The Bugle Dordogne - Jan 2016 by The Bugle

The price of diesel falls below 1 euro As oil prices fall globally, a litre of diesel was widely available in December for less than €1 >> Page 6 its lowest price since 2009

Dordogne January 2016 - Issue #31

Bird flu sweeping across the Dordogne France is in the grip of its first outbreak of bird flu since 2007. The virus, which was first discovered on a farm in the north of the Dordogne, has now spread right across southwest France. Although there is currently no danger to humans, restrictions are in place.

h e n France’s f i r s t case of bird flu since 2007 was discovered at a Dordogne farm near Biras, the region’s poultry farmers were understandably worried. And with good cause. Since that first outbreak, dozens more have been confirmed across at least six departments, with the Dordogne being one of the worst affected areas. Just before Christmas, 53 outbreaks had been confirmed, 12 of which were in the Dordogne. Only the Landes, with 19 confirmed cases, was worse affected. In response to the growing crisis, the government created a “restriction zone” across eight departments of south-west France: all five of the departments

which make up the Aquitaine region, as well as the neighbouring departments of Haute-Vienne, Gers and Hautes-Pyrénées. Within the zone, the movement of poultry - the most common way for the virus to be spread - is restricted. Authorities are also implementing strict cleaning and disinfection programmes for the premises and equipment of all poultry farms and there are minimum delays between hatchings at breeding farms to halt the progress of the virus. Live animals and fertilised eggs can not be moved outside the restriction zone and the sale of non-plucked poultry is also not permitted outside the zone. Authorities have said that the main identified strain of

>> continued on page 5

INSIDE > > > NEWS - Famous French Madame dies

Madame Claude, infamous brothel keeper to the rich and famous, has died in Nice aged 92. Her client list was believed to have included JFK. >> Page 10

NEWS - New 20 euro notes enter circulation

The latest note in the new Europa Series has entered circulation. The new currency looks slightly different and has enhanced security features >> Page 10

FRENCH LIFE - The wines of Bergerac

Local author and wine expert, Martin Walker, introduces us to some of his favourite wines, all of which can be found on your doorstep >> Page 14

The Bugle Business Directory

The renowned Champagne producer Taittinger is to start making its bubbly >> Page 6 in the south of England

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

3 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 15-17

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

appy New Year to all our readers!! I trust you had a relaxing Christmas and that you managed to avoid an appearance on Santa's naughty list. Much of the world may be wallowing in a financial crisis, but business is booming at the North Pole if the environs of our Christmas tree were anything to go by. In what can only be a complete coincidence, my current account has taken one hell of a seasonal beating! At what point did it become “normal” for children to have literally dozens of presents? And we're not talking spinning tops and skipping ropes. Almost everything under

our tree could answer you back! A very scary thing happened to me during December. I was out shopping early one afternoon (ah, the joys of the self employed!) when I looked down at my oneyear-old son to notice he was really quite red. Further inspection revealed that he was also very swollen, and a hasty examination of his arms and legs showed that his whole body was covered in huge welts... he was having a massive reaction to something, fullon anaphylaxis! I say it was scary, but that doesn't do it justice. You can be scared of heights and spiders, but watching your child's body literally inflate in front of you needs a word of its

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own. Fortunately, I live in France and within 10 minutes my son was in paediatrics, had a line in his arm and was being given the drugs he needed (I can't praise the medical team enough). It subsequently transpires that he is allergic to bananas... who'd have thought it! I've never heard of that one, but apparently bananas, kiwis and strawberries are quite common allergies. Personally, bananas are one of my food phobias... I can't stand the things. So ridding the house of the evil fruit was one happy outcome of an otherwise traumatic experience. Which brings me to another traumatic experience... the annual visit by the in-laws! I say annual, but they must be on Mercury time as they seem to be here every few months. We had cunningly arranged that it wouldn't be possible to visit over Christmas, but not to be deterred, they just came at the start of the month and insisted that we do a dry-run; crackers,

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turkey, stuffing, Christmas pudding, the works. And just to be traditional, the odd family fall out! I did have to stifle a grin, however, when a small accident occurred. The family recently purchased an iPad mini for “Grandpa” as it allows him to video call the various grandchildren. But not only can he not work the thing, he also seems unable to operate its clock as apparently there is no unsuitable time to call... I know there's a time difference with the UK, but it's only 1 hour! (Un)Fortunately, he left it on a coffee table while he popped outside and my little boy just couldn't resist a quick play. The inevitable happened and my son had soon installed the screensaver that never disappears... you know the one, it has a kind of broken glass mosaic look! As fury got the better of my fatherin-law and he looked around for someone to blame, the angelic face of a boy who had only the week before turned 1 looked back, and even he had to admit that it

was probably his own fault for leaving it there. And for long-term readers of this newspaper, the cheese grater once again disappeared. No really. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and say that he was being ironic, but I'm not sure that was the case! Hang on, if all it took was a near-fatal allergy to rid my house of foul smelling bananas, is there a way I could make my son allergic to my father-inlaw... maybe I'll be buying him eau de banane for his next birthday! Only kidding John... Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

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INSIDE this edition 3-5 Local News 6-12 National News 13 Practical 14 French Life 15-17 Directory 18 What’s On 19 Community

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

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Solar park for Périgueux suburb Live long in

rance is investing heavily in renewable energies (see page 8), and the Dordogne’s green credentials are themselves getting a boost as Périgueux has put forward plans to build a solar farm on a former rubbish tip. The old décharge at La ChapelleGonaguet, near Marsac, has been identified by Périgueux council as the perfect location for a solar power station. The re-landscaped tip, just outside the city limits, is owned by Périgueux and was used as a land fill site for 25 years - it is currently considered a brownfield site. The plan calls for 70,000 solar panels on a 24-hectare site, an installation that would produce 17 MW of electricity - enough power for up to 7,000 homes. Bids have been studied by the municipal council of Périgueux who hope their recommendations will get the green light from the Energy Regulation Commission in June 2016. Work is expected to begin in 2017 and if it goes ahead this will be the Dordogne’s first indus-

the Dordogne

B trial-scale solar power plant. The project is likely to cost around €20 million, leased over 40 years and financed by site rentals and taxes. The winning contractors will be obliged to use French-made equipment, and spin-offs are expected for local firms as well as the

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creation of local jobs. In Paris in December the world achieved the COP21 agreements on climate change, and now the Dordogne will be able to play its part, with the big switch-on currently planned for 2018. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

ritish expats in the Dordogne often praise the clean air, pure water... and the long life expectancy. In Thiviers in December a happy event gave the proof at last that it must be true. In the build-up to Christmas, a retirement home in the north Dordogne town hosted a birthday party for four of its senior residents. The pompiers were probably standing by, however, considering that the total number of candles being lit was a staggering 408! The eldest of the birthday girls was Geneviève Chaminade, who was born before the First World War, on Boxing Day 1911! The four residents

were treated to a concert by students from the Maison familiale rurale. The youngsters, who are all studying to enter the caring professions, performed poems and songs and led a sing-song. Retirement home chief, Franck Lestrade, gave a speech, the four ladies received bouquets of flowers and the party continued with cake and treats. The Dordogne’s oldest citizen is 108 and a resident at the Ehpad (retirement home) in Saint-Astier, where she moved at the tender age of 102! Odette Gaucher has revealed her secret as “a sensible, healthy diet and a bit of what you fancy on your plate and in your glass”! ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

Site found for Bergerac water park The long planned, and much anticipated project to build a water park in Bergerac is finally under way. At a council meeting at the end of December, a site for the long-awaited facility was finally identified - an area of currently waste ground behind Decathlon. After tortuous deliberation and consideration of several sites inside and around the town, the spot finally chosen is in the aptly-named Sardines development zone. Daniel Garrigue, mayor of Bergerac, explained that several constraints had to be resolved, with finance obviously being a major consideration. Some sites were economically viable and geologically suitable but ruled out on environmental grounds. The new water attraction for the town is widely welcomed as a potential boost to tourism. The project currently has a €9 million budget, although no official announcement has been made on a potential start date. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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New bio shop for Brantôme

ne of the Dordogne’s most visited towns has finally got an organic grocery store. Brantôme, often referred to as the “Venice of the Dordogne”, hosts thousands of visitors all year round, drawn by its fine restaurants, markets, events and its superb medieval setting. However, residents and visitors demanding fine, organic foods to take home have often searched in vain. Until now. Wendy and Stéphane LagrangeBurwood have recently launched their speciality bio shop in Brantôme town centre. Wendy is British and was previously a company secretary in Fontainbleau, where Périgueux-born Stéphane was a master greenkeeper at a prestigious golf course.

Avid enthusiasts for the taste and health benefits of organic foods, this venture in the Dronne Valley town is Wendy and Stéphane’s dream come true. Wendy explained to The Bugle: “We wanted a change of lifestyle, we wanted to be organic and we had already fallen in love with Brantôme.” After years of planning and preparation their organic store is now open, supplying a wide range of organic food, drinks and cosmetics. Stéphane explained that a large proportion of their products are made in the Dordogne. “It’s a great region for organic products,” he added. “We have just about everything here, including local oils, fruit, vegetables, grains, soaps, nuts,

skin care products, vinegars, flour, mustard, Bergerac wines and even chocolate from Terrasson. And every item is guaranteed pure bio!” The new shop, Bio Joli, is on the rue Puyjoli, between the main street and the Abbé bridge. Speak to Wendy or Stéphane on 05 53 53 76 52 or find them on Facebook: BioJoli24. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Dordogne cities’ seasonal fun

uge crowds of fun seekers turned out from the start of December to enjoy city centre festivities across the Dordogne, with both Périgueux and Sarlat holding large seasonal markets and activities in the lead up to Christmas The Christmas markets in both cities got a flying start in chilly but glorious winter sunshine. Centred in the place Bugeaud down to the Square Daumesnil, the Périgueux market attracted visitors from across the department and even from outside the Dordogne.

Crowds of visitors and locals delighted in the local produce and were treated to international gastronomic flavours ranging from Alsace sausage, spice bread and mulled wine to Mediterranean churros, Italian delicacies, cheeses, crêpes, Champagne, foie gras, caviar and oysters, plus a vast range of seasonal treats and gift ideas in the traders’ chalet village of the market. A winter circus, children’s playground, fun fair, face painting, workshops, Santa Claus and night markets added a family feel to the month-long event, all held under spectacular illuminations.

Périgueux mayor Antoine Audi is said to be delighted by the number of Dordogne citizens taking advantage of the city’s new policy to enliven the centre and who are getting out to enjoy their city streets. In Sarlat, dog sled rides, live music from the local philharmonic band, street performers and ice skating were all enjoyed and the ice rink had a record 500 plus skaters on the first Saturday alone. The chalet village has recently been acclaimed as one of the top five Christmas markets in France. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

CSF Christmas Songs

Cancer Support France raised a castle roof in Varaignes, north Dordogne, in early December. In the superbly evocative surroundings of the Château de Varaignes, under a twinkling Christmas tree and cheered by a blazing log fire, the Ribérac branch of CSF held their 4th Song Night. This heart-warming evening was the final part of the CSF fund-raising campaign for 2015. This group, known as “The Kitchen Cabinet” concentrate on raising cash, not only for the support work of CSF, but also targeting practical issues in cancer treatment. In 2015 they were able to donate over €6,000 to the radiotherapy department of Girac’s cancer treatment centre. The event’s songs, mince pies, mulled wine and fun contributed a further €622 to this fund, with the support of CPIE for free use of the magnificent venue. CSF exists to support any English speaker in France affected by cancer. Contact local support on 06 43 67 86 11. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

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Bird flu sweeps across the department >> continued from pg 1 the virus in the current outbreak is not transmissible to humans and, for its part, the government has been at pains to remind the public that consumption of poultry and foie gras currently carries no health risk. Despite this, a number of countries around the world have already introduced embargoes on French poultry products. The poultry industry is important to the Dordogne, which is world renowned for its duck, goose and chicken products and the department’s farmers are already feeling the financial cost of having to cull entire flocks. As the crisis worsened, an emergency meeting was called between local officials and eight of the producers most directly affected by the outbreak. Attended by representatives of the Conseil départemental, the government and the Mutualité sociale agricole (MSA), the meeting was held behind closed doors, with security guards preventing access to lo-

cal journalists. It is believed that the farmers will have been offered financial help in the form of relief from social charges but no official statement was made. “For the majority of producers, the trauma comes in many forms. It is our job to support them in these difficult times,” said François Saint-Christophe, deputy director of the MSA Dordogne ahead of the meeting. “We have spoken. The MSA came to offer its support as would be the case with any of our members,” announced MSA president Claudine Faure from her car window as she drove away from the meeting. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious virus affecting birds that is highly contagious. It can be introduced into a farm through vehicles, equipment, people, manure, livestock and waste, or via wild or domestic birds. The term bird flu covers a number of variants of the virus and they are not necessarily dangerous to people, although some strains such as H5N1 can be transmitted to humans.

According to the health and food safety agency (ANSES), the strain currently present in the Dordogne does not have the combination of genes to be transmissible to humans. The Ministry of Agriculture has

repeatedly stressed in its press releases that “avian influenza is not transmissible to humans through the consumption of meat, eggs, foie gras and more generally any food product”. Although there may be no

danger to the population, with the highly contagious virus still present across much of south-west France, there is a lot of work - and much financial hardship - in store for many. ■

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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t has long been acknowledged that the UK produces some of the finest sparkling wines, but now British fizz will also have a premium name on the label - Taittinger. The Champagne giant, founded in 1734, has teamed up with British wine agent Hatch Mansfield and private investors to buy Stone Stile Farm near Chilham, Kent. The farm has 69 hectares of farmland at a height of 80 metres above sea level and is said to be ideal for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines. “We have dreamt for a number of years of working with our dear friends in the UK to create a special Franco/British project,” said Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, president of Champagne Taittinger. “We believe we can produce a high quality English sparkling wine drawing on our years of winemaking expertise. Our aim is to make something of real excellence in the UK's increasingly temperate climate, and not to compare it with Champagne or any other sparkling wine.”

The UK is Taittinger’s biggest export market, accounting for a quarter of its sales outside France and Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger said the company wanted to “create something special to show our appreciation of the UK support for Champagne”. Taittinger’s investment comes amid a boom in English sparkling wine production and there is already a high demand for brands such as Nyetimber, Chapel Down, Camel Valley and Ridgeview. The amount of land devoted to vineyards in the south of England has doubled in the past seven years, with a 43% rise in wine production in 2014 alone. Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, which represents the UK industry, said: “You cannot get a much better seal of approval than a Champagne house as renowned as Taittinger recognising the quality of the sparkling wine we can produce on UK soil.” The sparkling wine will be named Domaine Evremond, after Charles de Saint-Evremond, a bon viveur, soldier and

French to make British bubbly

essayist who is buried at Westminster Abbey and is credited with fuelling the popularity of Champagne in the court of Charles II. Fans of British bubbly will have to wait before they can taste the wine, however, with planting due to begin once the viticultural team has found

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the right rootstocks and settled on the best areas for each vine. Ultimately, Domaine Evremond is expected to produce around 300,000 bottles of English sparkling wine a year and the hope is that the first grapes will be harvested in 2020 and the first wine released in 2021.

The British like a glass of fizz and the UK is second only to France in consumption of Champagne, with retailers shipping 32.7 million bottles in 2014. The relatively cheap price of alternatives, however, saw those north of the Channel spend more on Prosecco than on Cham-

pagne for the first time in 2014. Despite the link with Taittinger, the sparkling wine produced in Kent cannot be called Champagne because the name is protected under EU law exclusively for wines harvested and produced in the Champagne region of France. ■

Diesel falls below €1

For the first time since 2009, a litre of diesel was widely available across the country for less than 1 euro in December. The good news will not last long, however, as a new tax on the most polluting fuels comes into effect from the New Year. Fuel tax is rising 3.5 centimes on diesel and 2 centimes on unleaded SP95 petrol from January 1. There is no tax rise on SP95-E10, which contains bio ethanol and is seen as less polluting, which means that one in three motorists will avoid the tax rise. Fuel prices have been tumbling over recent months as the price of oil has fallen 60% since a peak in June 2014. A barrel of oil is currently around $35 per barrel and experts believe that this could could

fall below $30 as demand from China continues to slow and oil-producing countries battle cheap shale gas reserves from the US. To track the cost of diesel and petrol in your area, all the latest prices are available on the government’s official price alert site: www.prix-carburants.gouv.fr ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

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Europe's largest solar farm comes online

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urope's largest solar power farm has been officially unveiled near Cestas in the Gironde. The 260-hectare site is larger than the principality of Monaco and will produce enough electricity to power a city the size of Bordeaux. The 300 MW plant has been successfully connected to the national grid and is already producing electricity at a cheaper rate than the latest generation of nuclear power plants. The facility is more than double the size of France’s next largest solar farm, the 115 MW Toul-Rosières solar park and its output is roughly the equivalent of a coal-fired generator and one-third of a medium-sized nuclear reactor. Developed by independent renewable electricity producer Neoen for a cost of €360 million, Cestas will produce solar energy for a price of €105/MWh for 20 years, which is on a par with wind power and cheaper than the cost of new nuclear energy, confirmed Neoen chief executive, Xavier Barbaro. EPR nuclear reactors produce energy at €114/MWh. Wind farms can produce power for as little as €80/MWh, although the environmental and aesthetic impact of solar is far lower. Not only is the electricity cheaper, but the Cestas project has come in on time and within budget; Europe's largest solar power farm was completed and brought online in little over a year! Stark contrast to the EPR nuclear reactor currently under construction in Flamanville, whose budget has risen from €3.3 billion to €10.5 billion and is currently not due to start production until 2018 - six years late! A subsidiary of French construction giant Eiffage performed the installation, although the solar panels themselves were brought in from China, a fact that Neoen were quick to defend. “To those who would criticise us for not using a French producer, I would say that none was able to provide the number of panels we required,” said Mr Barbaro. The giant facility will play its part in pushing France towards its stated aim of 1 GW of new solar PV installations in 2015, with the country on course to match that figure in 2016 and 2017, according to projections from Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF). ■

The cheese with a powerful punch

rance is investing heavily in both nuclear and renewable energies as it looks to service the country's thirst for electricity, but could the answer to its energy needs lie in a less likely source... cheese?! It may sound like a bad joke aimed at the French and their fondness for fromage, but a power plant in the French Alps is indeed feeding the national grid with electricity produced from cheese. At the plant in Albertville in the Savoie department, a by-product of Beaufort cheese - skimmed whey - is being used as a biofuel. By adding bacteria to the whey, it is converted into biogas - a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide. The gas is then used to generate electricity which is sold on to EDF. “Whey is our fuel,” said François Decker of Valbio, the company that designed and built the power station, which opened in late 2015. “It’s quite simply the same as the ingredient in natural yoghurt.” Beaufort is apparently the cheese that keeps on giving. When the popular cheese is made from full-fat milk, whey and cream are created as by-products. For many the exist-

ence of Beaufort is good enough, but the cream is taken to make ricotta cheese, butter and protein powder, the latter being commonly used as a food supplement. The residual skimmed whey is then placed in a tank with bacteria, where natural fermentation produces methane in a process similar to the one that occurs in a cow's stomach. The gas is subsequently fed through an engine that heats water to 90 degrees and generates electricity. The plant at Albertville is not the first in the world to convert cheese waste into electricity, but it is certainly one of the largest: it will produce about 2.8 million kilowatthours (kWh) per year, enough electricity to supply a town of 1,500 people according to François Decker. In the UK, a similar example of efficiently recycling “waste” can be found at the family-owned cheese maker, Wyke Farms, in Somerset, albeit on a smaller scale. The company, which has made significant inroads into the French market, generate their own electricity from cheese waste, cow manure and leftover crops, all of which are poured into biodigester vessels that generate enough electricity to make the cheese producer self-sufficient. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

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Food waste laws passed by parliament

rench MPs have voted unanimously to pass a bill banning supermarkets from deliberately spoiling edible food that has passed its sell-by date. It is not the first time that the law has been passed: a previous measure in May 2015 was subsequently rejected by the national constitutional court due to procedural errors. The new law will come into effect at the end of January and will affect supermarkets with a surface area of more than 400 square metres and require them to donate unsold food to charities or make it available for use as animal feed. Those businesses that do not comply will face a €75,000 fine and up to 2 years in prison for those in charge. “Throwing out a baguette is like throwing out a bathtub full of water,” said the Republican MP Jean-Pierre Decool. “Throwing out a kilogram of beef is equivalent to wasting 15,000 litres of water.” Campaigners have long highlighted the amount of perfectly edible food being thrown out by supermarkets, and “dumpster diving” has become increasingly popular. In 2014, campaigner Baptiste Dubanchet cycled 3,000 kilometres across Europe eating only discarded food he found in supermarket bins. In response, supermarkets now routinely dispose of food

in locked warehouses or even pour bleach onto the otherwise edible food to discourage people from going through the bins. “It’s scandalous to see bleach being poured into supermarket dustbins along with edible foods,” said the Socialist deputy Guillaume Garot, a former food minister who proposed the bill. “There’s an absolute urgency - charities are desperate for food,” said another MP, Yves Jégo. “The most moving part of this law is that it opens us up to others who are suffering.” Under current rules, food producers are legally obliged to destroy entire batches of products that carried a supermarket brand name. “Today, when a supermarket like Carrefour finds even a tiny fault with a crate of its branded yogurts, it sends the whole batch back to the dairy producer, which is legally obliged to destroy the lot even if it is all of excellent quality,” explained Guillaume Garot. “This is a very regular occurrence and we are talking about huge volumes - several million yogurts binned per year. Today, the law makes it possible for manufacturers to give these yogurts to charities without even asking permission from supermarkets.” It is not only the supermarkets that are to blame for food wastage. According to official estimates, the average French

person throws away 20kg30kg of food a year, around a third of which has never even been opened. The value of this wasted food is estimated to be as much as €20 billion. Of the 7.1m tonnes of food thrown away in France each year, 67% is binned by consumers, 15% by restaurants and only 11% by shops. The Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution, which represents big supermarkets, has criticised the changes. “The law is wrong in both target and intent, given the big stores represent only 5% of food waste but have these new obligations,” said Jacques Creyssel, head of the organisation. “They are already the preeminent food donors, with more than 4,500 stores having signed agreements with aid groups.” When the new laws were first announced, food charities were cautiously optimistic. “Donations already work very well in France thanks to tax break incentives, but this text is a good thing as it will enable us to gather even more unsold produce,” said Gaëtan Lassale, head of the French federation of food banks. He did, however, raise the question of who would pay for the increased infrastructure required. Speaking to Le Journal du Dimanche, he said that the proposed law could put charities under financial strain as they would be forced to in-

vest in “cold storage, refrigerated lorries or hangars” to store the food. The EU is already looking into changes to “best before” and “use by” dates on certain

products in a bid to cut down on food wastage. Many foods, such as dried pasta for example, carry best before dates but are perfectly safe to eat long after this date has expired. ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JANUARY 2016

Infamous French brothel keeper dies

rance's most notorious brothel keeper, who was believed to have supplied women to some of the world's most powerful men, has died aged 92. Madame Claude's clients allegedly included the likes of former American President John F Kennedy, deposed Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi and Oscar winning actor Marlon Brando. “She will take many state secrets with her,” Claude Cances, a former Paris police chief, told AFP news agency. “She was a legend.” Madame Claude, whose real name was Fernande Grudet, made a fortune during her lengthy career, but lived out her final years in a small apartment in the Riviera

city of Nice. She was at the height of her power in the swinging sixties and despite a few brushes with the law, managed to evade prosecution for the majority of her career by helpfully sharing with police confidential information gathered by herself and her “swans” - the name she coined for the call girls that worked for her. “There are two things that people will always pay for, food and sex,” she is once reported to have said. “I wasn't any good at cooking.” Fernande Grudet claimed that she was raised in a convent, worked for the French Resistance and spent time in a Nazi concentration camp, although some of these claims were later disputed in a 2010 docu-

mentary. What is known for sure is that after the war, she set up her high class brothel at 32 rue de Boulainvilliers in the chic 16th arrondissement of Paris and before long her client list included prominent politicians, police chiefs and gangsters. In 2014, respected celebrity biographer William Stadiem, who spent much time interviewing Madame Claude in the 80s, revealed some of her top secrets including the names of several of her most illustrious or notorious clients. He alleged that JFK was a regular and once asked for a prostitute who looked like his wife Jackie... “but hot”. Stadiem also claimed that the CIA hired Claude’s “swans” to keep up morale dur-

ing the Paris peace accords of 1973, which brought to an end US military involvement in Vietnam. As the tax authorities began to close the net on her operation in the late 70s, she fled to the US. Believing that the case had been dropped, she returned to France in the 80s, only be sentenced to 4 months in prison for tax evasion. On her release, she returned to her former profession, but was eventually found guilty of procuring in 1992. Her story inspired many writers and has been featured on the big screen, most notably in the 1977 film “Madame Claude”, directed by Just Jaeckin, and starring Françoise Fabian. ■

Upgraded 20 euro note enters circulation

service in 2013, three quarters were either €20 or €50 denominations. ECB president Mario Draghi said the Europa series of notes would be “more intelligent and more

secure than the first series”. Mr Draghi also said that the euro “has over the years become the most visible symbol of European integration”, adding that the new notes “continue to re-

flect the unity and diversity of our continent”. The notes include some text in Cyrillic, following the arrival of Bulgaria in the European and Monetary Union in 2007.

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mark. The Europa series of banknotes includes new and enhanced security features which the European Central Bank hopes will offer better protection against counterfeiting. Their durability has also been improved by virtue of a new coating which has been applied. Although the notes are more secure, counterfeiting has not proved to be a huge problem for the Eurozone. Hundreds of thousands of counterfeit banknotes are withdrawn from circulation each year, but fake notes are incredibly rare: a recent statistic showed that just 0.0017% of the 14.6 billion genuine banknotes in circulation were fakes. The ECB has been keen, however, to introduce the newer, more secure €20, as of the 353,000 counterfeit banknotes withdrawn from

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o not be alarmed if you find an unfamiliar €20 banknote in your wallet over the coming weeks and months, it is perfectly legal tender! After the updated €5 note was unveiled in 2013, followed by the €10 note in 2014, last month saw the introduction of the new and improved “Europa series” €20 note across the Eurozone. The new notes are the same size and very similar in appearance to the existing ones, which will remain legal tender. The new Europa series notes, which are being introduced in ascending order of denomination, are so-called as they feature an image of Europa - a figure from Greek mythology and the origin of the name of the continent - which appears in the hologram and the water-

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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rench MPs have passed a law that will require ultra thin models to provide a doctor's certificate confirming that they are in good health. As part of the same changes, magazines which Photoshop images of models to alter their silhouette must be label them “touched up”. A previous version of the bill had suggested the introduction of a minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) for models, a move which prompted fierce protests from modelling agencies across the country. The final draft included a concession which allows doctors to decide whether a model is too thin by taking into account their weight, age and body shape. The approved version of the bill stipulates that models must obtain a medical certificate stating that their health, “assessed in particular in terms of body mass index, is compatible with the practice of the [modelling] profession”. Employers found in breach of the law will face a fine of up to €75,000 or a six-month prison sentence. An earlier version of the bill also made encouraging excessive thinness an offence punishable by up to a year in jail, a measure aimed at “pro-ana” websites that are seen to promote anorexia or bulimia. This amendment was also dropped from the text finally adopted the National Assembly, France's equivalent of the House of Commons. Anorexia affects between 30,000 to 40,000 people in France, almost all of whom are adolescents. It is believed that 90% of anorexia sufferers are women. ■

Ryanair U-turn on Paris CDG airport

change in strategy at low-cost airline Ryanair has produced a 66% leap in profits and the airline has confirmed it is now in talks with one of the airports it insisted it would never use - Charles de Gaulle in Paris. The low-cost giant had previously said there are three airports in Europe that they wouldn't use because costs are too high and congestion makes it too difficult to achieve its set-in-stone 25-minute aircraft turnaround: Heathrow, Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt. In an apparent change of heart, however, Ryanair has said it may now reconsider. “We have been talking to Charles de Gaulle,” confirmed Ryanair's chief commercial officer, David O'Brien. “There is no Uturn that we won't execute. It's an expensive place, it's a complicated place. We talk to all airports.” It is not yet known which destinations, if any, Ryanair will service from

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Paris Charles de Gaulle. Over the last year or so, chief executive Michael O'Leary has been busy overhauling Ryanair's service to customers, introducing a range of passenger-friendly initiatives with a view to attracting more families and business travellers. Central to this strategy has been targeting growth at primary airports in Europe, a move which has put Ryanair in more direct competition with airlines such as EasyJet, Aer Lingus and Lufthansa. O'Leary recently indicated that the airline is also looking at projects at other large French airports such as Lyon, Toulouse and Bordeaux. Ryanair is rolling out

a range of additional revamps in the coming year, including new cabin crew uniforms, new aircraft interiors, a new onboard menu and a new website. It's also trialling initiatives such as Wi-fi and in-flight entertainment services. So will those of us travelling to the UK soon be able to fly into an airport closer to the capital than “London” Stansted? It seems not: “Heathrow is a very expensive, complicated airport with limited slots,” said Mr O'Brien. “We have a tremendous airport in Stansted which has more than enough capacity for the moment. Heathrow, quite frankly, is fantastically overrated.” ■

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Toll charges to rise Prices across the country's péage network are set to rise from January following the announcement of increases of between 0.8% and 1.6%. With inflation effectively at zero and with toll price rises fixed at 70% of inflation, 2016 should have seen no rise in the cost of using France's extensive network of private toll roads. However, with taxes on the toll operators due to rise by 50% this year, an apparent agreement has been reached to allow price increases, a move that came of something of a surprise to Ecology Minister Ségolène Royal: “I am not aware of this and I will immediately be looking into the matter. The commitment that had been made was to not outpace inflation, given the bonanza that has been amassed by these companies in recent years.” ■

Record cocaine bust French customs officials have intercepted a ship in the Channel carrying 2.4 tonnes of cocaine, making it the largest ever haul in the country. The 75-metre-long boat was travelling from Colombia and apparently destined for Gdansk in Poland. “The ship was intercepted in the open sea and was brought to the docks in Boulogne-sur-Mer where the search operation began,” said Finance Minister Michel Sapin. “The drugs were hidden behind a metal partition.” Sapin quoted the coastguard of the French customs office as saying the haul was “the most important ever carried out in metropolitan France to date”. The 12 members of the crew, who are reported to be Turkish and Ukrainian nationals, have all been detained. The drugs are estimated to have a street value of as much as €50 million. ■

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PRACTICAL ♦ 13

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Can I use my British birth certificate in France? Prune CALONNE gives practical tips on this essential document that you will systematically be asked to produce by French administrative bodies when moving to or living in France. What is a birth certificate? An “acte d’état civil” in French is a person’s certificate of birth, marriage or death. For many things that need to be done when you relocate to France, you will be asked for a “copie intégrale de l’acte de naissance” which is a full complete copy of your birth certificate. Does this birth certificate have to be recent – can I use my original? In short, no. In France, you will in general

be asked by the French administration to provide a full extract of your birth certificate that is less than 3 months old. Some French courts, such as Toulouse, have their own in-house memo where birth certificates from foreigners can be less than a year old (in case you are involved in a lawsuit). Please note that even though in Great Britain you get issued one at birth that does not change, it works differently in France. My birth certificate is in a foreign language, do I need

to translate it?

The honest answer is that depends on the administration or the administrative body that needs it. Ask before you have a sworn translation done as it costs around €45! When you have to go through the prefecture, it really does differ from one prefecture to another. In general, the bigger the prefecture, the tougher the rules. For instance, the prefecture in the Haute Garonne demands a translation from a sworn translator enrolled before the Toulouse Court of Appeal. You can find a list online of sworn translators if you do an internet search for “liste des experts assermentés auprès de la cour d’appel de [your nearest court]”. As a general rule, it is always best to look at each prefecture’s website to check what is

requested. ■

For more information on this or any other topic, please do not hesitate to contact: Prune CALONNE, Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse, 117 route d’Albi 31200 Toulouse Phone: 05 34 30 51 33 Mobile: 06 74 16 11 12 Email: scpcalonneadouedugast@hotmail.fr Web: www.cad-avocats.com My firm can arrange appointments in CAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.

Time to sort out your estate planning - Blevins Franks

t’s a new year, so why not make a resolution to get your estate planning in order? Inheritance in France is a complicated area, including in terms of tax, and if you neglect sorting it out before it is too late, your heirs may end up paying more tax than they need to. French succession tax is the equivalent of the UK’s inheritance tax, but it works quite differently. It always applies to French real estate, regardless of whether you or the recipient is resident here. If you are a UK national and resident in France when you die, your worldwide estate will be taxable in France, not in the UK. However, any UK assets you own may be liable for UK inheritance tax as well as French succession tax. If you are resident in the UK, your French property will be subject to French succession tax as well as forming part of your estate for UK inheritance tax purposes. There is a double tax treaty specifically covering taxes on death (it does not cover lifetime gifts), but situations can arise where tax is due in both countries, on different events, and must be paid. It is always best to seek advice from a professional. As in the UK, an asset cannot be transferred to the new owner until the tax is paid. Since you cannot sell the asset to pay the tax, this can be problematic for beneficiaries in France, where tax must, generally, be paid within six months of the death. Succession law Besides succession tax, you also need to familiarise yourself with French succession law. France has strict restrictions about whom you can leave your assets to. Children are “protected” heirs and may inherit up to 75% of your estate – spouses are not protected when there are children involved. The new EU succession law, ‘Brussels IV’, which allows you to choose which country’s laws apply, does not cover taxation – you

cannot choose UK inheritance tax instead of French succession tax. However, you do need to be aware of any potential tax consequences of choosing UK law instead of French law, and of using UK law to leave assets to distant or non-relatives. Who pays what French succession tax is paid by each individual who receives assets, whether as a lifetime gift or as a bequest (unlike the UK, where the estate pays the tax, unless the will directs otherwise). Transfers between spouses and PACS (Pacte civil de solidarité – civil) partners on death are tax free, but lifetime gifts are not. For everyone else, the tax rates and allowances vary according to their relationship to you. The more distant the relative, the higher the tax rate. Tax rates for children (including adopted but not stepchildren) and other direct-line relatives start at 5% for inheritances under €8,072 and rise progressively to 45% for inheritances over €1,805,677. The same rates apply to spouses/partners in the case of gifts. Your children will each receive a tax-free allowance of €100,000 per parent. There is also an exemption for outright cash gifts of up to €31,865 per recipient where the gift is made to a child, grandchild or, if there is no directline descendant, niece or nephew. If you make a lifetime gift to your spouse, they receive an allowance of €80,724. If you leave assets to a brother or sister, they will pay succession tax at either 35% or 45%, depending on the amount – and their tax-free allowance is just €15,932. However, if a sibling has been living with you for the past five years and is either over 50 or unable to work because of a disability, they benefit from the same rules as spouses. Relatives to the fourth degree pay tax at 55%, with nephews and nieces receiving a

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€7,967 allowance. If you leave assets to relatives beyond the direct line, or non-relatives, they will have to pay very high tax rates, up to 60%, and their tax-free exemption is a mere €1,594. Unmarried partners who have not entered into a PACS arrangement, stepchildren and god-children are all classed as non-relatives. If a property is occupied as a main home by your surviving spouse/partner or by one of your children, its value can be reduced by 20% for succession tax purposes. What about grandchildren? Rates between grandparents/grandchildren are the same as for parents/children, but the allowance is limited to €31,865 and only applies to lifetime gifts. There are rules around bequests to grandchildren and the potential tax exemptions – such as the age of donor and recipient,

and whether or not the children or parents are still alive – and they can be quite complicated. If you are considering leaving something to a grandchild, it is best to get advice from someone with knowledge in this area. French tax law is notoriously complicated but there are measures you may be able to take to minimise French succession tax. Ideally, you should start planning early to make sure you do not miss out on any tax-saving opportunities. Seek specialist advice so that more of your money will go to your benefactors and less to the taxman. ■ 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.

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

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In the garden - jobs for January

by Michelle Pierce

t the time of writing this, late December, it is again evident that, given recent weather patterns, it's tricky for the average gardener to plan ahead re the weather. We've had a handful of frosts (just enough to do for the dahlias and last tomatoes) but no real cold, no real rain to speak of during the month, with dry, mild springlike weather overall. And that leaves me wishing I'd sown much more in September/October. If I'd been more optimistic, I could now still be enjoying fresh salads, spinach, carrots, even peas. So the lesson to take is probably to give things a go, whilst being prepared for the cold, if it comes. And not just to presume that the old seasonal patterns are fixed in stone. This prolonged growing season has many advantages for us, clearly, but it also means that we need to take good care of our soil. If we ask it to do more, produce more, then we need to be sure it's well fed, and ideally that the micro organisms in it are flourishing. This then leads back to mulching with organic matter - compost, bracken, manure, leaves, chopped flax/hemp, all have a vastly beneficial impact on soil life. Think of it like putting a blanket on a bed, insulating you from the cold and damp (or the summer heat), and draughts. It just makes everything cosy. And the mulch gives a layer where increased soil health means more activity of micro organisms, which is good for plants, and the ecosystem more generally. The other thing that a longer growing season means, is that weeds continue to grow. There are, of course, weeds and weeds! Some are lovely little surface

things, easily hoed off (often edible and good in salads) but others are more tenacious. Either via extensive seeding (thistles, etc.), very vigorous growth, root tip layering (I'm thinking of brambles here) or cunning root development, unseen til much later (convolvulus, nettles...) So the ideal is to go round your garden fairly frequently if you can and prioritise the removal of the difficult weeds. Don't let them get a hold. That said, there may well be areas of your garden where you want them for the wildlife, but just not in the potager. The start of the year is also a good time to look round and see which shrubs and trees are getting a bit crowded. Ideally they should all be planted in the right place, with plenty of space for growth, but often it's difficult when planting that tiny twig or small container grown shrub to imagine that they will get big. So wander round, with a mental list and decide what will need pruning this year, and what will need it next year. Think how you can utilise your prunings to maximum effect. Try and avoid burning things in your garden. Log up the bigger branches for your wood store. Cut up the medium size ones also, or use as stakes, beanpoles, etc. The tiny twiggy ends can be stored for pea sticks, used in dead hedges, bundled up to make faggots or kindling bundles, shredded for mulch, or simply left to compost. There are an incredible number of uses, so there's really no reason to burn. Whilst the weather is mild, wildlife activity continues, and those creatures which should be hibernating are not, and therefore needing to be active and feed themselves. Making sure your garden has

Leave saucers of water for your garden wildlife - not everyone is hibernating yet! edibles for them, and shelter, too, is important. Birds can most easily be fed, but be choosy about fat balls, etc., as industrial ones can contain poor grade fats, and ensure you leave some of your seed heads on flowers and shrubs. Leave fallen fruit on the ground for them, too. Water is very important to wildlife, and putting out large plant saucers of water is very useful. Pond edges are all too often steep, dangerous places for things like hedgehogs, so put out an alternative, and if you do have a steep sided pond, put some stones or bricks at one edge so that if anything falls in, it may have a chance to crawl out. January is a very good month to start thinking about the gardening year. Projects, wish lists, must-have plants, can all be thought about, dreamed about, and

planned now. The internet is such a wonderful resource for gardeners, and often while surfing we see things and say “Why didn't I ever think of that?” Time spent now is time well spent if it helps you later. The same goes for seed catalogues, and seeds generally. Turn out your seed box before ordering new seed, to ensure you don't reorder 3 packets of beetroot that you already have. Make a list to see what's missing. Think about getting ready to sow seed at the end of next month, so clean and disinfect the propagator. And so the year turns full circle, and soon we'll be back working outdoors in the garden. How lovely that is to look forward to! Good gardening! ■

A look at the wines of Bergerac

ike most Brits who live in this part of France, I enjoy the wine and believe that the wines of Bergerac represent what the French call un bon rapport qualité-prix, or excellent value for money. The effect of speculation, wine investors and the surging demand from China have combined to price the most celebrated wines of Bordeaux out of the reach of most of us. In this and future columns, I plan to suggest some of the Bergerac wines that I find most appealing and which will not break the bank. Bergerac wines have a very long pedigree. Laurent de Bosredon, who built up Château Bélingard, reckons his is the oldest vineyard in Western Europe, and proudly displays a Celtic chair chiseled from stone to prove it. The name itself comes from the Celtic: ‘gaard’ meant garden and ‘Belinos’ was the god of the sun and of war. And wine was being made when this region was part of the Roman Empire. The competition so alarmed the Italian winegrowers that in 96AD they appealed to the Emperor Domitian to ban the sale of wines from Gaul and destroy the vines. In 1254, King Henry III of England granted the first charter to the Consuls de la Vinée de Bergerac. Their brand of

by Martin Walker a griffon’s claw had to be burned into every barrel judged worthy of the name, which also proved a handy way of collecting the wine tax. As the fortunes of the Hundred Years War swayed back and forth, the charter to the Consuls was ratified by the French King Charles IV in 1322. But Bergerac always suffered from being up-river from Bordeaux, where the wealthy négotiants naturally favoured their own wines, and the famous classification of 1855 ranked the wines of Bordeaux but ignored those of Bergerac. This classification, demanded by Emperor Napoleon III for the Great Exhibition of Paris, is still cited to demonstrate the special status of Bordeaux. But in 1816, there was another classification by the French government which Bordeaux likes to forget, the Topographie de Tous les Vignobles Connus, which ranked the sweet and golden wines of Monbazillac alongside the Sauternes, and which placed the red wines of the Pécharmant alongside the famous Margaux, Pauillac and St Julien vintages of the Médoc. That 1816 classification was no fluke. My own favourite of the Monbazillacs, Château Tirecul La Gravière, was awarded a sensational 100 points – the maximum – by the influential American

wine critic Robert Parker. The Pécharmant, the ridge northeast of the town of Bergerac, produces outstanding wines to this day. Château Tiregand, owned by the St Exupéry family, is the largest and the best known and their vintages for special years, known as Grand Millésime, are superb. Those for the years 2011 and 2012 each won a gold medal at the latest Concours Général Agricole in Paris, and at the vineyard they sell for 19.80 euros a bottle. The Clos Montalbanie, made from much younger vines, barely ten years old, is a snip at 7 euros the bottle. Tiregand’s near neighbor in the Pécharmant, Château Terre Vieille also won a gold medal, and I was able to buy some in the Sunday morning market at St Cyprien for a remarkably cheap 12 euros a bottle. They were making wine on this spot in the 11th century and some 700 years later it was the home of the philosopher and essayist Maine de Biran, one of the Lifeguards of King Louis XIV in the revolutionary year of 1789, and also one of the domestic organisers of Napoleon’s overthrow. The small Pécharmant vineyard founded by two veterans of Médicins Sans Frontières in Afghanistan, Les Chemins de l’Orient, is also worth seeking out. And having been served it

at a recent French diplomatic luncheon, I have become a fan of the Pécharmant from Domaine du Grand Jaure. Like most reds from the Bergerac, they blend Cabernet Sauvignon grapes for body and bouquet, with Merlot for subtlety and depth. But they add some Cabernet Franc for a softer flavor, and a little Malbec for its little touch of velvet. Their 2013 is 7.50 euros a bottle, but their special Mémoire vintage of 2012 at 14 euros is well worth the price. The Malbec grape, which produces the black wines of Cahors, can in the right hands deliver a voluptuous wine, and it is rooted in the history of this region. We know from the archives that under its local name of Côt this was the wine served at the wedding of Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152. You are drinking history here. Cheers! Martin Walker, author of the bestselling ‘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.

Château Tirecul La Gravière

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

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lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.com

JOHN SOWERSBY

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.

+44 (0)1377 255470 +44 (0)7830 170761 motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.com

Building Services Architectural Services

catsanddogs2009@hotmail.co.uk

05 45 66 14 62 Siret: 494 030 919 00018

MinouCats

Purpose built cattery with 7 heated, well equipped luxury suites Relaxed and secure environment Experienced and qualified owners Tender loving care all day long Agnac, 47800

Tel: 05 53 93 92 44 nicky@minoucats.fr www.minoucats.fr

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

Electricians BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com

ElsaConception

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

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

@iret: 794 282 368 00016

Building Services

Web: http://www.elsaconception.com

Building Services 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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Carpenters/ Joiners

Wood Work

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

MADE TO MEASURE

05 55 14 12 43

harlequindevelopments@live.com www.harlequindevelopments.com

IN SOFTWOODS OR LOCAL HARD WOODS SIMPLE ORDERING / 10 DAY TURNAROUND Please explore our website for more info: www.scrollart.co.uk Oradour Sur Vayres (87150)- siren 752 051 482

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

05 55 41 17 76 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

Harlequin Developments are a Distributor and Installer for Solarventi, solar dehumidifying and ventilating products.

SHUTTERS/DOORS, STAIRCASES, etc.

Mini diggers, backhoe loaders, site dumpers, etc. Groundworks, site clearance and gardening services Very competitive prices Delivered Call Ant: 05 55 05 09 60 Mob: 07 50 44 76 27 siret: en cours

Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu

Tel: 06.87.09.38.94

Cats and Dogs Boarding Kennels

Michael and Wendy Aldrich

SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

Siret: 790 016 984 00011

06 31 98 92 07 Purpose built kennels - dept 16. 45 years animal care experience. Fully insured and vet approved. Individual kennels plus family pens. Walking off lead 4 times a day.

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

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

Siret: 499 234 615 00015

DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Plant Sales

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97 SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

ETS RICHARD ESTABLISHED IN 2005

ARTISAN IN RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION WORK INCLUDING BARN AND LOFT COVERSIONS. SPECIALIST IN OLD STONE WORK, ALL TYPES OF ROOFING, PAINTING & DECORATING, BATHROOMS, TILING, GUTTERING, WOOD CONSTRUCTION, PLASTERBOARDING, INSULATION. BASED IN PERIGORD NOIR COMPETITIVE PRICING

T : 06 38 71 08 36

E : richard.stienstra@orange.fr For more information please visit my Facebook page : Entreprise Richard

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JANUARY 2016

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 25,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

€108

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€18/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€24/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€27/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€36/month)

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

€162

(€13.50/month)

€144

€216

(€18/month)

€162

€243

(€20.25/month)

€216

Small Directory Ad 46mm x 46mm (Actual Size)

30 words max

€324

(€27/month)

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

Building Services

Sat-Elec Formerly Electrosat

UK & French Satellite TV

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

Painters/ Decorators

TOOWAY BROADBAND Approved Supplier

Sandblasting

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

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:

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

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

Building Services

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

- 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

siret no 798 364 600 00014

Food & Drink

SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Computers & Satellites

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine. Themed nights each Friday: 1st Friday - Curry night 2nd Friday - Quiz night 3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!! 4th Friday - Live Music night

Plumbers PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER

05 55 09 15 73

Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais Losing business due to poor Internet and WiFi?

Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

www.wifianglais.com Email: hello@wifianglais.com Tel: 05 53 30 23 96 Mob: 07 78 52 20 46 Siret: 800 525 040 00013

Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Saturday 6pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditional English roasts served For further details call Steve:

The Dordogne Chippy

General

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Monday: Champsac Tuesday: Tremolat Wednesday: Star Inn, Périgueux Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Daglan See our website for full details:

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

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

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

sales24@thebugle.eu

01 46 21 46 46

05 55 41 17 76

www.soshelpline.org

Garden Services

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING

3 - 11pm daily Confidential & Non-profit

Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning

PROCHEM trained and Qualified

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

05 53 80 29 54

06 32 32 64 54 / 05 53 58 00 98

or email: steve.francis24@gmail.com or facebook: Beaupouyet La Poutre

email lucidservices24@gmail.com siret: 512 614 306 00011

siret 537 415 903 00013

Your advert here

HOME & GARDEN maintenance

05 55 41 17 76

Free quote Bergerac and surroundings mansfield.gardening@gmail.com

For all your gardening, window/gutter cleaning & paintwork needs, etc... Call me for a professional, reliable and friendly service

Paul: 07 83 75 45 76

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

JANUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

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

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

Gifts & Crafts

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

Central France Pest Control

- if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €630 TTC. Several ex-demonstration models available at reduced prices, call for details.

Retail & Commerce

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

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com Email: info@applicateur3d.com Curative and preventative Ivan Petley

rats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets

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.

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

3D Puzzle Maker

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

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

Property Sales

Pest Control

bookstop

Quality second-hand books in English & French 19 rue Victor Hugo 24310 BRANTÔME Relax and browse in comfort Hot and cold drinks served

Contact Joanna:

www.VideoProFrance.com Te: +33 (0) 6 99 07 64 28 contact@videoprofrance.com Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

DSD Removals & Storage

Tel: 06 79 04 10 21

Eco Entrepot aka The Shed

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

The Removal Experts France ↔ UK

• All risk insurance cover • Full and Part load specialists • Professional staff & modern vehicles • Every vehicle from a Luton van to a full removals lorry • Prices from £3.63 per sq ft

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

+44 (0)1274 724 545

info@dsdremovalsltd.com www.dsdremovalsltd.com facebook.com/DSDRemovals

PRIVATE PROPERTY SELLERS LTD LEADERS IN FRENCH PROPERTY MARKETING

Sell your house faster privately

Is your current marketing working for you? Many clients achieved sales in 2015, some within 6 months with our marketing. * Professional property profile * Unlimited text & pictures * Worldwide marketing * 24/7 response

info@privatepropertysellers.com

www.privatepropertysellers.com

0800 840 3058 Mob: +44 (0)7808 338 386

www.michaelsmovers.freeindex.co.uk

for the whole family

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

Full & Part loads All size of vehicles Storage facilities in Sussex UK free phone:

05 55 41 17 76

ABJAT-SUR-BANDIAT

(opp. the boulangerie) Open: Tue & Thu, 14h-17h also Sun, 10h-12h in July & August only By appointment outside these hours:

Removals

UK ↔ France ↔ UK

Removals, storage & house clearance in Dordogne

Transport, Removals & Storage

09 51 45 57 49

MICHAELS MOVERS

sales24@thebugle.eu

SECONDHAND CLOTHING

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

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

06 73 96 38 39 (FR)

Man & Van Transport

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

09 82 12 69 73 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Advertise your business here

05.55.41.17.76 sales24@thebugle.eu

18 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JANUARY 2016

WHAT’S

America: Dreams and Nightmares Thursday 21st January at 14h Centre Culturel Michel Manet, place Gambetta, 24100 Bergerac The Théâtre en Anglais company present their production of ‘America: Dreams and Nightmares’, a play that pays tribute to Martin Luther King and examines the contradictions in America and its great myth as a land of opportunity.

French adaptation of the classic British farce ‘Caught in the Net’ by Ray Cooney. If you think your life is stressful, imagine the life of John Smith, a taxi driver who keeps two separate families in different parts of London. When his teenaged children (a girl from one family and a boy from the other) accidentally meet on the internet and plan to see each other in person, John’s already complicated life becomes absolutely hectic. Can he manage to keep his double life a secret from the kids and his two wives? Saturday 9th January. 20h30. Salle du centre culturel, Bergerac. Tickets only €10. Reservations tel 06 72 49 73 87 or 06 78 91 20 29 Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France Monthly circulation: 11,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited. Dépôt légal à parution.

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

Tirage mensuel:

11,000 copies

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

Théâtre en Anglais specialize in the learning of English and the discovery of English culture through theatre. Each year, the association brings to the stage the great works of English literature to an audience of about 50,000 in more than 50 cities in France. The intention is not to teach English to the public, but rather to give audiences an appetite and a desire to learn. The shows are open to all: English or French, anglophone or anglophile, students at collège (from 3ème up), students at lycée and adults. For more info and reservations visit http://theatre.anglais.free.fr or www.la-cab.fr

WRITING ABOUT YOUR LIFE – FREE BOOK TALK Sunday 24th January Ever considered writing a book? A memoir? Stories about yourself, your adventures (humorous, poignant, unusual, ordinary – or even tragic?) Or about family and friends? Or perhaps you’re simply curious about the process? If so, then come along to BOOKSTOP, 19 rue Victor Hugo, 24310 BRANTÔME on Sunday 24th January, 2pm-4.30pm, for a FREE TALK by local authors and creative writing teachers, Dan Bessie and Jeanne Johnson, who will share experiences of their own work and that of others and discuss any ideas you might have for a book. Dan Bessie is an award-winning filmmaker who cut his teeth in cartoon animation then went on to write, produce and direct more than 125 films, both live and animated, from shorts for schools to features to TV specials. Jeanne Johnson is a former elementary school teacher, relationship counsellor and Quaker prison minister. She is the author of ‘Starlings in the Park’, a collection of eighteen compelling stories of ordinary people in crisis who come to a point of change. Reservations advised as seating is limited: Phone 09 51 06 34 66 or email bookstop24@gmail.com Coffee, tea and cakes will be available.

COMMUNITY ♦ 19

JANUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Monday

Market Days

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

Tuesday

Beaumont du Périgord Bergerac Brantôme Cénac-et-Saint-Julien Lanouaille Le Bugue Mareuil Neuvic Ribérac Salignac Eyvigues Thenon Trémolat Villefranche-de-Lonchat

Wednesday Bergerac Hautefort Jumilhac-le-Grand La Tour Blanche Montpon-Ménestérol Montignac Périgueux

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

Gatsby - a 5-month-old Spaniel x Pointer x Beagle puppy This little angel is Gatsby, a loving, affectionate and very playful little boy. He loves his squeaky toys and chasing after rolling balls but, most of all, he loves people. He gets on well with other dogs and is learning all about “doggy etiquette” from his foster carers' Border Collie who is like a big sister to him whilst teaching him the rules of being a dog and keeping him in his place. It's a joy to watch them play together!

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

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

Friday

Sunday

Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

Thursday

Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord Belvès

offer direct financial assistance to British and Irish nationals or residents who live overseas. We ensure that our help does not affect any means-tested payments. Briefly we can consider assisting those who: 1. Are British or Irish residents or nationals. 2. Are living on a low income or means-tested benefits. 3. Have formerly been employed in one of a wide range of qualifying occupations. Have, or have had, a partner employed in a qualifying occupation. We are able to consider assisting financially in numerous ways. For more information contact: Mary Hughes - Case worker France, Elizabeth Finn Care tel: 04 68 23 43 79 or visit: www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk and: www.turn2us.org.uk

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES

The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers). All services are held in English. For further details, please see our website: www.churchinaquitaine.org or contact Chaplaincy Administration: Amy Owensmith, +33 (0) 607 04 07 77 chapaq.office@gmail.com

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2016 January 18-25th

Monday 18 January 20:30 Ecumenical Service Bergerac Eglise Evangélique Libre (5, rue Durou) Tuesday 19 January 19:30 Ecumenical Service Centre Madeleine Delbrel, Sarlat (33 bd Eugène Le Roy)

Gatsby is chipped, vaccinated and wormed and will be neutered on adoption.

Thursday 21 January 18:30 Ecumenical Service Périgueux (Chapelle Collège-Lycée Saint Joseph, avenue Pompidou)

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

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES JANUARY 2016 The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers). All services are held in English. For further details, please see our website: www.churchinaquitaine.org or contact Chaplaincy Administration: Amy Owensmith, +33 (0) 607 04 07 77 chapaq.office@gmail.com SUNDAY 10 JANUARY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 All Age Worship – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes 11:00 Prayer & Praise - Condom Wednesday 13 January 11:00 BCP Morning Prayer – Bertric Burée

He is being taught the basics, sit, stay, lie down, etc. and is a fast learner, although cautious when faced with new unknowns. However the world is his oyster! He is very cuddly and loves to curl up on a lap if you are sitting on the floor. Gatsby needs human contact and likes to stay close to people and he would need a fenced garden to run around in and play in safety.

If you'd like to adopt Gatsby, or would like more information, please contact his foster carer Eleanor on 09 60 17 24 68 and/or chivelle@orange.fr

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

Wednesday 20 January 18:00 Ecumenical Service Paunat, Dordogne

Saturday 23 January 15:00 Ecumenical Service Ribérac Hospital Chapel Please visit www.churchinaquitaine.org (Services page) for more information or phone 06 07 04 07 77.

SUNDAY 17 JANUARY 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship – Dondas (to be confirmed) 10:30 Morning Worship - Limeuil 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton 11:00 Holy Communion – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 21 January 10:30 Holy Communion - Limeuil SUNDAY 24 JANUARY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes Thursday 28 January 11:00 Holy Communion – Condom SUNDAY 31 JANUARY 10:30 Special Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 BCP Holy Communion – Limeuil 16:00 Evening Prayer - Monteton

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON