’s my way of making life a little fairer”. The people she is referring to are those who have a monthly income below 2,000€ and for whom even renting a chalet or mobile home is beyond their means.

It is of course possible to visit the Périgord on a shoestring. The spectacular views, charming towns and villages and riverside beaches are free. You can hike, bike or visit monuments or admire the architecture, enjoy the night markets and ‘animations’ which all come for nothing. However, although the majority of low-income visitors (who make up 16% of the market) stay with friends or family, a sizeable proportion of potential visitors, and not only those in the lower income bracket are daunted by the cost of entrance fees to historic and prehistoric sites as well as the major attractions such as Le Bournat or Castelnau. The lowest entrance fee I could find anywhere was approximately 5€ pp and a modest ice cream can cost upwards of 3€. As one experienced guide at a major site put it to me: “Many people now make a choice of one site, one castle and/or one attraction during their entire stay. I can see when they come to the ticket office with a list in their hand and when they see the cost, 40€ or more for a family of 4, that they have to decide if this is the site where they should spend their money. Indeed, it can be a frustrating experience for them to see so much on offer which for them is unaffordable.”

The average money spent daily by this group is apparently up to 40% less than at the luxury end so the policy of the Department of Tourism is to target the luxury trade rather than those with little money to spend, which in purely economic terms of course makes sense. While an effort is made to encourage reduced rates or combined-entry tickets

and to create more nature trails, hiking and cycling paths, published policy guidelines state quite clearly that priority is now given to encouraging wealthier foreign visitors, preferably from Europe and SE Asia since this market segment (those with a monthly income above 6000€) is where they see future growth. The French share of this market in the Périgord has remained stable (5%), wealthy French still preferring the Côte d’Azur or Caribbean destinations.

There is much use of the word ‘luxury’ in reference to hotels, restaurants or other services in the Dordogne but this is where I feel the need to strike a note of caution.

Officially defined ‘luxury’ implies much, much more than just updating older hotels or converting a castle or manor house to welcome guests. None of the hotels, gîtes or venues described in the Périgord as ‘luxury’ meet international 5-star standards which include 24/7 room and kitchen service, faultless personnel, a valet service, sauna, pool, fitness facilities, etc. and there is not one such establishment in the area. Yes, we see a gradual improvement in furnishings, in service provision, pool and gym but as yet only to the level which has become the norm in other popular tourist destinations throughout the world.

It takes a lot of high spenders to amortise the huge cost of providing competitive facilities and investors are cautious in an area where the tourist season is still relatively short.

Nevertheless there are some pockets of true luxury. I was told about the cycling tours which provide customised bikes and where before setting out participants spend a day with a professional cycle coach and nutritionist. The circuit is decided according to the age and fitness of the participants, accompanied by the coach throughout and refreshments at stopovers are calibrated for each individual. Lunch and evening meals are carefully balanced and a massage and/or spa are offered at the end of every day! And then there are the hot air balloon rides (never a cheap option) which now include an ultra gourmet lunch. Both of these offers have attracted a great deal of interest for their niche market. But whatever the ‘excellent’ ratings quoted by the tourist press and on websites such as Trip Advisor, luxury travellers are better provided for elsewhere and will only come for a short stay (3-5 days) to see the highlights which stubbornly include Sarlat and Lascaux. It seems to me that chasing the top end makes less sense than bringing the entire tourist infrastructure up to the standards now expected by the average-income visitor for whom yesterday’s ‘luxury’ is today’s necessity.

The challenges of local tourism are an endless source of debate and discussion. It is hard to accommodate today’s demands for ‘experiences’, for constant distraction, fast

Hard to know which tourist sites to visit?

Grumpy Granny Guide

The Grumpy Granny Guide® will help you choose if you:

Need practial information Are with young children or a pushchair Are elderly Hate standing in the sun Tire easily and need to sit down Can’t manage any steps or stairs Are with your dog The Grumpy Granny website provides all the information you need to make the right choice for a comfortable experience in the Dordogne Visit us on:

www.GRUMPYGRANNY-GUIDES.com internet provision and comfortable facilities all at very competitive prices, without destroying the very reason people come here in the first place.

Ironically, in this respect it is the low end of the market with family stays and modest gîtes with no pools or hot tubs, which are far more in keeping with the traditions of the Périgord than the infrastructure of golf courses, sports facilities and gastronomic restaurants catering to richer clients. I hope that the tremendous cost of providing facilities to attract this market will prove so uneconomic in terms of money and the natural environment, that trends will be reversed and a holiday with lino on the floor, draughty windows and no internet connection, will become the ultimate luxury. ■

This is part of a series of features devoted to the tourist experience in the Dordogne provided by the website grumpygranny-guides.com which highlights those sites which are comfortable and pleasant to visit and which offer a warm welcome.

Was the first Valentine's Day card sent by a French king?

A

small town in the heart of Indre will again welcome lovers from across the country on 14th February and the nearest weekend.

Why the attraction? The town of Saint-Valentin is the only place in France to bear the name of the patron saint of lovers. Residents deck their homes in blooms, the Jardin des amoureaux (lovers' garden) opens its gates and free concerts take place to serenade courting couples. A post office, specially constructed for the week, sells commemorative stamps and postcards for the most ‘authentic’ Valentine's card you'll ever send.

If all that romance brings matters to a head, it's even possible to take things one step further and tie the knot in the flower garden, with everything laid on, from hotels, hair and make-up to wedding cars, photographers and champagne. All you need to do is say “I do”....

Each year, on 14th February,

men and women across the globe spend billions of euros on loved ones, all in the name of Saint Valentine. But who was Saint Valentine and why is he associated with love?

Rather than being a ‘Hallmark’ holiday, Valentine’s day, much like Halloween, has its root in paganism. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring, a time of fertility, new life and regeneration. Lupercalia was the main festival at this time, celebrated between 13th and 15th February and commemorated the legend that Rome’s founders, Romulus and Remus, were raised by a she-wolf (lupa). During the festival, priests would sacrifice a goat for fertility and a dog for purification. The boys of the town would then cut strips of hide from the goat, dip them in sacrificial blood and gently slap the young women of the town and the fields of crops. Despite sounding gory, the women of ancient Rome welcomed this ritual as they believed it made

them more fertile for the coming year.

Later in the day, the names of all the young women would be placed into an urn from which the young men would pick one and this pair would then be coupled for the next year. This often led to marriages, but was considered un-Christian by the church and there were repeated attempts to outlaw the festival.

“At the time the festival was clearly a very popular event, even in an environment where the Christians were trying to close it down,” according to professor Lenski of the University of Colorado. “So there's reason to think that the Christians might instead have said, OK, we'll just call this a Christian festival.”

The church pledged the festival to Saint Valentine, whose saint’s day fell on February 14th – right in the middle of the Lupercalia – but little is known about Saint Valentine. There are three saints named Valentine or Valentinus, but the most probable candidate is the Saint

Valentine who fell foul of the wrath of Emperor Claudius II and was put to death. No more is known about him, but subsequent legends suggest that Claudius had decreed that all young men should remain single, as unmarried men made for better soldiers. Valentine, feeling this was unjust, conducted clandestine marriages for young lovers, until he was discovered and sentenced to death.

The legend was further extended to suggest that he sent the first Valentine’s Day card from his jail cell, allegedly to his jailer’s daughter who had visited him during his confinement, which he signed “from your Valentine”. Saint Valentine grew in popularity and by the Middle Ages he was one of the most popular saints in France and England.

The first recorded Valentine’s card was sent by Charles, Duke of Orléans, in 1415 to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Bat-

tle of Agincourt. This greeting card is now housed in the British Library in London.

Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a Valentine note to his belle, Catherine of Valois.

In Great Britain, Valentine’s Day began to be popularly celebrated in the 17th century and by the mid-18th century it was common for people of all social classes to exchange items of affection or small notes of love. The commercialisation of Valentine’s Day really began in earnest with the massproduction of Valentine's Day greeting cards. The first cards rolled off the lines in the 1840s in the US thanks to Esther A. Howland, who has since become known as ‘the Mother of the Valentine’.

In recent times, more than 1 billion cards are sent every year worldwide, making it the second biggest day for the greetings card industry, behind Christmas when more than double that amount are sent. ■

BILINGUAL ♦ 15

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The greatest national anthem in the world?

F

ew songs are as rousing or instantly recognisable as the French national anthem, La Marseillaise.

This revolutionary call to arms has been the country's anthem since 1879, but today its violent lyrics make many people feel uncomfortable, and some go so far as to label it racist.

La Marseillaise began life as a war song. In 1792, Austrian and Prussian troops invaded France in an attempt to quell the French Revolution and in response the mayor of Strasbourg commissioned a song that would rally the troops “to defend their homeland that is under threat”. That night, Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, a captain in the French army, composed the song in just a few hours, giving it the name Chant de guerre pour l'Armee du Rhin - War Song for the Army of the Rhine.

The song quickly became a favourite amongst the troops and it was particularly popular with volunteers from the southern city of Marseille hence its nickname La Marseillaise who sang it as they marched north to storm Paris; the war song had become a revolutionary song. It was adopted as the national anthem in 1795, but lost this status a few years later under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was again made the national anthem in 1879 and has been so ever since.

Unfortunately the years following the revolution were not kind to those behind the Marseillaise. The song's composer, Rouget, was a royalist and was imprisoned, while the man who commissioned it, Dietrich, was sent to the guillotine during the subsequent Reign of Terror.

Although it was always well loved, the Marseillaise had a surge in popularity during the First World War, when the lyrics once again became a rallying cry of the people. During the Second World War it was proudly sung by the Resistance after it was banned by the Vichy government.

The song - or rather its gruesome lyrics - is not without controversy.

Since last year primary school children have been required to learn the Marseillaise by heart as part of the syllabus, but many worry that talk of “ferocious soldiers” coming to “cut the throats of your sons” is not a great picture to paint in young minds.

More controversial is the last line that urges citizens to “let an impure blood water our furrows”. The use of the word “impure” has led to accusations of racism and the song has also been negatively linked to historic French imperialism.

In 2015, then justice minister Christiane Taubira - a prominent black politician who was born in French Guyana - caused a stir when she refused to sing the Marseillaise at a ceremony commemorating the abolition of slavery. The national anthem was also booed by many French fans of north African descent when Algeria played their first ever game against France in Paris in 2001.

Whatever you feel about the politics of the lyrics, there is no denying that it is a damn good song! “It is the great example of courage and solidarity when facing danger,” historian Simon Schama told the BBC. “That's why it's so invigorating. That's why it really is the greatest national anthem in the world... ever!” ■

Arise, children of the Fatherland The day of glory has arrived!

Against us stands tyranny, The bloody banner is raised.

Do you hear, in the countryside, The roar of those ferocious soldiers?

They're coming into our midsts To cut the throats of your sons, your women!

To arms, citizens!

Form your battalions, Let's march, let's march!

Let an impure blood Water our furrows.

Allons, enfants de la patrie, Le jour de gloire est arrivé.

Contre nous, de la tyrannie L’étendard sanglant est levé.

Entendez-vous, dans les campagnes, Mugir ces féroces soldats?

Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes.

Aux armes, citoyens!

Formez vos bataillons, Marchons, marchons!

Qu’un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons.

Many thanks to local French teacher, Sophie Arsac, for the translation of this month's bilingual article. Why not get in touch with Sophie to see how she can help improve your French! See her advert below.

P

eu de chants sont aussi exaltants ou immédiatement identifiables que la Marseillaise, l’hymne national français. Cet appel aux armes révolutionnaire est l’hymne du pays depuis 1879 mais de nos jours, ses paroles violentes rendent mal à l’aise de nombreuses personnes et certains vont même jusqu’à les qualifier de racistes.

A l’origine, la Marseillaise avait pour vocation d’être un chant guerrier. En 1792, les troupes autrichiennes et prussiennes envahirent la France pour tenter d’étouffer la Révolution française. En réaction, le maire de Strasbourg commanda un chant qui rallierait les troupes « afin de défendre leur patrie menacée ». Cette même nuit, Claude-Joseph Rouget de Lisle, un capitaine de l’armée française, composa le chant en quelques heures à peine et l’intitula « Chant de guerre pour l’Armée du Rhin ».

Les troupes adoptèrent rapidement ce chant, et il devint particulièrement populaire chez les volontaires de la ville méridionale de Marseille, d’où son surnom « la Marseillaise », qui l’entonnèrent alors qu’ils marchaient vers le nord pour prendre Paris d’assaut. Le chant guerrier était devenu un chant révolutionnaire. Il fut décrété hymne national en 1795 mais perdit son statut quelques années plus tard sous le règne de Napoléon Bonaparte. Il retrouva son statut d’hymne national en 1879 pour le conserver jusqu’à nos jours.

Malheureusement les années qui suivirent la Révolution ne furent pas tendres pour les pères de la Marseillaise. Rouget, le compositeur du chant, était royaliste et fut emprisonné tandis que Dietrich, qui fut à l’origine de sa commande, fut envoyé à la guillotine durant le règne de la Terreur qui suivit.

La Marseillaise fut toujours appréciée, mais elle connut un surcroît de popularité durant la Première Guerre mondiale quand une fois encore, les paroles devinrent un cri de ralliement pour le peuple. Lors de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale, le gouvernement de Vichy bannit le chant qui fut alors chanté fièrement par la Résistance.

Le chant, ou plutôt ses paroles effrayantes, est l’objet de controverses.

Depuis l’année dernière, l’apprentissage de l’hymne fait partie du programme scolaire et les enfants de l’école primaire doivent l’apprendre par cœur. Cependant beaucoup de gens sont inquiets. Selon eux, l’image de « ces féroces soldats » qui viennent « couper la gorge de vos fils » n’est pas appropriée à de jeunes esprits. La dernière phrase du refrain suscite encore plus la polémique car elle exhorte les citoyens à « abreuver les sillons d’un sang impur ».

Le mot « impur » est accusé d’avoir une connotation raciste et le chant dans son ensemble est assimilé de manière négative au passé impérialiste de la France.

En 2015, la ministre de la Justice d’alors, Christine Taubira, une célèbre politicienne de couleur née en Guyane française, fit sensation lorsqu’elle refusa de chanter la Marseillaise lors d’une cérémonie commémorative sur l’abolition de l’esclavage. L’hymne national fut également hué par de nombreux supporters d’origine nord-africaine lorsque l’Algérie joua pour la première fois de son histoire contre la France à Paris en 2001.

Quoi que l’on puisse penser de la portée politique des paroles, on ne peut pas nier que c’est un sacré bon chant ! « C’est un bel exemple de courage et de solidarité lorsqu’on doit faire face au danger », a dit l’historien Simon Schama sur la BBC. « C’est pourquoi il est si vivifiant. C’est pourquoi c’est indubitablement le meilleur hymne national au monde…. Et pour longtemps ! ». ■

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

Business Directory

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New build?

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05 lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.com

05 53 58 55 38 Siret: 499 234 615 00015

SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

Ironwood Motif

Your advert here

Artist Blacksmith Ferronnerie d’Art

www.ironwoodmotif.com

06 04 17 80 93

Pergolas, staircases, railings, handrails, balustrades, balconies, gates, sculptures, outdoor structures & more.

Simple or elaborate, intricate or uncomplicated, small or large, we can fabricate, forge and hand make ironwork customised to your needs.

Tel: 05 65 30 53 99

Facebook & Instagram: Ironwood Motif SIRET: 481 198 638 00019

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

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

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

At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France.

From initial feasibility to completed dossiers.

We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure your application proceeds smoothly.

We are equally at home working with clients here in France or those living abroad.

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu Siret: 790 016 984 00011

NEU DplG ARCHITECTURE Member

of

Chamber

of

Architects

P r o v i d i n g A L L architectural services V ery s m a l l t o ve ry big projects welcome P r e-p u rcha se a ssist a nce Feel welcome to ask for a non-binding meeting 05 53 56 52 27 a@mon.archi 06 42 86 59 12 (www)mon.archi Based in Périgord vert 24340 A l l o f F ra nce cove r e d

Architecte d’intérieur bilingual Interior design: new and renovation projects (residential and commercial space) • Plans, budgeting, work follow-up • 3D visualisation • Consulting before buying/selling a property

Tel: 06 27 36 48 23

Email: dar_tacheva@yahoo.com https://designbar2.wixsite.com/designbar

Building Services Electricians GMS Electrical 40 years’ experience

French registered - French insured French consuel certificates obtained Any job, small or large Full re-wires, extra sockets, industrial/commericial installations...

Pool heat pumps, external lighting, emergency lighting, electric gates...

Contact Gary Sear:

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 53 08 94 90 06 84 27 79 67

06 04 17 80 93

Based near Les Eyzies de Tayac (24620)

garysear5@hotmail.com

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

A

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

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

together.

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

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

The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season. Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th generation Solarventi have 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 €490 TTC.

SOLARVENTI - Available in the Dordogne From Harlequin Developments Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

2019 Brings Challenges, but also Opportunities Rosemary Sheppard, International Financial Adviser

R

enewed turbulence in financial markets means that the proportion of funds generating positive returns has fallen to their lowest level since the global financial crisis in 2008, research by FE Trustnet shows.

Only 20.5 per cent of the 3,779 funds have made a positive return this year. This is in stark contrast to recent years: in 2017, 95.3 per cent of the Investment Association was in the black while in 2016 some 96.7 per cent made money.

So, as we approach 2019 it

looks like it will be a testing time for investors, from trade wars to political uncertainty.

The European Union (EU) faces a number of challenges in 2019, including the ongoing Brexit saga, further tensions with the Italian government, mass social unrest in France (with the potential for contagion), the continued rise of populism, anti-immigration, anti-establishment and separatism movements. A weakening European economy (real GDP decelerated in 2018) could exacerbate the issue, as seen in France over the last few weeks.

In the US, President Trump will do everything he can to keep the US economy strong because the success of his presidency relies on it, although his hands might be somewhat tied following the US midterm

elections. While the current economic cycle has become one of the longest in history, we see no immediate warning signs that it is likely to end soon.

As such, unless unforeseen significant risks materialise to derail the US economy, we may have another strong year for equity markets despite concerns over valuations.

The policy of ‘America first’ with respect to trade negotiations may help push the value of American assets higher, but there is a risk here - America still relies on the rest of the world as much as the rest of the world relies on America – attempting to reset the terms of global trade too hard in America’s favour might derail the economies of other countries.

So next year is set to be one of challenges, but also one of opportunity, as the UK

KP BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ RENOVATIONS SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

Tiling, plumbing, decorating, flooring and plasterboarding.

Simon Carter

Sand and Blast

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

service for wood, stone and metal.

Perfect for stripping away years of grime or paint.

Contact us for a free quote, or see our website:

Specialising in kitchens and bathrooms.

Based in the Sarlat/Belvès areas and covering the Southern Dordogne.

siret: 794 282 368 00016

Fully Registered SIRET: 522 951 318 00024 / 512 253 931 00012

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93 Building Services General

Harlequin Developments est. 2007

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

Kitchens fitted and tiled Replacement doors and windows Parquet flooring Oak framed porches Plasterboard and Insulation

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

DORDOGNE

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

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

Management has been established for over 32 years and has worked with its clients through the good and the bad times, offering sound financial advice.

Blacktower will be by your side both now and in the future.

The Blacktower team are here to help you weather the potential storms ahead. To arrange a professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email Rosemary.sheppard@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. Website: www. blacktowerfm.com

Building Services Painters/Decorators

Tel: 05 53 30 28 84 or 06 37 32 19 94

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com

theoretically plots an uncharted journey outside the economic boundaries of the EU. Investors should continue to adhere to time-tested investment principles, such as maintaining long-term focus and employing a disciplined diversified asset allocation.

For investors looking to enter the market, the drop in the markets offers an excellent buying opportunity and realistically the only option to achieve growth greater than inflation, as interest rates across the EU and the UK look to remain well below inflation for the foreseeable future.

In these testing times getting advice from a financial advice company that has weathered more than one or two financial downturns is essential for your financial wellbeing and peace of mind. Blacktower Financial

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

06 34 24 64 11 or see

www.lakesidebandb.net

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

CHARKER DAVID

Specialist in the renovation and restoration of period and contemporary buildings All small works undertaken

Stonework, Traditional renderings in Lime, Doors and Windows, Dry line walls, Zinc work, Electrical wiring and interior finishes Based near Brantôme

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

Tel: 05 53 09 42 18 No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

Chantilly Properties

Property maintenance General repairs Kitchen Fitting Service Bathroom Fitting Dry lining/ Plasterboarding specialist

Tel: 05 53 58 07 99 Email: neilallcorn@orange.fr Siret: 792 389 561 00012

Painter & Decorator Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting & decorating, wallpapering, plastering.

FREE QUOTES

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

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 Building Services Plumbing & Heating

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER - Installation, from kitchen taps to full central heating systems - Breakdown / Replacement boilers - Emergency plumbing repairs - Full analysed testing

M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02 E : wellers@orange.fr Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

Building Services Sandblasting We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

www.sandandblast.com

05 55 76 31 59 / 06 77 40 95 92 bobby@sandandblast.com steve@sandandblast.com SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

Computers, Satellites & Web Design

Satellite TV Solutions Sky / Freesat / French TV Installation and Re-alignment Internet Installation & Repairs inc. Satellite Broadband Fast, Friendly Service 60km radius of Ribérac Call Dave on:

06 04 17 72 05

dave@satellitetv.solutions www.satellitetv.solutions siret: 794 461 293 00019

Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) through whom we have a registered branch and passport for financial services in France.

License number 00805B.

WEBSITE No6 DESIGN before

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

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

- Update your own site if you like!

- Enjoy a fully maintained site - Enjoy full website support contact@no6.co

06 38 75 32 97

www.no6.co Siret: 80493524500014

Food & Drink The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Wednesday: Mauzac, Le Barrage Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Campagnac-lès-Quercy 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

FOR SALE:

Established catering business

Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses.

VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

Specialising in Indian and English food, serving Depts 24,16,46 and surrounding.

Easily managed from your home.

Sale due to retirement. €25k neg as going concern including commercial equipment, training, etc.

Huge Potential. Email for details. rhome2012@hotmail.co.uk

www.wifianglais.com Email: hello@wifianglais.com Tel: 05 53 30 23 96 Mob: 07 78 52 20 46

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

Solve your Internet, wireless and computer problems

Siret: 800 525 040 00013

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €12.50/month.

Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT).

Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 30,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 06 04 17 80 93 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad

€100

€150

Large b&w Directory Ad

€130

€195

Small Colour Directory Ad

€140

€210

Large Colour Directory Ad

€180

€270

All prices exclude TVA (20%)

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

30 words max

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

Directory adverts may only contain text (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months.

Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

Gifts & Crafts Ivan Petley

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

Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas.

Customisation and personalisation possible.

Postal delivery options across France.

Tel: 05.55.80.29.98 Les Bregères, 23150 St-Martial-le-Mont alison.petley@wanadoo.fr

Handholding Services HELP IS HERE!!

Struggling with the Complex French Administration?!

We are here to help!

Call us or email us We will help you find a solution

06.70.23.53.33

helpishere24@yahoo.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

FRENCH LESSONS Via Skype

with a native French speaker Why commute? Long distance learning is the answer!

C’est simple, call Sophie...

05 55 89 15 74 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Pest Control

Central France Pest Control Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

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

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

Property Maintenance

Retail & Commerce USED KITCHENS FRANCE Looking for a designer kitchen with granite worktops and premium appliances at a fraction of RRP? Pre-loved kitchens from brands like Poggenpohl and Bulthaup at usedkitchensfrance.fr 09 53 50 86 49

R.S.M.DISTRIBUTION www.fudgejj.com

Now delivering Mattresses Every 1st / 2nd Mon & Tue of each month From Angoulême to Ribérac area and Limoges to Sarlande area Go to our website for more information

email: ray.mole@wanadoo.fr

Tel: 05 49 87 67 34 Siret 531 167 443 00013

bookstop

Quality second-hand books in English & French

Support

For a fully insured, careful service

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

Learn French in France Complete immersion in a local family with lessons, conversation workshops, visits and local activities in Périgord, all at your own pace. (total independence possible)

www.auclairduperigord.com +33 (0)6 41 37 02 50 d.nina@live.co.uk

La Conciergerie Taking care of your home all year round providing you with a wintering service, managing your summer rentals or organising a happy holiday for you.

24600 Villetoureix laconciergerie24@orange.fr Tel: 06 42 67 94 50 siret: 840 556 228 00010

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

09 51 45 57 49

Enjoy a relaxing read in the tea room or riverside garden bookstop24@gmail.com facebook.com/bookstop24

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

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

smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk

+44 (0)1253 725 414

www.soshelpline.org

www.smartmovesremovals.co.uk

Your advert here

Local and European Removals

06 04 17 80 93 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Transport, Removals & Storage

19 r Victor Hugo, 24310 Brantôme

Language Services

Smart Moves

Man & Van Transport

Genuine/Reliable/Honest Local + Europe + UK runs Now also available for House/Barn clearances!

14m3 capacity 4.2m load length

France to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy etc We Offer: Removals, Storage, House Clearance, also Car, Caravan, Plant Transport.

French Registered Business.

Local Friendly Service.

+33 (0)6 73 96 38 39

www.dordognestoragesolutions.com

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

06 04 17 80 93

English & French Spoken

09 82 12 69 73

sales24@thebugle.eu

www.frenchvanman.eu

06 04 17 80 93

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres Siret 530 213 644 00012

COMMUNITY ♦ 19

FEBRUARY 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

SUDOKU - EASY

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

SUDOKU - HARD

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 6

Got a notice for The Bugle?

Email: notices@thebugle.eu NEDWA North Eastern Dordogne Women’s Association Come along and meet us on Tuesday 19th February from 10:30 am to 12 noon at our next Coffee Morning at Auberge du Pont, route de Lanouaille, 24390 Cherveix-Cubas.

Always be sure of a warm welcome, good company and genuine friendship. www.nedwa.com NEDWA is a dynamic, multi-national group of around 100 women of all ages...

Whether you are retired and feel like meeting some friendly faces, work from home and want to network, or just need to get out and attend some good monthly events, NEDWA fills the gap. Activities include a book club, sewing circle, coffee mornings, walks, lunches, speakers on topics which relate to you and much more.

On 2nd and 3rd March, Sarlat once again celebrates its favourite animal.

With its noisy flocks of geese honking their way through the medieval town, countless stands offering regional produce, carcass soup (a local tradition) to warm visitors up, music from the bandas, workshops and demonstrations by farmers and artisans, and free entertainment for the children, there is something for everyone! Not to mention the great banquet.

Not to be missed, this gastronomic feast offers foie gras in abundance, prepared by the best sarladais chefs.

To reserve contact the Sarlat tourist office tel 05 53 31 45 45.

For more information about the festival visit www.sarlat-tourisme.com/festoie

Handsome Muschu and his beautiful friends are all waiting for homes at Acorn Cat Rescue, Dordogne.

All Acorn cats and kittens are microchipped, vaccinated and sterilised where age appropriate.

www.associationacorn.com Facebook: Acorn Cat Rescue

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

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

16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Monthly circulation: 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. Dépôt légal à parution.

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

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

16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Tirage mensuel: 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.

Worship services in English held throughout the Dordogne: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Eymet Temple, Limeuil, Négrondes, Sainte Nathalène (near Sarlat).

All are welcome!!

Please visit our website for more information: www.churchinaquitaine.org Find us on Facebook: English Church Aquitaine

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

Exhibition: pablO 9th January to 11th March - Musée d’art et d’archéologie, Périgueux Exhibition of the work of Pablo Correa, a local painter and illustrator born in 1979 in Bergerac.

To view some of his work visit www.facebook.com/PabloFrenchPainter and www.atelierdepablo.com

Exhibition – Franck Thinot Trained at the École Boulle (college of fine arts and crafts and applied arts in Paris), Franck Thinot has a passion for murals and works which are out of the ordinary.

From drawing to street art, from caricature to manga, he uses many modes of expression which focus on the use of spray paint.

Hall de la mairie de Trélissac. Free entry. Contact: tel 05 53 08 99 55.

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 2019

“Tableaux pour une légende” at Bookstop from 2nd to 28th February This exhibition will present acrylic paintings and technical drawings created by Barbara Galinat to illustrate the book La Légende de Trouzarrat, la verticale du vide, a satirical social fable written by Galiath Thanilag.

Bookstop is open every day in February except Sundays and Mondays. Tel: 09 51 45 57 49.

Salon du Bien-être et des Médecines douces Sat 9th & Sun 10th February 5th edition of this Well-being and Complementary Medicine Fair. 30 exhibitors will be present offering massages, Chinese medicine, Dien Chan, naturopathy, iridology, numerology, aromatherapy, feng shui, sophrology, hypnosis, magnetism, meditation, quantum therapy, geobiology, lithotherapy, Bach flower remedies, astrology, music therapy, yoga, Shutaido, art therapy...

14 conferences and workshops are planned for the two days (free and without reservation).

Organic food on site by Traiteuradom24.

Mairie de Thénon. 10h-19h. Free entry.