The Bugle Dordogne - Jul 2015 by The Bugle

Ribérac row over Sunday trading

Business owners in Ribérac have reacted angrily to the recent decision by Intermarché to open on Sunday mornings >> Page 3

Dordogne July 2015 - Issue #25

Chelsea Under-21s to play in Bergerac Chelsea, the reigning European Under-21 champions, are due in the Dordogne this month to play a friendly match against Bergerac-Périgord Football Club. Organisers are also hosting “Le Chelsea Lunch”, an event which is open to local expats.

o celebrate a century of football as well as their recent promotion to a higher division, Bergerac-Périgord Football Club are organising two exceptional events: “The Big Match” followed by “Le Chelsea Lunch”. On Saturday 25th July Chelsea U-21 team, the current European Champions, will be playing a friendly game against Bergerac-Périgord. The event will take place at the larger Stade Gaston Simounet, which is normally the ground of the rugby club, quite a revolution! Some 6,000 spectators are expected. The match will be played at 10:30 when temperatures will hopefully be more pleasant. Not only that, but after the match, from 12:30, there will be “Le Chelsea Lunch”: an official reception and lunch at the Salle Anatole France (just across the

road from the stadium). Over 500 people are expected to take part. As part of the club’s efforts to create a truly Franco-British occasion, the organising committee have decided that British people based in Aquitaine ought to be given the same opportunities as local supporters and businesses. For example, for the official “Chelsea Lunch” taking place after the match you will be able to book a table in advance - or several of course! - for 10 people under exactly the same conditions as Bergerac FC sponsors. When living abroad it is always wonderful to take part in an event which concerns your country, even if you are not a football enthusiast, let alone a Chelsea supporter. This is a wonderful opportunity to recreate some “home ambiance” in a broader sense – expatriates are asked to bring their “singing voice”

>> continued on page 6

INSIDE > > >

NEWS - Variations at Carnegie Hall

A Franco-British vocal ensemble from the Dordogne has performed at New York’s prestigious Carnegie Hall as part of an international concert >> Page 5

NEWS - Barman guilty over drinker's death

A bar owner has been found guilty of manslaughter following the death of a man who drank 56 shots in his bar before dying the next day >> Page 9

PRACTICAL - How to avoid woodworm

Our resident expert explains how to treat woodworm and how best to avoid the insects spreading through your home >> Page 14

The Bugle Business Directory

Parisian authorities have begun removing the famous “love locks” from the city’s bridges >> Page 10

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

4 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 16-19

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o, the nights are already drawing in and did you realise that there are only 156 shopping days left until Christmas?! I’ve always thought it was a bit cruel that the longest days of the year don’t align with the best weather. There were some lovely days in June, though, and it was an absolute joy to sit outside long after dinner was finished and enjoy the fresh air and the evening light. Part of the pleasure may have been derived from the accompanying glass of wine, but you know what I mean! I love a barbecue and I don’t need much of an excuse to get out my apron and tongs. This time of year it’s great - you have enough time to get the kids to bed before you even need to think about lighting it. But come the end of

the school holidays and into early September, when the days are often warmer, it takes a bit more planning. Light the barbecue much after seven thirty and you’ll soon be squinting through the fading light to see if those bangers are cooked through. Still, there have been a few balmy evenings this year and the family has already eaten over charcoal at least a dozen times. I’m waiting to get bored of eating barbecued food, but as the years have passed I’ve come to realise that it’s not going to happen and there really are no downsides. I’ve fired up the charcoal in February before now and October is no stranger to the occasional grill. Even so, the winter break is just long enough that come the first warm day of the year, I’m always itching for my next fix.

As you may be guessing, I am rather fond of eating and like many people I once again began the New Year with good intentions when it came to my (gradually expanding) waistline. This year, however, it actually worked and I did lose a stack of kilos in the first few months, before levelling off at a weight I haven’t been at for quite a few years - at one point I’d lost more than my 5-month-old weighed! I’ve been looking for a way to kickstart another phase of weight loss and in June, I hit upon a very effective method... I call it the “distribution diet”. The freakish heat wave that hit in early June coincided with the back end of my distribution run. If you have a few stubborn pounds that refuse to disappear, try delivering 27,000 papers to 550 locations in 35 degree heat in a clapped out Kangoo with no air conditioning! I was like a human sieve; as I poured lukewarm water into my mouth, I swear it was bypassing my stomach and leaking straight out of my back! I did my best to replace lost fluids every evening - they do say that beer rehydrates you and is a good source of electrolytes, right?! but despite my admittedly valiant efforts I still lost a good few pounds over the course of a week.

All I’ve got to do now is hope it stays this warm, make the paper weekly and I’ll be looking like the 20-year-old me in no time! Readers often comment that I don’t look much like the bloke in the picture just below and my answer is always the same: “What do you mean? That was only a couple of years ago”. A true statement... at least it was 6 years ago when issue #1 of the Limousin edition went out. It could be time for an update, although I might need a few more rounds of the distribution diet first! Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

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INSIDE this edition 3-6 Local News 7-12 National News 13 French Life 14-15 Practical 16-19 Directory 20 Community 21-24 What’s On Check out our new website!

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Sunday trading row

Dordogne town centre’s traders are protesting a supermarket’s decision to open on Sunday. Ribérac’s traditional town centre businesses are angered by a decision by Intermarché to open on Sunday morning. Local butcher Patrick Joubert said: “This is a declaration of war and it is likely to create even more damage to the town.” Patrick went on to explain the fears of town centre shopkeepers that the supermarket’s Sunday opening during the summer could be extended throughout the year and take trade away from the traditional town hub. With the support of Patrice Favard, mayor of Ribérac, small traders have decided to take direct

action and demonstrate every week against what they see as an attack on their businesses. The mayor’s concern is that all the work, resources, energy and effort put into regeneration of the town centre will be undone. Ribérac has been a successful and attractive market town for centuries. Its weekly market attracts thousands of traders, shoppers and visitors. For British visitors, used to the UK’s 1994 relaxation of Sunday trading laws, Intermarché’s Sunday morning opening may seem a minor issue. For the French it is an important, complex matter involving workers’ rights, commercial realities, tradition, religion, competition and the law. Regulation of the sabbath has a long history in France. In 1814 Louis XVIII forbade Sunday

opening in an effort to protect shop workers from exploitation. Louis Napoleon in 1852 strengthened the law to expressly defend workers’ quality of life. In 1906 the 3rd Republic extended protection for women and children in businesses and the 8-hour day of 1919 set out the modern way of trading for all employees. Like the UK’s old Sunday Trading Act, the French laws have many exceptions and allowances. Whereas the UK law referred mainly to what goods could be sold on Sunday, the French approach has always been for the benefit of the workers’ day of rest and family life. In support of these traditions, the small traders of Ribérac will be out in force demonstrating every Sunday, in defence of the continued prosperity and vigour of this ancient market town. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Dordogne writer acclaimed

Scottish writer renowned for his Dordogne-based crime stories is being acclaimed for his latest departure from crime. Martin Walker’s best-known creation is Bruno Courrèges. “Bruno” is a quirky French cop with a military background and a passion for cooking. All the Bruno novels are set in the Périgord, around Le Bugue where Martin spends much of his time.

Bruno is known in many countries across the world and is especially sought after in the US and Germany. Martin Walker has hit the top sellers lists again with a book of Périgord recipes from Bruno’s kitchen! This latest addition to the Bruno Courrèges stable is a cookery book of the policeman’s favourite recipes. It became an overnight hit at the Frankfurt book fair last year.

It is a down-to-earth tome, based on delicious food that we can all make in our Dordogne kitchens. It features local Dordogne hunters, bakers, producers, fishermen and growers, plus some of Bruno’s fellow characters and real pictures of the dishes that Martin cooked himself, not the studio set-up presentations in ordinary cookery books. In June, Martin had more food for thought when the book was wowed in China, winning

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a Gourmand World Cookbook Award, in Yantai. Incidentally, the key-note wine served at the awards presentation dinner was a Bergerac, most likely one of Bruno’s favourites from just down the road. Back here in the Dordogne at the end of June, Martin was invited as a star guest at the Be British weekend in Brantôme. Most Martin Walker titles, including his non-fiction, are available in Kindle format as well as hard copy. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Books in the park Périgueux parks have a fuss-free summer book service. The Pierre Fanlac Media Centre has provided three city centre parks with free book lending.

Bookcase in Gallo-Roman arena In an imaginative gesture the public library service has installed bookcases filled with a range of books in the public gardens of Les Arènes, Gamenson and Vésone in the centre of Périgueux. The scheme, which runs until 22nd August, is absolutely free. All that is asked is that readers shut the bookcase doors in case of rain, and put back any books before leaving the park. The bookcases offer a wide range of books from children’s funnies to serious literature. Périgueux’ parks are already a shady green oasis in the heat of summer. A book in the park is a cool idea for a hot day! Public readings of favourite books for all ages are also planned throughout July. For more details visit: http://www.perigueux-mediatheque.fr/2015/05/05/lisons-au-jardin-2/ ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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Dordogne dog pound finds new home New CCTV network

orkers and volunteers at Bergerac’s SPA (Société Protectrice des Animaux) spend most of their time trying to find new homes for the hundreds of dogs and cats that come to them for care each year. But they have also been working hard for the past five years to find a new home for themselves. Now the end is in sight with the purchase of a three-hectare site from the builders’ merchants Tridome who have moved to new premises at Creysse. The new site - just across the road from the cramped space currently used by the SPA - will mean it can house 150 dogs, up from 80, and 90 cats, up from 60, at any one time. The new premises will cost a total of an estimated 1.5 million euros. It is hoped building will begin next year although fund-raising efforts will continue to ensure funds are in place. Christian Carrad, the SPA president and retired vet who has been behind the moves to find the association a better home for many years, said: “All gifts and legacies are welcome!” He stressed that the work of the SPA has never been as important as it is now, as the numbers of abandoned animals is

for Périgueux

T Bergerac SPA – new premises have been found increasing all the time. This is at a time when public spending cuts have made it even more difficult for communes to increase their contributions to the pound to which they send abandoned animals found on their territory. “The situation is serious but we are not in crisis. We must remain extremely rigorous in all financial matters, particularly when we are on the brink of such a major project,” Mr Carrad said. ■ by Adrian Lithgow

Issigeac to host prestigious basket fair

he Dordogne is hosting one of the country’s biggest festivals of basket art in July. The Issigeac Foire aux Paniers is without doubt the most important fête de la vannerie in Aquitaine. The ancient village of Issigeac (24) welcomes the 22nd annual festival of cane art on Sunday 19th July from 9 am to 6 pm. More than 50 basket makers from across Europe are expected to come together to buy, sell and exchange the latest news of the basket world. This highly decorative event attracts thousands

of visitors every year to see, admire, buy, learn and simply enjoy the spectacle. Timed to coincide with the Issigeac weekly Sunday market it offers a wide variety of local produce plus allday food and drink. There are stands to provide initiation into the art of vannerie and a vast range of regional styles to be seen. Issigeac, about 20 km south of Bergerac, is a tiny Gallo-Roman village that grew into the small medieval town it is today, the perfect setting for this gathering of ancient crafts. Adrian and Ruth Charlton from Saint-Pardoux-la-Riv-

he capital of the Dordogne is to get video surveillance in its city centre. Government and departmental funding has been made available to the tune of €54,000 towards the project, estimated at €146,000. Cameras were powered up for the first time in mid-June at the top of rue Saint-Front, the pont des Barris bridge, rue Daumesnil and place Emile-Goudeau. These were followed by installations in place du Coderc, rue de la Sagesse and place Saint-Louis. By the end of July the city will have 22 cameras in place, with 9 in place Francheville.

Baskets last year in Issigeac ière run a basket-weaving workshop and “academy”, teaching the art and craft. Adrian told The Bugle: “We have been going to the Issigeac festival for about

7 years. We think it is one of the Dordogne’s must-do days out. The variety is outstanding and there is always a wonderful atmosphere.” ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Banksy comes to Périgord Local politicians and administrators studied the results of the CCTV installed in Agen, in the Lot et Garonne. Their scheme cost €440,000 with a subsidy of 58%. Périgueux mayor, Antoine Audi, is confident that the CCTV will help calm anti-social behaviour in parts of the city, target police interventions and reassure residents. A recently drafted by-law aims to eradicate aggressive begging and intimidation prevalent in certain locations. Administrators are adamant that the cameras are not intended to spy on citizens but to help pinpoint potential trouble, identify culprits and defuse situations at an early stage. In the UK an early experimental network in Bournemouth has led to 52,000 cameras around the country. CCTV contributes to security, crime prevention, law enforcement, traffic management and health and safety. Périgueux has a handsome city centre with many streets and squares that date from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. This 21st century scheme is set to help residents and visitors enjoy them in complete safety and tranquillity. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

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Variations international concert

Dordogne railway improvements back on track

n Sunday 7th June, Variations Vocal Ensemble from Ribérac, France joined Distinguished Concerts International New York (DCINY) for a concert at Carnegie Hall called Requiem à Deux, a pairing of two exquisite French choral masterworks by composers Gabriel Fauré and Maurice Duruflé. Variations Vocal Ensemble was among the outstanding choirs from across the US, Canada, Mexico, France and Spain. New York Concert Review was effusive about the performances of both works, noting how the audience for the Fauré Requiem - conducted by DCINY Conductor Laureate Craig Jessop - “responded with a standing ovation”. In the Duruflé Requiem, conducted by DCINY Artistic Director and Prin-

Credit: DCINY Productions

cipal Conductor Jonathan Griffith, the reviewer deemed the chorus “outstanding” in what was a “truly superior performance”. Variations Vocal Ensemble made a remarkable contribution to what was an unforgettable concert at one of New York City’s legendary cultural landmarks. DCINY would like to congratulate everyone in Variations Vocal Ensemble on their achievement and we look forward to future DCINY Concert Series collaborations. Iris Derke Co-Founder & General Director Distinguished Concerts International New York

ike an embarrassing number of train services in Aquitaine the renovation of the Sarlat - Bordeaux line is running late. But transport officials have announced that 45 million euros are to be spent on it in 2017 as part of a major overhaul. This will mean that Bergerac will be within three hours of Paris with a journey time of one hour to Libourne linking with the new TGV service taking two hours to the capital. And for the whole of the southern part of the Dordogne, the line between Sarlat in the East to Bergerac in the West will, it is hoped, inject new vigour into commercial and tourism traffic. Finding funding for the project has proved extremely difficult during the financial crisis with many projected public works

schemes bearing the brunt of cuts in government spending. A further 6.75 million euros needs to be found to fully fund the renovations but local politicians have been pushing the line as a spending priority and are confident it will be forthcoming. When works are complete the line will be able to carry the 3,000 passengers who use it each day at a speed of 140 kph. According to Thierry Auroy-Peytou, vice-president of the Communauté d’agglomération bergeracoise (CAB), the improvements are vital to the economic health of the whole of the Dordogne Valley. “If we miss this opportunity to connect with the new high-speed Bordeaux - Paris link then the line is dead,” he said. ■ by Adrian Lithgow

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Cancer Support France aids Downe House and Hôpital Sourire

ired by an article in The Bugle regarding Downe House, Veyrines’ fundraising efforts for Hôpital Sourire, Tony Benstead, President of Cancer Support France, suggested that the local association donate a cheque to their very worthwhile cause; the conseil subsequently agreed wholeheartedly to support the girls’ venture. Downe House School for girls was established in England in 1907 to, amongst other things, engender a strong sense of community. This founding ethos is equally important at its branch in Veyrines, near Sarlat and each term a fresh set of girls embark on a series of fund-raising events such as Theme Days, a Spa, Film Nights and Breakfast in Bed served by the Head Teacher in aid of Hôpital Sourire, an organisation linked to CHU Toulouse, which does wonderful work in making a stay in hospital more pleasant for children undergoing treatment for cancer and burns. School Head, Deb Scotland, said, “For a number of years, our biggest fund-raiser has been the sale of home-made cakes at Sarlat

Chelsea to play Bergerac U21s >> continued from pg 1 along! It is also a chance to meet compatriots and exchange views and experiences in a friendly environment. Finally it is an opportunity to advertise and promote associations, clubs, organisations, etc. which play such a vital role for expatriates. ■ “The Big Match” - Ticket entrance only Children under 10 years old: FREE Tickets purchased before 15th July 2015 from selling points (see poster): Seat in Stand: €12 - Standing: €8 Tickets purchased from 15th July onwards: Seat in Stand: €15 - Standing: €10 “Le Chelsea Lunch” - Lunch only Individual ticket: €39 all-inclusive (taxes, drinks, etc.)

market. The girls and their teachers are responsible for the production, packaging and marketing and it gives them a fantastic opportunity to interact with members of the public. However, this term’s efforts were given an unexpected boost by a visit from Tony Benstead, who presented them with a cheque for 1000 euros to add to the money they had raised for Hôpital Sourire. The girls could scarcely

believe what had happened (Head of House, Jade Jacomb, declared it to be ‘absolutely insane’) and everyone was delighted to have broken the record for the amount of money raised at the market by a considerable margin.” Tony said, “Although this is a little outside our usual support activities, where children with cancer are concerned we were more than happy to help.” ■

“The Big Match + Le Chelsea Lunch”: combined tickets for groups of 10 people = one table If purchased before 15th July: €490 excluding taxes When purchased from 15th July onwards: €600 excluding taxes Bookings: Please see selling points on the below poster, email bergeracperigordfc@orange.fr or call 05 53 74 33 89. Full payment must be enclosed with your order and be sent to: The Secretary, Bergerac-Périgord Football Club, rue Armand Got BP 168 Bergerac Cedex Additional info (French and English): jean1.bernardi@gmail.com

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

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rench animal rights campaigners are claiming victory following a court's decision to remove “la corrida” - bullfighting - from a national cultural heritage list. Bullfighting is permitted in France in areas where it has a long-established tradition, mostly in the south-west around towns such as Nimes and Béziers where the sport still enjoys a strong following. In 2011, la corrida was added to a UNESCO list of “intangible heritage”, a decision that the culture ministry subsequently reversed following widespread protests. Animal welfare and antibullfighting organisations challenged this in court, however,

claiming “reversing” the decision was not definitive enough. Although an appeals court threw the case out in 2013, an administrative appeals court in Paris recently overturned that decision, saying bullfighting could be considered well and truly “off the list”. Despite the most recent court ruling, it is highly unlikely that bullfighting will be banned any time soon. One of its most vocal supporters is Prime Minister Manuel Valls, who was born in Spain, a country that recently gave bullfighting special protected status. “It’s a culture that we have to preserve,” Mr Valls has previously said. “We need these roots, we should not tear them out.”

Guillaume François, a lawyer for the French bullfighters’ union, said the court's decision would have “absolutely no impact on bullfighting in France”, adding that his organisation would appeal the latest ruling with the Council of State, France’s highest court. The intangible heritage list was set up in 2003 by UNESCO as a way to preserve global popular customs and traditions. Unlike tangible heritage - which refers to sites and monuments - intangible heritage refers to cultural processes that “provide living communities with a sense of continuity in relation to previous generations and are of crucial importance to identity”. ■

France removes Corrida from heritage list

Confusion over carry-on luggage rules

ith the relatively high cost of checking in a bag on short-haul flights among Europe's budget carriers, many simply rely on the one piece of carry-on baggage allowed per passenger. This popular option looked set to become less so in June, however, when the International Air Transport Association (IATA) unveiled new guidelines on luggage size. The IATA suggested that the maximum size for hand luggage should be reduced to 55 cm x 34 cm x 19 cm - smaller than almost all airlines currently impose. It was also announced that in the future, luggage that meets these specifications would carry a new “IATA Cabin OK” label. EasyJet said in a statement: “This is a smaller bag than we currently allow on board, but there is no doubt that an overall standard across all airlines would help customers. We will be assessing it with a range of other cabin initiatives to ensure we deliver the best possible experience for our customers.”

The IATA said the smaller, standardised size should mean that all passengers on an aircraft of 120 seats or more - such as a Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 - would be able to store their hand luggage inside the cabin. Currently, those who board last are often asked to check their carry-on baggage into the hold as the overhead compartments fill. The IATA's members represent almost 85% of worldwide air traffic and the changes, although voluntary, were set to be adopted by a number of the world's largest airlines. Travellers were facing the prospect of no longer being able to use their favourite piece of luggage, leading one travel blogger to ask the question: “Are the airlines in cahoots with the baggage manufacturers?” Before long, there was international outrage, especially from the lucrative North American market. Groups representing air travellers accused the airlines of making their problems the passengers' problems, arguing that luggage space was only an issue because they cram too many seats onto their planes.

In the face of a storm of criticism, the IATA made a remarkable U-turn just one week later and announced it was reversing its decision after receiving “significant concerns”. “This is clearly an issue that is close to the heart of travellers. We need to get it right,” said Tom Windmuller, the IATA’s senior vice president.

With the planned changes in tatters, the status quo is once again in force, with different airlines imposing different size limits. So far, Ryanair and EasyJet, Europe's major low-cost carriers and the most popular option for expats flying to and from the UK, have not announced any planned changes to their carry-on baggage rules. ■

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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ormer All Black legend Jerry Collins has died, along with his wife Alana, in a car crash near the southern town of Béziers. The couple's 2-month-old daughter was also seriously injured in the accident, which occurred at 4:30 in the morning on the hard shoulder of a motorway and also involved a bus carrying 21 Portuguese workers. Collins, who played 74 games for Wellington Hurricanes from 1999-2007 and had 50 All Blacks caps, also played for the Ospreys in Wales from 2009-2011. He was in France playing for Narbonne in the second tier Pro D2 league after the club signed him as temporary cover in January this year. He had previously spent a year in France playing for Toulon at the peak of his career during the 2008-2009 season. New Zealand Rugby General Manager Neil Sorensen said: “The news has shocked us all and our thoughts are with Jerry and Alana’s families at this terribly sad time. We offer our deepest condolences to them and will support them as they come to terms with this devastating news.” Fellow France-based New Zealand rugby players later held an emotional tribute to their former teammate when they performed a haka by the side of the motorway where the accident took place. With his distinctive bleach blond hair, Collins had a fearsome reputation as a hard-hit-

ting tackler, but was just as well known for being generous and kind-hearted off the pitch. “He was as tough as old boots on the field, very uncompromising and not someone you wanted to play against,” said All Black legend Sean Fitzpatrick. “Off the field, he was the nicest guy you could meet.” This was evident in an incident that would go down in rugby folklore. Kevin Squire, head coach of Barnstaple Rugby Club, bumped into Collins in a local café whilst the All Black was on holiday in Devon. “I went over to introduce myself and get a selfie and the next thing I know I am having coffee with him and invited him down to our club,” explained the coach. “After that, he asked if he could play a game the following day. We said he couldn't as he wasn't registered but he said: 'No, not the first team, but the second or third team'.” And so it was that the man who months earlier had represented New Zealand at the World Cup ran out for Barnstaple's second XV in their match against fellow amateurs Newton Abbot. Back in the clubhouse, Collins asked his new teammates if he could wear their club socks while playing for Barbarians against South Africa a month later, an event that would lead Stuart Barnes to utter the now famous line of commentary as the All Black ran out on to the Twickenham turf: “There is Jerry Collins, of New Zealand and Barnstaple.” ■

@FFRugby (Twitter)

All Black legend Collins dies in car crash

Win FREE Futuroscope tickets!

Together with The Bugle, Futuroscope is offering 3 sets of 4 tickets to France’s third most popular theme park, located just outside Poitiers. For your chance to win, just email your answer to the below question to us at competitions@thebugle.eu, together with your address and contact details before 20th July 2015 (we will only use these details to get in touch with the lucky winners!)

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Question: In 2011, Futuroscope’s 4D adventure attraction Arthur was awarded a prestigious TEA* award. Which of the following attractions, in which strange characters accompany visitors on a journey through space and time, recently became the park’s second winner of this international award? 1) Cosmic Collisions 2) The Time Machine 3) Dances with Robots * The Themed Entertainment Association (TEA) is an international non-profit association representing the world’s leading creators, developers, designers and producers of compelling places and experiences - worldwide.

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

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Bettencourt Affair verdict Bar owner guilty

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scandal that rocked France and at one point even threatened to topple the government has finally come to an end after society photographer François-Marie Banier was sentenced to 3 years in prison for taking advantage of the mental frailty of France's richest woman. Liliane Bettencourt is the heiress to the L'Oréal cosmetics empire with an estimated worth of €33 billion and the court found that Mr Banier exploited her dementia to amass gifts worth hundreds of millions of euros. The saga began as a family feud between Liliane Bettencourt and her daughter Françoise Bettencourt-Meyers, who feared her mother was not in a fit state to manage her substantial wealth. When her daughter first claimed that Banier was manipulating her mother for his own gain, Liliane Bettencourt insisted she could spend her time and money on who she saw fit, even briefly making Banier sole heir to the L'Oréal fortune. As the case spiralled out of control, the household butler came forward with taped conversations that also implicated the then president Nicolas Sarkozy in illegal cash election donations - charges which were eventually dropped, although not before significant political damage had been done. In court, Banier’s lawyer conceded he was “drowning in gold”

over drinker’s death

French barman from Clermont-Ferrand has been convicted of manslaughter after a customer drank 56 shots in his bar and died as a result. Renaud Prudhomme had been drinking with his daughter when he decided to try to beat the bar's record for the number of shots drunk in one session.

sentence and banned from working in a bar for a year. The victim's family said they were “relieved” by the verdict and were happy that the owner had been banned from working in another bar. “We want to remind some professionals that it is illegal to serve alcohol to clients who are in an advanced state of inebriation,” said Antoine Portal, who represented Mr

After successfully breaking the record, the man was helped home, before becoming ill and being admitted to hospital; he died the next day. The landmark trial focussed on whether the bar's owner, Gilles Crepin, “encouraged” the 56-year-old to consume dangerous levels of alcohol. Prosecutors argued that by displaying the shots records on a notice board behind the bar, the bartender was effectively encouraging others to try and break it. The judge agreed and Mr Crepin was given a four-month suspended

Prudhomme's daughter. Mr Crepin's lawyer, Renaud Portejoie, announced that his client would appeal against the decision, which he said was “guided by emotion and the unconscious desire to set an example”. The lawyer said his client bore no responsibility, that it was the man’s daughter who had in fact pushed him into trying to break the record and that the victim had existing respiratory and alcohol abuse problems, adding: “We can't ask every customer who buys alcohol to present their medical certificates.” ■

Liliane Bettencourt is France’s richest woman at the time and the photographer admitted the sums mentioned in court gave him “vertigo”, but claimed that it “gave her immense pleasure” to shower him with gifts and she got angry if he refused. Banier, now 67, first met Bettencourt, 92, when he photographed her for a magazine and presented himself in court as a charming eccentric and a wealthy, well-connected celebrity photographer who did not need the money. The court, however, heard that between 2006 and 2010, Banier received gifts from Bettencourt worth €414 million, including life

insurance policies, paintings by Picasso, Matisse and Mondrian, as well as manuscripts and cash. The presiding judge, Denis Roucou, said Banier had a “real psychological and moral hold” over Mrs Bettencourt, whose mental faculties doctors had warned were failing as early as 2006. “She found herself at the mercy of men in whom she placed her trust,” said the judge, before sentencing Banier to three years in prison, as well as imposing a €350,000 fine and ordering him to repay €158 million to the Bettencourt family. ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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n recent years, a growing trend for “love locks” has been sweeping across Europe's major cities, particularly on the Pont des Arts bridge in Paris, which crosses the Seine River just in front of the Louvre museum. Couples from around the globe have been visiting this picturesque spot in the centre of the City of Light, writing their names on a padlock before fixing it onto the railings of the bridge and throwing the key into the

waters below. The romantic notion is that they have sealed their love as an unbreakable bond for eternity. Parisian authorities have gradually been falling out of love with these romantic gestures, however, as the trend spread and the city's bridges began to literally buckle under the weight of love. In 2014, police were forced to hurriedly evacuate the Pont des Arts bridge after a 2.4 metre section of the railing collapsed.

Headphones banned in cars

otorists and cyclists face stiff punishments from 1st July if they are caught using headphones while driving. Certain “integrated” solutions are still permitted, such as motorcycle helmets equipped with a mouthpiece or voice activated in-car systems, but the use of all other headphones or hands-free kits will be treated in the same way as if the driver were holding the phone to their ear - currently a maximum €135 fine and three points off their licence. “The hands-free kit prevents drivers hearing what is happening outside. The goal is that the driver remains aware of the outside world,” a spokesman for the interior ministry said when the changes were first announced earlier this year, pointing out that phone use is behind one

in ten serious road accidents. As an extension of this principle, road safety groups are encouraging smartphone users to download a new “Mode conduite” application that allows them to put their phone in “driving” mode. This disables certain notifications that may distract drivers and can even be configured to alert those sending incoming communications that the person they are trying to contact is currently at the wheel. A poll for Le Parisien revealed that the public was divided over the move, with 42 per cent of respondents saying that they didn't understand the need for a ban. The new rules were also blasted by drivers' organisation 40 Million d'Automobilistes, who said the changes were the latest example of the State's culture of “banning everything”. ■

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After failed campaigns to convince love-struck couples to upload selfies instead of attaching a padlock, authorities have now acted decisively and begun permanently removing sections of railings, replacing them with panels painted by street artists. These will in turn be replaced by transparent Plexiglas later this year. “It's the end of the padlocks,” said Bruno Julliard, Paris' deputy mayor. “They spoil the aesthetics of the bridge, are structurally bad for it and can cause accidents. We will remove nearly one million padlocks, or 45 tonnes. Paris should stay as the capital of love, couples should carry on declaring their love, proposing marriage, maybe on the Pont des Arts... but just not by using a love lock.” Paris city hall denied accusations that authorities were simply being killjoys, saying in a statement: “This phenomenon gives rise to two problems: a lasting degradation of the heritage of Paris and a risk to the safety of both Parisians and tourists.” As the first sections of railings were being removed, au-

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The end of the line for Paris' love locks

thorities also announced that a similar operation would take place on the nearby Pont de l'Archevêché, in the shadow of Notre-Dame Cathedral. The idea behind love locks is believed to have originated in Italy. In 2006, Italian author Federico Moccia wrote a scene in his book Ho voglia di te (I want you) in which the two protagonists write their names on a lock, which

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they attach to a lamp post on Rome’s Ponte Milvio, throwing the key into the Tiber River below. The book became a bestseller, then a movie, and soon crowds of lovestruck couples were visiting the bridge and imitating the story. Within a year, the mayor of Rome was forced to introduce fines for anyone leaving a padlock on the lamp post. From there, love locks spread

around the world and today, as well as in Paris, you can find them in places like Moscow, Seoul and New York. When locks began appearing in the UK on the Wilford suspension bridge in Nottinghamshire, one local joker took to the message boards to ask: “Why do all these couples seem to be involved in a threesome with someone called Chubb?!” ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

Letter delivered 138 years late Parking meter

eople may complain about falling standards at La Poste, but few could claim that their post was 138 years late! This was the case for one 80-year-old from the north of France, however, when she recently received a letter that had originally been posted to her great-grandfather on 27th January 1877. The letter, which ironically appears to have been marked “ship high speed”, was finally handdelivered to Thérèse Pailla by an equally confused postman. It was over 50,000 days late, but remarkably remained completely legible. The hand-written letter refers to an order of yarn from the spinning mill that her great-grandfather owned at the time, with various details of how the order should be delivered.

insults politician

P Her great-grandfather reportedly died back in 1897 without ever receiving the letter. Mrs Pailla said that although she knows her family tree, she does not know much detail of her ancestors.

La Poste has said it will investigate how the delay occurred, although one theory is that the letter was bought at auction by a collector and then put into the modern postal system. ■

Chilean magic cheese scam trial

woman, dubbed “Madame Gil” by the French press, has gone on trial for her part in a scam that conned thousands of Chileans into buying a kit to make “magic cheese” that they were told could be sold in France for huge profits. The victims were led to believe that the prized ingredient was in high demand by the French cosmetic industry for use in luxury beauty products. Gilberte Van Erpe told her victims the cheese was even used in creams favoured by celebrities such as Michael Jackson. In reality, the end product was worthless and the scam became one of the biggest pyramid schemes ever seen in South America. The “case of the magic cheese”, as it is has become known in France, began in 2005 when the 74-year-old French businesswoman began holding conferences around Chile, urging people to become home producers of the fermented product. For just €369 they could buy a kit containing filters and a special powder which, when mixed with milk and fermented, pro-

duced a sort of cheese they were told was highly sought after. To ensnare the initial victims, the kits were given away for free, and people were then paid for their first batches of “magic cheese” using money taken from more recent “investors”. This apparent success convinced them to reinvest their earnings and word of the easy money scheme soon spread. A subsequent Chilean investigation showed some 5,500 people were conned out of amounts of up to €168,000. Many people brought family and friends into the scheme, mortgaged their houses or became heavily indebted to invest in the kits, which raised an estimated €14.5 million for the scammers. The “magic cheese” never even left the country and was later found rotting in a Chilean warehouse. The scam collapsed in July 2006 and Van Erpe was arrested in the southern French city of Nice in 2008. Following several failed extradition attempts, Chilean authorities are now pursuing her through the French legal system in a trial that also involves three of her alleged accomplices. ■

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oliticians may be used to criticism from the press and even mild abuse from the wider public, but for Jean-François Copé, being insulted by his town’s parking meters was one step too far. The scandal-hit mayor of the town of Meaux filed an official complaint after a parking machine in his town began issuing tickets that labelled him a “thieving b**tard”. The politician was forced to resign as leader of the centre-right UMP party - since renamed The Republicans by new leader Nicolas Sarkozy - over revelations of a funding scandal linked to Sarkozy’s failed 2012 re-election bid. Ten people, including Mr Sarkozy’s campaign director, are facing charges although judges are yet to question Mr Copé over the allegations. Despite the scandal, Copé remains in charge of Meaux, although it would appear that he is not universally popular in his home town. Along with the usual information such as time and date of arrival, the parking tickets also carried the expletive-filled message on the bottom of each ticket. One employee of the ticketing company told French newspaper Le Parisien that it must have been a fellow member of staff, as accessing the system required a login, username and password. Authorities refused to rule out that a hacker could be behind the attack and said that they would carry out a thorough investigation. Before long, Le Figaro claimed that police had already narrowed their investigation towards a former employee of a company subcontracted to run the machines who had been fired, but allegedly found the time to hack the system before leaving the office. Despite filing the complaint on behalf of “shocked” residents, Copé took to social media and attempted to see the funny side, tweeting “À Meaux, il y a des horodateurs injurieux” - “In Meaux, we have abusive parking meters”. ■

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FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

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In the garden - jobs for July

hat a fabulous month this can be! Weather depending, you've got hot, sunny days where eating late outside is a real pleasure, with the heady scents of the garden at the end of the day. And it can be a month of extraordinary development in the garden, too. This year the first part of June was, for gardeners (though visiting family may disagree), mostly a very dry month, with cool night-time temperatures and a lot of wind. So the early season plant development for some things – notably tomatoes, courgettes, peppers, aubergines & chillies - was really slowed down. With the wetter spell we had towards the end of the month, and the hot sunny days, things have recovered well and just rocketed away. This is especially true in the veg garden, but also in the borders, where the end of season perennials like the asters, cardoons, heleniums, campanulas, etc. have shot up. Make sure they are either supported by surrounding plants, or securely staked. Dead head the first flush of roses to keep them going, but for the types which don't repeat, remember to leave some to develop into hips in the autumn. Keep the annuals in pots and summer bedding well dead-headed, too, and give them some food on a regular basis. Why not try nipping shoots off here

by Michelle Pierce

and there to make cuttings for later? Pop them into rooting powder, shake off the excess and then put into pots with damp compost. A clear freezer bag over the top to conserve moisture and place in a semi-shaded spot. See what happens. Sedums root so easily you don't need any rooting powder. The early flowering things have set seed, and foxglove seedlings, erigerons, nigella, lychnis, etc. are all over the place, so pot a few up for moving elsewhere in the garden, to give to friends, or to take to plant swaps, before eliminating those you don't want. Keep on top of weeds, and if you don't have the time to really dig them out, at least prune off the majority of seedheads, to stop them multiplying before you can get round to taking them out. But this is just a temporary measure. In the veg garden, check what kind of watering you need, but a good mulch really helps reduce this. It's much better to water in the evening rather than in the day, and a drip hose is generally much more efficient than a sprinkler. Keep picking stuff on a regular basis and try to do so as efficiently as possible. By this I mean that your picking should not only give you veg, but it should also help the remaining plants. Don't just pick from the end of the row. Try and take roots or plants every few centimetres, to free up space for the other plants. When you can see you have

a lot of the same thing coming, start picking some at a juvenile stage, thereby giving you a staggered production. After you've picked those at maturity, the first lot will normally catch up again. Optimise, optimise, optimise! By the same logic, non-pernicious weeds can get hoed out, left to dry for the day, and used as a mulch directly round courgettes, tomatoes, etc. Why give yourself the extra work of taking them to the compost heap and then later shifting the compost to your beds?! Keep some of your grass cuttings, too, to use later because August is usually very hard on plants. Leave them to dry instead of collecting them, and at the end of the day either spread directly on beds or put somewhere airy for storage. July is a good month to start thinking about your winter veg – strange, I know, when the veg garden is in its full flush but in 2-3 months' time what you are eating now will have gone over, so make space for sowing the later crops, and try to make a plan about where you'll put those cabbages and leeks that'll tide you over the winter months. When space has been liberated by, say, taking out potatoes or lettuces, clean the ground by hoeing, and then decide whether to replant something from a different family, sow a green manure, or put down a tex-

tile, for the time until the area is reoccupied. Don't leave unoccupied ground too long or it'll just get weedy. Keep sowing regularly, and in smaller rather than larger quantities. Keep an eye on the fruit garden: soft fruit needs regular picking, especially if there is rain that can damage the quality of the fruit, and orchard fruit needs thinning out to have better quality specimens. A percentage will fall by themselves, but if you see branches laden with small fruit, be hard-hearted and remove enough of them to give the others a better chance. Ensure water features and ponds are topped up, that the water quality is good (it should be pretty transparent), and that oxygenating plants or algae are not taking over too much. As you wander round cropping or picking flowers just for the pleasure, tie or prune back things that are overhanging paths, or suckers of blackberries, tayberries, etc. Go visit your friends' gardens and make a note of what takes your fancy… So, basically, maintain what you've got, keep things producing as much as possible and anticipate later. Lots to be doing, but you can see the fruits of your labours, and how nice is that??! Good gardening! ■

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14 ♦ PRACTICAL

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

Xylophages and Capricornes?

’m not referring to a musical instrument or an astrological star sign, but the French collective names for timber pests. There are many varieties which would take too long to go into, so this is a very general synopsis, referring to all as “woodworm” (except termites, which I will cover in another issue). The natural habitat of woodworm is outside, in dead tree trunks and branches. They find their way indoors usually by human intervention, which is why it’s so important to take your winter logs outside. The adults of most wood-boring beetle emerge from timber in

the spring and early summer to breed. After mating, the female will lay up to around 30 eggs, which are pressed into old holes, cracks and crevices of the wood. Depending on the temperature of the house, two to four weeks later, the eggs hatch; the young larvae (instar) will then begin to bore into the timber, generally following the grain. Both soft and hard woods are attacked, although the harder the wood, the longer it takes them to tunnel, and indeed complete their life cycle, which can take between 2 and 4 years depending on the wood, temperature, hardness and humidity. The final instar constructs a

pupation chamber just beneath the surface, whereupon the adult beetle emerges by chewing the cap off this chamber thus leaving a dust residue, proving you have an active infestation. Curing old infested timber is difficult, as accessing all timber joints and surfaces is often difficult or impossible. Severe infestations will probably require the wood to be replaced. When removing infested wood, treat it gently; banging seven bells or throwing it out the 3rd floor window is the best way to spread an infestation. If possible, wrap it up, then burn it. Now is the perfect time of the

year to treat woodworm, as the majority of beetles, eggs and larvae will be on or very close to the surface. Perméthrine based wood treatment products have a residual effect of up to 10 years; the chemical is absorbed into the wood which is then toxic to the woodworm. In my opinion, application with a pressurised spray is sufficient. It has the advantage of being a fraction of the cost of injecting and the spray can penetrate into the existing holes made by their host, killing the majority of larvae and preventing adults laying eggs. Care must always be taken before any treatment is carried out to ensure that bats are not present or have been present in the

premises to be treated. Bats are protected, so if there is any evidence of them contact eurobats. org who have a list of bat conversation societies in France. ■ For more information on this topic or anything else to do with pest control, please contact Robert Moon from Applicateur 3D:

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How to make an official complaint in France This month Prune CALONNE, English-speaking avocat in Toulouse and The Bugle’s resident lawyer, explains how to file a complaint with the relevant authorities. What should I do if a crime has been committed? You should dial 17 or 112 to get in touch with the police or the gendarmerie. The gendarmerie are the force in charge in rural areas; the police in urban areas. How do I file a complaint? You either go to a police station or the gendarmerie nearest to the crime, or you can write to the “Procureur de la République” (State prosecutor) who covers the area where the crime was committed. Your statement is taken by the police or the gendarmes. Once it is finished, re-read it carefully, and make sure you receive and keep the receipt. DO NOT LEAVE THE PREMISES UNTIL YOU HAVE THIS DOCUMENT! You need to keep the numéro de procédure (statement number) as without this, it is really

likely that you will not be able to follow anything up. If you write to the French prosecutor, you need to write in FRENCH, via RECORDED DELIVERY WITH RECEIPT SLIP. This will allow you to prove the date you sent the complaint and the date it was received. What if I do not speak French? According to some embassies, it is possible to file a complaint without speaking French as translators can be provided for free upon request. I have to say I am quite sceptical about this and just in case I would advise you to ask a friend, an acquaintance or a neighbour who is either fluent or native to accompany you for support and to help with the language considering that your statement has to be as accurate as possible.

Why would I want to file a complaint?

It might be because you have been assaulted and you feel like you have been the victim of some injustice, for insurance purposes or to get new ID reissued. Indeed, most insurance companies will only refund you if an official complaint has been filed in the country where the crime has been committed. So if your phone, your car or your ID is stolen, your home or holiday house broken into, you need to report it officially and forward evidence of it to your insurance company or to the embassies. (That is where the statement receipt will come in handy.) What are the essential pieces of information needed in my statement? • Personal details • Description of the facts • ID of the offender if known • Names and addresses of any potential witnesses • Damages suffered (proof of ownership, receipts). If you have suffered physical

injuries, you need to go to the A&E (urgences) to get a certificate from the doctor describing the wounds (“certificat médical”). What is the deadline to make a statement? The sooner you make a statement, the better! You need to have a clear head about details as these will fade with time. Legally you have between one to 10 years to report the crime. The longer you wait, the less weight your statement will receive from the authorities and the court. What shall I do if I want some follow up? You need to write to the prosecutor. For this, IT IS CRUCIAL that you indicate the numéro de procedure on the statement receipt. If the case goes to court and if you cannot get over it and consider you have been a victim, you might want to be a civil claimant in the procedure (“partie civile”). From then on, I would suggest that you get an English-

speaking lawyer to assist you. It is not compulsory, but unless you are absolutely fluent in French and have a good knowledge of the court system, I would think twice about going alone. Bear in mind that any evidence, witness statement, receipts, etc. MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO FRENCH to be used in a court of law in France. ■

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.

PRACTICAL ♦ 15

JULY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Buy-to-Let in France can be doubly attractive

or those who have a private pension in the UK the prospect of a buy-to-let investment in France can be a potentially tax efficient option. Not only do the new Pension Freedoms that came into effect this Spring mean savers can access their pension pot in a tax efficient way, but new incentives offered by the French government to boost the housing market are also an enticing prospect. If you are 55 or over it is now possible to access your private pension directly and take out

25 per cent completely free of UK tax. If you are tax resident in France different conditions may apply and you are strongly advised to consult a financial expert. However it may well be possible to take advantage of the flexible drawdown provision that is enabled by the UK legislation and then invest in a French property with a mortgage paid for by monthly drawdowns on the pension pot. Not all UK providers are letting investors use flexible drawdown, however, despite the legislation giving it the go-

ahead - although there are several who say they will. So it may be worthwhile transferring funds to a provider who does. The reason is that if you then use it to pay off a French mortgage on a property that is let all year round, you can offset mortgage payments and money spent on improvements against your personal income tax. In effect, therefore, this could be a way in which you could access your pension pot tax free. There are conditions attached - the most important being that you have to commit to have the

property rented as a primary address over a five-year period. French rents are cheap - typically 400 - 650 euros a month - so you will not want to invest more than around 100,000 euros in any one investment property to get a return of between 4.8 pc - 7.8 pc before costs. You may not wish to commit to five years to an all year round tenancy because of the heavy protections afforded to renters in France but instead prefer to rent seasonally. This also has tax advantages but not so great. However, you will be able to get a 50 pc re-

Capital Gains Tax on Property Are you looking to buy a property in France? Or do you already own one? Either way you need to know what sort of tax to expect if and when you come to sell the property.

f you sell a French property, you will be liable to French capital gains tax whether you are resident in France or not. If you are resident, then you will also have to pay the tax on any property you sell, whether it is in France, the UK or elsewhere. You will pay on the full gain, even if you bought the property a long time before you moved to France. Gains on property are taxed at a fixed rate of 19%. There are currently surtaxes, which can push the tax rate up to 25%, as follows: Gain

Surtax Rate

Total Tax

Up to €50,000

€50,001 - €60,000

21%

€60,001 - €100,000

22%

€100,001 - €150,000

22%

€150,001 - €160,000

23%

€160,001 - €200,000

23%

€200,001 - €210,000

24%

€210,001 - €250,000

24%

Above €250,000

25%

Social charges are also levied on top of the capital gains tax, at a rate of 15.5%. This makes a total top tax rate of 40.5%. These are the 2015 rates and may change in future. The good news is that the main home is exempt from tax. You benefit from this exemption provided the property is your habitual and actual residence at the time of sale. This is not time apportioned. So even if you owned a property for many years without living in it, it will still be fully exempt from tax if is your habitual home at the time you sell it. On the other hand, if you leave a property without having sold it you could lose relief completely, even if you had previously lived in it for many years. However, the exemption can apply for up to 12 months after you move out, as long as you put it on the market while you are still living in it. In most cases, this exemption also applies if the property is held in an SCI (Société Civile Immobilière), which is a French property holding

company. This applies whether the property itself is sold, or the shares of the SCI. If you are selling a property that is not your main home, there is a taper relief system that will lower the amount of tax and social charges due, depending on how long you have owned the property. From the 6th year of ownership to the 21st year, the tax due is reduced by 6% each year. For the 22nd year it is reduced by 4%. This means that once you have owned a property for 22 years, there is no tax to pay. From the 6th year of ownership to the 21st year, the social charges due are reduced by 1.65% each year. For the 22nd year it is 1.6%. Then for years 23 to 30 the reduction is 9% each year. Therefore no social charges are due if you have owned a property for 30 years. France also provides an age-related exemption, depending on your income and wealth. If you are in receipt of a state pension or hold an invalidity card, you do not pay capital gains tax on the sale of real estate if: • You do not have a liability to wealth tax in the tax year preceding the year before sale, and • Your taxable income in that tax year was below a certain level. For 2015 gains the 2014 income limit is €10,633 for the first part of the household, and €2,839 for each additional half part. Gains can also be exempt if you use the proceeds to invest in acquiring a main home. So if you own a property that you do not live in, then sell it and use the profits to buy or construct a home, and you have not owned a main home for the preceding four years, you do not have to pay capital gains tax. If you have development land to sell this year, there is an exceptional 30% for gains on land sold before 31st December 2015. UK property Prior to April 2015, non-UK residents did not have to pay tax on the sale of UK property, provided the gain was made in a complete year of non-residence in the UK and they remained non-resident for five complete and consecutive tax years. This has now changed, and if you sell UK residential property while resident in France (or in any other country), you are liable to capital gains tax in the UK under the same rules applied to UK

Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017

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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.

residents. However it is only the gain since 6th April 2015 that is taxed. The gain is also fully taxable in France, though under the UK/France double tax treaty you do not have to pay tax twice. You receive a credit in France for any UK tax paid on disposal. French residents also pay the 15.5% social charges on gains arising on UK real estate. In this case, there is no UK equivalent to get a credit for. Non-residents Non-residents owning French property are fully liable for French tax on the sale of the property. From 2012 they became liable to social charges as well (before only the residents paid these taxes). However, this has been overturned by the European Court of Justice. In February 2015 it ruled that charging French residents working outside France, and non-residents with French source unearned income (this includes capital

duction on your income tax for any rent received from a seasonally rented second home. With the pound having recently hit a six-year high against the euro, French property is now even more attractive price wise, but I stress please take professional advice if you are considering this investment strategy. ■ Adrian Lithgow is Channel 4’s Place in the Sun property consultant for Dordogne. He can be reached at Agence Valadie Immobilier, Issigeac, by emailing adrian@valadie-immobilier.com or phoning 06 02 24 92 62.

gains) social charges was discriminatory. Therefore if, for example, you are a UK national living in Britain, you should not have to pay social charges on any gains made when you sell French real estate. As always with French tax, it can be more complicated than first appears, so you do need to seek professional advice to establish exactly what your tax liabilities are and what tax planning opportunities are available. This also applies to selling a UK property as part of your move to France. If you have not moved yet, seek advice before you sell in the UK and buy in France. ■ Blevins Franks, the leading international tax and wealth management advisers to UK nationals living in Europe, with decades of experience advising British expatriates moving to and living in France www.blevinsfranks.com 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.

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

Business Directory

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

Animals & Pets DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS

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

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

Email : dordogne@willtowin.co.uk

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

Your advert here

Siret: 499 234 615 00015

05 55 41 17 76

06 31 98 92 07

05 55 41 17 76

Auto Services

Building Services

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

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

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

Architectural Services

05 53 58 55 38 and home of CANOUAN ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS Puppies sometimes available

Your advert here

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

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

www.motorpartscharente.com Delivery via UPS direct to your door in France

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

motorptscharente@aol.com

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

ADVERTORIAL

Les Vielles Pierres - Eymet Hotel/Restaurant

he story behind Les Vieilles Pierres, a hotel restaurant in Eymet, is a family one. Jean and Alice Combaud took over the farm, situated on a small hill just south of the popular bastide town, in

1954. In the years that followed, Jean and Alice started their family and soon had 6 children, who now all live on and around the farm. Jacques, the oldest, and Laurent, the youngest, still run the organic farm established by their

Much has changed since its days as a farm

parents as well as a local organic vineyard.

Claudine and Pascal started a restaurant in the old barn in 1989, followed by the hotel in 1997 which was the first - and is still the only hotel in Eymet. The restaurant building is well over 100 years old

and for a long time dairy cows would pass through the room where diners now enjoy gourmet regional dishes. Some of the 11 rooms at the hotel are located in the old family house, with other custom-built rooms added over the years. All the rooms surround a relaxing patio area that is shaded by a 100-year-old walnut tree. Head chef Pascal is also a pastry chef who loves making his own desserts. Over the years Pascal and Claudine have transformed this small restaurant and hotel into a welcoming and relaxing place where anybody can stop to relax and enjoy

Today, the farm is a modern hotel & restaurant

the Périgord cuisine and local Bergerac wines. When you visit Les Vieilles Pierres, you

are not only coming to a restaurant, you also experiencing a traditional piece of Périgord history. ■

Les Vielles Pierres «La Gilette» - 24500 EYMET 05 53 23 75 99 www.lesvieillespierres.fr

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

JULY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Widen your reach when selling or renting property Whether renting or selling your French home, buyfrenchproperty.co.uk can help you strike a great deal.

ITH a database of 2 million people in the UK, buyfrenchproperty.co.uk can help you reach out to a new marketplace when selling or renting out your French property. If selling a house, when the company has a potential buyer, it will pass them on to the seller. It is then up to the seller to show buyers around and answer any questions. Company founder Rod Major said: “The seller has to follow the process to completion, as they will be saving thousands of euros in estate agent fees.”

By making its messages compelling, Rod feels his company gets the best results. “Have a look at our dedicated website. We get very high levels of traffic to the site – around 200,000 hits a month,” he said. “We ask people to complete a form if they would like more details about a property and - if we feel a person is interested we email them and take it to a point where we hand them to the seller.” The company charges an upfront fee of €295 to list a property on its website and create an e-shot that is emailed to its buyer database, who are mainly business professionals. Rod emails around 250,000 businesses every week and finds the upfront fee is a good way of finding serious sellers. Another part of Rod’s company

- Stay in France - is for property owners looking to rent out houses. The company creates great exposure in the UK through marketing each holiday rental to its extensive database. Stay in France’s website charges an upfront fee of €95 to list a property. Those interested in renting will then go through the company before contacting the owner. “We operate as the middleman, and don’t take a fee from anyone other than the property owner, but this happens only after the client has been paid,” said Rod. The two parts of Rod’s company come together perfectly when people decide to rent a property in France before buying. “We have seen many holiday home owners turning their hand to a more flexible approach with lets of up to 12 months and by

offering storage solutions too,” he said. “So whatever our customers need, whether a holiday home, long-term rentals or property sales, we can help,” he added. ■

For more details, see the website or call. Tel: 06 77 80 20 68 rod@stayinfrance.fr www.buyfrenchproperty.co.uk

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76

Building Services Architectural Services ElsaConception

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

Tel: 06.87.09.38.94

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

Building Services

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

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

Electricians

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

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 @iret: 794 282 368 00016

General

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

Web: http://www.elsaconception.com

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Building Services

Solaire Power

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

www.solaire-power.eu

Tel : 05 53 56 66 61 / 05 53 91 85 32 24340 Ste-Croix-de-Mareuil siret : 511 301 038 00036

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

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, BATHROOMS, TILING, GUTTERING, WOOD CONSTRUCTION, PLASTERBOARDING, INSULATION. BASED IN PERIGORD NOIR COMPETITIVE PRICING

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Building Services

T : 06 38 71 08 36

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

CHARKER DAVID

Specialist in the renovation and restoration of period and contemporary buildings

Painters/ Decorators

All small works undertaken

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

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Simon Carter

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

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

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

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

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France, UK and Europe - €16 per year

Email us for more details - subscriptions24@thebugle.eu or visit www.thebugle.eu

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

ADVERTORIAL

Ivan Petley - 3D Puzzle Maker

xpat Ivan Petley is a traditional puzzle maker, but one with a difference. All his puzzles are handcrafted and one of a kind - nothing too unusual there - but Ivan’s puzzles are also three-dimensional, multi-layered and fully interlocking. That stands him apart from the crowd; in fact, it stands him alone - to the best of his knowledge, he is the only person in the world currently handmaking puzzles in this way.

Building Services

Each of Ivan's puzzles is hand-cut from a single piece of hardwood, typically beech, maple, yew or sycamore. The individual pieces are then hand-finished by Ivan’s wife, Alison. No chemicals, varnishes or treatments are used on the wood at any time, just natural oils and beeswax, a process that maintains the natural colour and feel of the wood. These are puzzles that will last a lifetime… and far beyond! So, the puzzles are ‘simple’ to make and naturally treated… but are they simple to solve? Absolutely not!! Part of the challenge of assembling a three-dimensional puzzle is that not only do you have to fit the right piece in the correct place, but it must also be assembled in the correct order! Solving a simple one may take less than an hour, but for larger puzzles be prepared to set aside a good chunk of your day! And for such unique, complex and beautiful creations, Ivan’s puzzles are very reasonably priced. A small 12-piece yew log sells for a mere €9. Ivan also produces handmade key rings for just €2 so you are sure to find a gift to suit every budget. Ivan can turn absolutely anything into a puzzle - just tell him what you want and he can

Sat-Elec Formerly Electrosat

UK & French Satellite TV

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

TOOWAY BROADBAND Approved Supplier

Plumbers

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

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER

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

- 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

05 55 09 15 73

siret no 798 364 600 00014

Your advert here

Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

05 55 41 17 76

Computers & Satellites

Food & Drink

E : wellers@orange.fr

make it! A favourite car and the name of a loved one are just two of Ivan’s recent custom-made creations. The puzzles can also be pyrographed with a name or a date to mark any occasion. These handmade masterpieces make the perfect gift!

Find Ivan at the following markets:

Ivan has been working with wood all his life and his expertise is not limited to his puzzles. He has also custom-built a wide range of toys including a scale model of a truck and a huge ark complete with animals (both pictured). ■ Ivan & Alison Petley 05 55 80 29 98 alison.petley@wanadoo.fr

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

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

05 53 80 29 54

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

4th & 5th July 11th July 18th & 19th July 25th & 26th July 9th August 14/15/16th August

** We are adding new dates all the time - please phone to check

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning

PROCHEM trained and Qualified

Restaurant Le Commensal 54 bis, rue du 26 Mars 1944 - 24600 Ribérac

Open 12h-14h & 19h-22h Private car park Terrace Homemade fresh food Holder of “Restaurant de Qualité” award

Tel: 05 53 90 46 28

General

Festival du Bois de la Pierre et de l’Eau, 87520 Cieux Marché Artisanal, 15350 Champagnac Le Bois en Fête, 19160 Liginiac Festival Médiéval d’Egletons, Ventadour 19300 Egletons Exposition des Métiers d’Art, Chard, 23700 Auzances Les Journées Artisanales d’Art, Meymac 19250

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

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

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

'ROUSSIS MAID'

APRONS HAND-CRAFTED CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

Quality product at affordable prices. Customized, if required, especially for you. Available blank or with either English or French greetings.

Email: ellinghamroam764@yahoo.com VISIT ME AT THE FOLLOWING MARKETS: PIEGUT (Wed), BRANTOME (Fri) AIGRE, CHASSENEUIL & CONFOLENS (Monthly) FIND OUR CARDS AT: Magazin Artisanat, Confolens Send an email to sign up to the newsletter

Tel: 06 86 89 81 02 siret 528 539 448

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

Pest Control

Gifts & Crafts Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais Solve your Internet, wireless and computer problems

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

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

The Dordogne Chippy

Central France Pest Control

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Monday: Domaine des Mathevies (Jul/Aug) 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

Ivan Petley

3D Puzzle Maker

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

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

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

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

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

JULY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Property Sales

Retail & Commerce

Eco Entrepot aka The Shed

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

Transport, Removals & Storage

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

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

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

SECONDHAND CLOTHING for the whole family

ABJAT-SUR-BANDIAT

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

Tel: 06 79 04 10 21

bookstop

Your advert here

Quality second-hand books in English & French 19 rue Victor Hugo 24310 BRANTÔME

05 55 41 17 76

09 51 45 57 49 Relax and browse in comfort Hot and cold drinks served

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

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

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 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

05 55 33 21 59 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

MICHAELS MOVERS

DSD Removals & Storage

Removals

The Removal Experts

UK ↔ France ↔ UK

France ↔ UK

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

0800 840 3058 Mob: +44 (0)7808 338 386 Removals, storage & house clearance in Dordogne

06 73 96 38 39 (FR) www.michaelsmovers.freeindex.co.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

+44 (0)1274 724 545

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

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-

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

- 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.

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

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

6-Month Contract €108

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

30 words max

20 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

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

Wednesday

As always, new members are welcome, be they players, social members or just lovers of the game. Our teas - and tea ladies - are renowned throughout the Aquitaine!

notices@thebugle.eu

Full details of ECC, including a fixture list, past history, match reports, contact details, etc. can be found on the website: www.eymetcricket.com

Do you have an event for The Bugle?

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

The club also has a very active junior section, coaching youngsters and bringing them on to join the senior team.

Friday

Sunday

Thursday

Tuesday

Eymet Cricket Club is busy preparing for its 32nd season. At least 22 matches, either home or away, are scheduled for this year.

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

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

Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Sigoulès Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord

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

05 55 41 17 76

Monday

Market Days

Let Shaman Cast His Magic Shaman is a five-year-old German Shepherd cross looking for a home after spending several months in the Bergerac SPA pound. He is a well trained and responsive dog, understanding the instructions ‘sit’, ‘give paw’ and ‘lie down’. He is playful, loves to go for walks and play ball. He has not yet been socialised with other dogs, but loves people - although he is adventurous and does not stick to you like glue! Anyone who would like to give a home to this super animal can contact the SPA on 05 53 63 98 46 or email adoption@spa24bergerac.org Volunteer dog walkers are always welcome and needed!

Cantabile

CANTABILE is the Eymet based choir, part of the Association Culturelle Franco-Anglaise d’Aquitaine (AAFCA) which brings the French and British communities together through music.

Formed over 20 years ago, the choir performs a blend of music, from classical to popular under the leadership of musical director Simon Kenworthy. Simon was musical director of the Scarborough Spa orchestra for many years, has appeared on TV and radio and still performs as a pianist and singer. In the past season, the choir have performed locally in Eymet, commemorating the beginning of the First World War, a Come and Sing event, culminating in a Scratch performance of Trial by Jury and three concerts singing Vivaldi’s Gloria, extracts from Opera and innovative arrangements of popular music. Next year’s programme will be published shortly. There are currently some 30 members and new members are always welcome. Please contact Philippa by email: cogulot@yahoo.co.uk

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES – JULY 2015

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

SUNDAY 05 JULY 10:30 Service of the Word – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Worship – Monteton 11:00 Holy Communion – Doudrac 11:00 Holy Communion – Sainte Nathalène 17:00 Evensong - Limeuil 18:00 Evensong – Bertric Burée Wednesday 08 July 11:00 BCP Holy Communion – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 12 JULY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Morning Worship - Dondas 10:30 Morning Worship – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes 11:00 Morning Worship – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 16 July 10:30 BCP Holy Communion - Limeuil SUNDAY 19 JULY 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Holy Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship - Limeuil 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – St Médard 11:00 Holy Communion – Sainte Nathalène SUNDAY 26 JULY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Morning Worship - Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes 11:00 Service of the Word – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 30 July 11:00 Holy Communion - Condom

JULY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

WHAT’S

La Table des Producteurs The “Producers’ Table” brings together a dozen local producers for a market every Friday evening from 6 pm in July and August. Bring your cutlery, the tables are set for 7 pm! This is the opportunity to taste 100% local produce (crudités, pork, duck, foie gras, goats cheese, nuts, summer fruits, ice creams and wine...) and to enjoy the warm atmosphere & music. RDV place de l’Eglise. For more information contact Issigeac tourist office on 05 53 58 79 62 or at ot.issigeac@orange.fr or visit www.issigeac-tourisme.fr

Le Premier FESTIBIO du RIBERACOIS organised by the Association OSONS BIO

LA MEYFRENIE, VERTEILLAC - 11th July This inaugural Organic Food Festival of the Ribérac Region will be held in the farm of La Meyfrenie at Verteillac on 11th July 2015, starting at 2pm. There will be a full programme of events, including a producers’ market, cooking workshops with a local chef, permaculture growing techniques, demonstrations of horse-drawn farm equipment, children’s activities including a taste workshop, bread making, an exhibition on biodiversity, a bookshop... and much more! From 7pm there will be music (BAL TRAD) provided by LE TRIO DELTHEIL and organic meals will be available from the producers’ market. Visit our Facebook site for more information (in French): www.facebook.com/pages/Festibio/353572018176229

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2015

Sarlat Theatre Festival

Giant Music Festival in Périgord

18th July - 3rd August

It seems like forever that Le Grand Souk has been turning the Périgord Vert inside out, but in fact this annual event only began in 2008. Since then Ribérac’s own huge music festival has being blowing away thousands of fans every year in this 3-day event featuring dozens of top bands. Le Grand Souk runs from 23rd - 25th July. There are 9 bands on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 6 pm until the early hours. Thursday night is free; a two-night ticket for Friday and Saturday costs from €46.

The Sarlat Theatre Festival is one of the city’s great institutions. Since 1952 it has animated the ancient stones of the city during the summer. It is the oldest festival of its type after Avignon, the first in Aquitaine and one of the most well known throughout France. Performances take place in the open air, against the magical background of the medieval city, every evening between 18th July and 3rd August. The last production is “Travels with My Aunt” by Graham Greene.

The festival has a special, high-grade Souk campsite, eateries, all mod cons and promises to be even better for 2015 with daytime markets and fairs all around Ribérac town.

Visit www.legrandsouk.com for more information.

Credit: orchestre-aloha.fr

For more information tel 05 53 31 10 83 or visit www.festival-theatre-sarlat.com

Fête du Spardos 25th July - Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière On 25th July a Dordogne town will relive its ancient past when the Legend of the Spardos rises again. Lost in the mists of time (at least as far back as 1999) the ancient, revered texts are read to the crowds, recalling the recipe of the secret drink that may only be brewed and quaffed on this very night, the last Saturday of July. This is Saint-Pardoux-la-Rivière in the Périgord Vert, where the football club (the Spardos) hold their massive nocturnal street-feast every year. The heart of the event is the potion concocted by dark habit-clad monks, adepts of the secret brew. It was this very brotherhood who also concocted the legend and the recipe 16 years ago. Footy club members serve the thousands who gather for the music, dancing, hog roasting, feasting and fun in the streets of the little town. Very much a family event, Spardos Night has restaurants from fast food to five star, bands in the streets, stalls, music and dance and especially, its own kind of ambiance. Didier Gachon, last year’s president said, “It’s a wonderful night. We start at 6 pm and go on until the early hours... and it’s free!”

VERTEILLAC NIGHT MARKET Friday 31st July (18h00 til late) Annual ARTS & CRAFTS Market All Bars & Restaurants open LARGE PARKING AREAS FUN FOR ALL THE FAMILY

At the end of July each year, Montignac is host to a world folklore and dance festival. This 35th edition invites performers from Bulgaria, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Ireland, Peru, Portugal, Scotland, Tibet and Togo. Tel: 05 53 50 14 00 or visit: www.festivaldemontignac.fr

Croquez Sarlat Lunchtime guided walking tour (in French) on Thursday 30th July at 12h30. Meet in front of La Maison de la Boétie in the medieval centre of Sarlat. Eat’n’stroll or just stroll. This 45-minute tour explores the Eglise Sainte-Marie and the work of Jean Nouvel. Walks in June to September will reveal writers’ Sarlat and in October to December they will take a look at Sarlat’s architectural gems. This is a year-long series, starting at the same time and same place, every last Thursday of the month. For more info contact the Service du Patrimoine on 05 53 29 82 98 / 05 53 29 86 68 or at dacruz.karine@sarlat.fr

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JULY 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Music in the Dordogne sponsored by ARCADES Join us for concerts in the air conditioned new hall in Le Buisson, mostly of classical music, with top class French, English, Russian and other international performers. Concert tickets cost €15 including wine in the interval. All events are organised by volunteers and serve also as a meeting ground for the French and international communities of the Dordogne.

Venue - Le Buisson de Cadouin, Nouvelle Salle des Fêtes, Avenue Aquitaine

For more info, tel 06 87 88 15 33 or 05 53 23 86 22 or visit http://www.arcadesinfo.com/

UPCOMING CONCERT Sun 2nd August 21:00 Piano recital by pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei Programme – Bach Goldberg Variations In partnership with The Association Acadine of Domme ZHU Xiao-Mei, internationally renowned Chinese pianist, is regularly invited to join the jury of international piano competitions.

FestiVillars

This summer RoughCast brings “As You Like It” to the Dordogne. One of Shakespeare’s best-loved comedies, it involves warring brothers, a cross-dressing lover and more comic turns than most of the other comedies put together. The heroine, Rosalind, disguised as a man, takes full advantage of her male disguise to play the leading role in her romance with Orlando. Add in some of Shakespeare’s most memorable speeches, amorous shepherds and good-hearted yokels and you have a perfect summer evening’s entertainment. This will be RoughCast’s 12th Shakespeare tour since Macbeth in 1999. RoughCast tour Suffolk and Norfolk with productions noted for their pace, clarity and lively characterisation. They perform in country houses and gardens, on village greens, in theatres, at zoos and castles, bringing classic plays to life with vibrancy and zest.

World Music Concert Boschaud Abbey 15th August Concert of Tangos from Argentina featuring the music of Argentina’s greatest composer of tangos, Astor Piazzola, with the Azanca Quintet: piano, double bass, violin, guitar and accordion. Concert starts at 15h30 Tickets: €15, free for Under 16s For more information visit www.festivillarsenperigordvert.com

Sarrazac Arts et Musiques 2015 Programme Sarrazac Arts et Musiques have been in existance since 2009 and stage musical events, an art exhibition and a Christmas market each year. The musical events in the salle des fêtes are priced at 8 euros. The church event is ‘libre participation’. Sunday 12th July, 17h Eglise Trio Aubert – Mendelssohn Violin, cello, piano Sunday 22nd August, 20h30 Salle des fêtes Rocket – Blues, rock & soul Quator Rock Sunday 22nd November, 10h-17h Salle des fêtes Marché de Noël For more information tel 06 16 83 53 74 or email simonjfenn@aol.com

An exhibition of two Artists presenting HDR Photography and Fine Art at BISART - Dordogne La Faval - 24220 Coux-et-Bigaroque 05 53 30 24 33 - Jan Bernard Weenink

The Exhibition will be open from 9th to 30th August 2015 and the Artists will be present for the opening of the exhibition on Sunday 9th August - doors open at 3pm with a welcome drink and canapés

Boris Huguenel

Fine art painting of landscape and seascape email: borischarles@sky.com - Twitter: @borispainting Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Boris-Huguenel/980756721952312 You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CI3x6JF84R08HYABkW3PA &

Gary Winch Presents

An Introduction to HDR - High Dynamic Range Photography Email: gary65win@yahoo.co.uk - Tel: +44 (0)7725 082 058

notices@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

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