The Bugle Dordogne - Jul 2017 by The Bugle

The Tour de France is coming to town

After a three-year break, the world’s largest annual sporting event is back in the Dordogne >> Page 3 November 2016 - Issue #85

Dordogne

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July 2017 - Issue 49 - FREE!

Pollution stickers become compulsory Although the Crit'Air pollution stickers were introduced last year, new legislation has made it compulsory for car owners to display them in restricted areas.

introduction, other cities have adopted the scheme, such as Grenoble and Lyon. The six different coloured Crit’Air stickers indicate the age and cleanliness of a vehicle, ranging from a level 1 to a level 5 sticker for the most polluting; there is also a green sticker for electric or hydrogen vehicles. Whilst the scheme was met with much fanfare and the threat of fines, there has not been any official legislation making the stickers compulsory, so a driver with a sticker in a zone where their car was currently prohibited would be fined, but a car without a sticker faced no sanction.

>> continued on page 8

Dordogne’s beaches open for summer - pg 3

Crackdown on driver phone usage - pg 9

Renowned matador dies in France - pg 11

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 16-19

uthorities in France have long been battling car pollution in an attempt to improve the country’s air quality, especially in and around Paris. A major move in this fight was the introduction of antipollution stickers which must displayed in vehicle windscreens, allowing authorities to restrict certain vehicles from the roads during times of poor air quality. The Crti’Air sticker scheme initially applied to vehicles travelling inside the capital’s périphérique ring road and covered cars, lorries, motorcycles and scooters, but also banned some vehicles from the city during weekdays. Since its

The growing threat to France's favourite patisserie - page 7

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

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s I write this, the temperature outside is barely into double figures and a low, grey gloom has settled in for the day. I’m not actually considering lighting the fire, but neither am I worrying about dehydration and sun tan lotion. What a contrast to a few short days ago when it was about as hot as I remember it ever being in my part of France... and in June no less!! I’m not great at heat, but mercifully it was still cooling down enough at night to ensure that sleep could be had under open windows. It is at times like that when you realise the advantage of inward opening windows and outward facing shutters... both far less common in the UK. It was ironic that on the longest days of the year, most of the country was living in a state of permanent semidarkness, shuttered up and hunkered down. If you want to see an athlete at work, watch my wife enter a warm building in the middle of winter. The door is opened a crack and she somehow “pours” herself through the narrow gap in a fraction of a second

and the door is closed again before you know it. But that is nothing compared to the speed with which we were coming and going during the recent canicule, so starkly aware we were that once the house had heated up, it was never going to cool down. I spend much of the colder months shouting “don’t let the heat out” at my children, but, having grown up in Britain, I am less familiar with the opposite concept. After the recent heat wave, however, I now have a new phrase in my locker: “laisse pas entrer la chaleur !” - “don’t let the heat in!” The spike in temperatures coincided with a two-day trip that required me spending most of each day in the car – thankfully with air con! For someone with a 3,500-kilometre paper round, this is not in itself an unusual event, and coming up with new and inventive ways to pass the time behind the wheel is something of a hobby of mine. A sure sign of the passing years is that I have taken to listening to Radio 2 a lot more at home, something that would have seemed laughable to my

30-year-old self. These days, I completely agree with what my parents used to say and can’t understand why anyone would listen to Radio 1 - that’s not music, it’s just noise! As an aside, I have a theory that your brain is pre-wired to like a certain number of songs and once you have heard that many, it refuses to let any more in and anything new gets parked under “din”! I am constantly shocked to learn that recent albums I like were actually released over 15 years ago! I digress. As I set off the other day, I decided to test the iPlayer Radio app on my smartphone and live stream the Chris Evans breakfast show (hands free and on a bluetooth speaker... I’m not one of the naughty ones see page 9). To my amazement it kept going and going and going and three hours later I was listening to him hand over to Ken Bruce (at which point I switched off... maybe give it another five-or-so years - I’m not sure I’m quite old enough for Ken yet). To think I could drive around central France live streaming UK radio would have blown my mind when I first moved here. The reality is that nowadays, the internet speeds are faster out and about on my phone than via the copper line into my house. Discovering that I can listen to UK radio live has opened up a world of opportunities for my long days in the car. And before anyone complains, to the best of my knowledge, it is perfectly legal to use the iPlayer Radio app in France, which is not IPblocked and does not require a

licence like the standard BBC iPlayer. The end of June also marked the start of brocante season for me, as my commune always puts theirs on quite early in the summer. The weather was glorious and we headed up the road en famille. On paper, this was a pointless exercise as the dozen or so trestle tables contained the same collection of old Pastis glasses and VHS cassettes as last year. In the course of browsing this slightly random assortment of knickknacks, however, we must have spoken to fifty people, visited some friends for an aperitif, tired out the 2-year-old and passed a very pleasant afternoon in the sun. Result! Even if the stall holders didn’t make a single centime, everyone was a winner and it reminded me how nice it is to live in a small, but tight-knit community.

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INSIDE this edition 3-6 Local News 7-12 National News

Until next month!

13-15 French Life

Steve Martindale, Editor

16-19 Directory 19 Community 20-24 What’s On

Copy deadline for advertising and content:

15th July for August’s print edition

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

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Dordogne beaches open for summer

Tour de France visits Dordogne

J Saint-Estèphe lake

iming nicely with mid-June’s heatwave, the department has declared all its beaches open and fully lifeguarded. The Conseil Général takes safety seriously and in September last year, as schools reopened after the summer holidays, beaches were cordoned off in some areas as gendarmes were tasked with keeping late-season would-be bathers off the sands and out of the water. Supervised hours on the Dordogne’s beaches run daily from 1st July to 31st August from 11 am to 7 pm. From 1st to 6th September they are open from 1 pm to 7 pm on weekdays, and 11 am to 7 pm at weekends. The Dordogne has invested heavily in setting up these excellent leisure facilities, ensuring disabled access, and installing public toilets, showers, sun loungers... all of which

are free. As well as the life-saving teams, each site has a dedicated staff to maintain the beach areas and keep the surrounding walks and woods clean, safe and welcoming. Special events include treasure hunts, bike tours, waterskiing for children, pedal cruisers, bouncy castles, archery, and much more! Each site also has its own programme of events through to the end of August. The Dordogne boasts 4 main lakeside sites, each with catering facilities and free parking: Saint-Estèphe near Nontron; Gurson near Villefranche-de-Lonchat; La Jemaye in the Forest of Double; and Rouffiac near Angoisse in the east of the department. The water quality is carefully monitored and up-to-date analysis of results is posted for the public to consult at the lakeside. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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uly sees the start of the world’s largest annual sporting event, the Tour de France, and this year the peloton will be spending several days in the Dordogne. The area will feature in 2 days’ racing: stage 10 on Tuesday 11th July between Périgueux and Bergerac, and stage 11 the following day from Eymet to Pau. The day before the Périgueux stage is one of two rest days during the Tour, so it is expected that the teams - and the small army of fans that follow the caravane across France - will spend three days in the Dordogne. The Tour brings numerous benefits for the towns and cities it passes through, both in terms of immediate financial gains, but also longer-term benefits to tourism from exposure to global media. When the race last came to the Dordogne, mobile phone operator

Orange estimated that almost a quarter of a million mobile phones registered outside of the department were present along the time-trial route, despite poor weather. While it can be expensive to host the Tour de France - in 2014 it is believed that the department invested €2 million to secure 2 stages the benefits are also huge. The last time it visited €7 million was spent by visitors and tourists following the race. As in 2014 when the Tour last passed through, the 2017 race will feature a stage between Périgueux and Bergerac. This time, however, rather than a short time-trial between the two cites, the riders will be taking in the sights of MontignacLascaux, Sarlat, Domme and the picturesque Vallée de la Dordogne. For detailed routes and time schedules see www.letour.fr/us/ ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2017

hen Chris Cutler and wife Ariane set up their ice cream business in 2015 they could have had little inkling as to where it would lead. After a lifetime spent working in Brussels, Hong Kong and the UK, the Cutlers settled in the Dordogne bringing the idea of running a tea-room, with the accent on old-fashioned English favourites like tea with cake, cream and ice cream. Ice cream is Chris’ passion, with an obsession for purity and wholesomeness. He explained to The Bugle how his ingredients are sourced locally, from suppliers and growers in the Dordogne. When local fruits are out of season, Chris uses local frozen fruit pulps. “We use no chemicals at all, and we aim for a natural product with that old-fashioned flavour,” said Chris. Their brand is Glaces de Vaunac.

Well, that was a grand start, but it soon became clear that while Alaskans may be the world’s champion ice cream eaters, that does not go for the Périgordins, who prefer something warm in the cold weather. The Cutlers needed a product for the winter months, one which would allow them to maintain their philosophy of natural purity and taste. After a period of research and development, their new ranges were tested and approved by the public at the Nexon circus school, and fairs in Limoges. Their ice cream business has now diversified with the launch of their new brand, Ruby Murray, in 2017. Serving the French and British passions for cooking, Ruby Murray proposes a range of prepared spice blends to make spectacular, authentic curries with accompanying biscuits, chutneys and preserves. Both the ice cream and Ruby’s spices and accompaniments are on tour all

Expats, ice cream and ruby murray

over the Dordogne including the 7-week Nuits gourmandes in July and August in Périgueux and a presence at the Périgueux Mime Festival, from 24th to 29th July. When asked about their brand name, Ariane explained, “It’s rhyming slang. Ruby Murray – Curry!”

Your average French gourmet will love the ice cream and the exotic spiciness of the curries but the cockney slang will probably remain an enigma. On the other hand, it could become a new menu item all over the Dordogne! ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Chelsea in town to play Bergerac

on’t miss the chance to meet members of the Chelsea football team on Saturday 29th July at the Gaston Simounet stadium in Bergerac at 6 pm. Players from the London club will be in the Dordogne once again to play against Bergerac Périgord FC. Their first encounter was in 2015, in Bergerac, followed by a return match in London last year. The Chelsea team members you will see are talented, professional players, who,

although not listed to play on Chelsea’s first team in the Premier League, are on loan to some of the biggest European clubs, such as Olympique Lyonnais and Ajax Amsterdam. There will also be some fun activities such as football workshops (football-darts, tennis-football, technical skills, penalties...) and a tombola with special prizes (flights from Bergerac to Naples, Bergerac to London, a bicycle...)

There will also be a variety of grilled food and a drinks bar offering real ales plus live music... and some surprises! Tickets: €15 (VIP box); €10 (front stands); €8 (standing); free for under 12’s (standing) and for people with reduced mobility. Reservations: www.pays-bergeracreservation.com/fr/billeterie/ or pick up your entrance tickets in person at The Gambetta (newsagents and tobacconists), place Gambetta, Bergerac. ■

Summer security Opération Sentinelle With the whole of Europe nervous about terrorist attacks, the capital of the Dordogne welcomed its guardian angels for the summer season on 22nd June. As a major tourist destination, Périgord’s normal security teams of Gendarmerie and Police Municipale are being reinforced by a 27-strong company of sappers from the 6th regiment of the Génie d’Angers. Based in Périgueux, the specially trained and armed troops will be a presence on the streets of this renaissance town and at other tourist sites for 6 weeks. Their role is to watch over the vast number of public events during the holiday period that gather large crowds. This action is being called Opération Sentinelle and is part of the national Vigipirate initiative. In 2016, troops from Tarbes patrolled the Périgord. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

JULY 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

his month, the FrancoBritish Chamber of Commerce hosted a prestigious visit from the British Ambassador to France. On the morning of 2nd June Lord Edward Llewellyn addressed an audience of mainly expats in the new hitech Chamber of Commerce and Industry premises south of Périgueux city centre. Whilst everyone is aware of the negotiations now taking place around Brexit, there remain vast areas of uncertainty. To allay some of the insecurity raised by these and to answer the many questions that UK residents in the EU have, the Ambassador gave the government’s view. Lord Llewellyn told his audience of the importance of this moment, but was at pains to emphasize that settling the security of UK citizens is a priority, together with ensuring that there are no

changes to health, residence and employment rights. While apologising for not being unable to provide the detail of agreements that have still to be made, he stressed that Brexit is not so much a divorce as opening a new chapter in the relationship, and that Britain will remain fully engaged with Europe, only in a different way. Following the Ambassador’s speech, Dr Fiona Ferbrache (University of Oxford) and fellow research colleague Professor Jeremy MacClancy (Oxford Brookes University), gave some background to the current situation, clarifying the complex definitions of citizenship and the associated rights. Jeremy, a social anthropologist, illustrated some issues from research findings among UK residents in Spain. British activists Roger Boaden, John Shaw and Brian

Robinson outlined the strategy of a coalition that is aiming to co-ordinate efforts to protect UK residents’ interests in France. The British in Europe Coalition has been able to present the issues at a high level, even as far as Chief EU negotiator, Michel Barnier. The lively discussion was followed by a thought-provoking presentation from Paul Fisher of the Liberal Democrats. After the session, Sian Delcourt, French resident UK national with a French spouse and 2 French children spoke to The Bugle. Sian, from Bourdeilles where she has served as municipal councillor, was positive about the day’s event. “The Ambassador was reassuring, but the afternoon session showed just how deeply complex this is. The answers we all want are just not there yet, but it was useful to find out what the activists are doing.” ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Expansion for local luxury manufacturer

Dordogne based highend luxury g o o d s maker is spreading into the neighbouring department. The premium French quality brand, Hermès, has just announced a welcome expansion into the Haute-Vienne. Expanding from its original premises in the Paris suburb of Pantin, Hermès has had a manufacturing studio and factory in Nontron since 1991, when it took over the former premises of Adidas. As its products diversified across the luxury market, so its work centres spread to nearby areas with the local expertise needed to maintain the company’s high standards. In 2015, a fine

British Ambassador to France answers expats’ questions

leather goods facility opened over the border in Montbron, Charente. And now, the very latest jewel in the Hermès crown is in neighbouring Haute-Vienne. In June, the Hermès brand announced the launch of its latest plant in Saint-Junien, not far from Limoges. Saint-Junien has long been famed for the quality of its glove making and the choice of location for the new prem-

ises is intended to further develop this centuries-old craft with handbags, purses, wallets and small leather ware. Since the 16th century, the CharenteDordogne-HauteVienne triangle has been noted for the quality of its shoes, gloves, slippers and saddles and the area combines high quality raw materials and long-established savoir faire. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2017

Janine and Pauline at Kelly Hole

plex also has several gîtes and B&B rooms, a small campsite and a pool, and its restaurant is open daily. French minigolf, as practised at La Charrue, has little in common with the British seaside-style crazy golf with its lighthouses, windmills and scruffy equipment. Players are supplied with colour coded putters and balls, professional-style score cards and pencils. Each hole has a

par rating and a good course average is around 44. A touching, novel idea is that each hole is named after friends and helpers. “We offer a package where a game costs €5 including a soft drink, score card and pencil. For families it is a good way to have a lot of fun together for a couple of hours without costing a fortune. We are in the Périgord Limousin national park, so it is an abso-

lutely non-polluting activity, good exercise, great team building... and lots of fun! What’s not to love?” Local French resident and teacher of English, Janine Duhamel, summed up her impression in four words: “Formidable. Nickel. Top Hole!” To find out more: www. lacharrue.biz ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

For the first time since 1975, the national centre for prehistory has opened its Périgueux dig to the public. They say human history is a mere blink of the eye in the story of our planet, and so it was when the archaeologists of the CNP, working on the site of the new heating plant in Périgueux, opened their dig to the citizens of the city. This site is being searched ahead of massive works on the biomass district heating scheme being installed near the Gendarmerie barracks, close to Vesunna. Working with priceless, irreplaceable finds in a tight timescale the archaeologists downed trowels for a brief respite on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th June for two sessions of 5 hours as part of the Archeology Days initiative. The work of this group of dedicated diggers usually goes largely unknown to the public, and only their end results are ever seen. The small team of seven specialists on this site are tasked with conservation, research and preparation for display. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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n expat couple have created a unique attraction at their popular location in northern Dordogne. Pauline and Clive Davie’s latest addition is minigolf, an attraction that the local French residents are learning to love. La Charrue, near VieuxMareuil north-east of Brantôme, was home to the Périgord Lawn Bowls Club for 10 years until their move to nearby Mareuil at the end of last season. Maintenance of the full-size bowling green was becoming an issue for Clive, as he explained to The Bugle: “We were pleased to host the bowls club, but after 10 years the greens were demanding too much time and attention, and from a business point of view it was making less and less sense.” Over the winter months Clive and Pauline have created a premium 12-hole minigolf course on the site of the bowling green. Bowls still has its place, however, and the couple have retained 2 bowls lanes for those that wish to play. “We believe we have a lot to offer and wanted to attract more French visitors,” Pauline explained. “Minigolf is a hugely popular activity in France. Clive designed and built the course. It meant a lot of sweat, blood, tears and blisters, but the launch is our reward.” The popular Charrue com-

Special opening for Roman dig site

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Dordogne minigolf opens to public

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

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The growing croissant crisis

acré beurre!! The price of the country's favourite pastry could be about to rise sharply following a 92% increase in the wholesale cost of butter in the last 12 months and rumours of shortages of the key ingredient. The price hike has been linked to the phasing out of EU dairy quotas and an increase in demand for milk and other dairy products in Asia due to changing food habits. In western countries, demand has also risen following the discovery that butter, once associated with a high risk of heart disease, poses less of a health risk than previously believed. “Last April, we were paying €2,500 a tonne,” explained Matthieu Labbé of the baking industry body FEB. “Now it’s €5,300. At best, consumers are going to have to pay more. At worst, we may no longer be able to get butter. We’re worried that we may no longer even be able to find

butter in the next few months because supplies are running short and we could be forced to halt production.” Croissants are made up of about 25 per cent butter and whilst bakers are feeling the squeeze, consumers appear reluctant to bear the brunt. “My profit margins

are shrinking but I can’t increase prices because customers will stop coming,” said Jérôme Blouet, who runs a small local bakery in Paris that charges €1.10 for a croissant. Part of the reason that bakers can not increase their prices is that supermarkets,

which can afford to operate at lower margins, have so far resisted putting their prices up, something that is worrying the country's 30,000 boulangeries. “Prices won’t double,” Labbé said. “But there will have to be significant increases or some bakers could really be in difficulty.” ■

A history of the humble croissant Legend has it that during the Ottoman siege of Vienna in 1683, a baker working in the middle of the night heard the sounds of Turkish soldiers tunnelling under the city. The alarm was raised, disaster was averted, the siege was later broken and the city saved. To commemorate the victory, the Viennese bakers invented a brioche in the shape of a crescent - the symbol they had seen on the flags of their enemies. The new pastry was at the time called a “kipferl” - the German word for “crescent”. It was not until much later that the kipferl arrived in France. Some suggest it was introduced by Marie Antoinette, but it is generally accepted that the first French croissants were made at the Parisian bakery of Viennese immigrant August Zang. It is due to the Austrian origins of these types of pastries that they are collectively known in French as viennoiseries. So the shape came from the Ottoman flag and the idea was born from the siege of Vienna, but it was France that secured the worldwide fame of the croissant. The reason for this is quite simple: towards the end of the 19th century, French bakers replaced the traditional brioche dough with a puff pastry dough. The lighter pastry, now known as the croissant, was an instant hit! ■

McDonald's introduces cutlery The French famously eat vast quantities of fast food, despite their international reputation for fine dining, but even when getting stuck into a burger, a certain amount of decorum should be maintained. Which is presumably why McDonald's has announced that it will be supplying cutlery to its more refined diners in France - and proper metal stuff as well, none of that plastic junk! “Cutlery is an evolution, not a break with the past,” said McDonald’s France marketing chief Xavier Royaux. “For a long time now we have seen a change in the burger market, a multiplication of offers, among these the offers of gourmet burgers, so as a pioneer it is vital we position ourselves.” However, knives and forks won't be given out for an ordinary cheeseburger or Big Mac, just for the chain's “signature” gourmet burger that costs around double the price of other burgers. The scheme has been rolled out across the country after being trialled in a dozen restaurants and the company claims it could also be introduced into other markets across Europe. Burgers have become increasingly popular in recent years, famously overtaking the “jambon beurre” as the nation's favourite sandwich - 1.19 billion were eaten in 2015! McDonald's has, however, been facing increasing competition from other fast food chains and a move towards more “gourmet” style burger restaurants. ■

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Air pollution stickers now France's overseas MPs compulsory on all cars

>> continued from pg 1 Since 1st July, this has now changed and it is compulsory for all cars to carry a Crit’Air sticker in all anti-pollution zones across the country or face a fine of €68, rising to €138 for lorries. Stickers and more information are available via the official website www. certificat-air.gouv.fr and there is also

an English-language version: www. certificat-air.gouv.fr/en/ The Bugle has been contacted in the past in relation to unofficial websites offering the pollution stickers. Whilst these sites are selling legal certificates, they also charge a hefty “admin” fee on top. The stickers should cost no more than 4 or 5 euros when purchased through the government’s official website. ■

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hile many disenfranchised British expats complained about the “15-year rule” that prevented them from voting in the recent general election, French voters overseas were busy choosing the 11 MPs that will represent their views in the country's parliament. The 11 seats in the National Assembly were first introduced in 2010 in order to give representation to French expats around the world, rather than have them vote in the mainland constituency where they most recently lived. At the time, the idea was controversial, as the total number of MPs was not increased and opponents argued that, as overseas voters were far more likely to be right-leaning and hence favour the then-governing UMP party, the government was effectively attempting to provide itself with extra seats. In reality, 7 of the 11 constituencies voted against the UMP in 2012 and in this year's elections, 8 of the seats went to MPs from Macron's La République en marche ! party. Six of the 11 MPs represent French expats living in Europe, two of them look after those in the US and Canada, and then there is one each for Asia, Africa and Australia. British expats may look on in envy at their French counterparts' political representation, as well as their right to vote for life from overseas, and many have cam-

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

paigned to have a similar system introduced in the UK. Overseas MPs lobby on behalf of their constituents on issues such as access to French-language education abroad, the price of passports and access to healthcare. “In the past, expats have not been represented, but they deserve political representation just like everybody else,” explained Philip Cordery, who served as the Socialist Party's Benelux MP in the previous government. “They shouldn’t disappear from the democratic fabric. And expats are an increasing demographic, particularly in Europe. It isn’t just a question of big firms sending people abroad, a whole new generation of expats is growing up in the EU today.” A “Votes for Life” bill was previously referred to in the 2015 Conservative manifesto and the 2015 Queen’s Speech, but was notable by its absence in the recent Queen's Speech, which set out the government's plans for its term in office. Downing Street subsequently confirmed that it remained “committed to scrapping the 15-year rule in time for the next scheduled General Election”, currently due in 2022, but any postponement will mean that if another snap election is called in the next few years - which many say is a certainty rather than a possibility - then many expats will again not be able to vote. ■

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Aldi wine wins Tougher fines for phone usage top award

udget retailer Aldi can expect a few extra customers after one of its wines, costing just €7, was voted the world's best. The Exquisite Collection Côtes de Provence Rosé, 2016, won the gold medal in the Great Value Rosé (under $10) category at the recent International Wine Challenge (IWC) in London, but also picked up the silver medal in the main competition encompassing all categories. After two weeks of blind tasting at the event billed as “the Oscars of the wine industry”, experts praised the wine's “ripe summer stone fruits with generous acid palate and crisp bright finish”. The rosé is produced in Provence by Jules Wines and is made from Grenache, Cinsault and Syrah grapes. “Being recognised yet again for the quality of our wine is a testament to the hard work our talented buying team put in to deliver exceptional products at unbeat-

able prices,” said Tony Baines, Joint Managing Director of Corporate Buying. “It has been a huge year for innovation at Aldi. We’ve not only expanded our sparkling range, but also introduced a brand new French initiative. We have been working closely with renowned winemaker Jean Claude Mas to change perceptions around French wine, which is often perceived as expensive and intimidating, so it is fantastic to see some of these products acknowledged as some of the best in the world.” In an interview with ‘20minutes’, the AngloCanadian winemaker Julian Faulkner said, “I call it my Communist wine! It can compete in the luxury world, but it’s also an everyday product.” The budget supermarket has revealed that sales of wine and sparkling wine have grown by 15 per cent in the past year, and the nowfamous rosé is just one of 28 individual awards and accolades Aldi won at the recent event. ■

or as long as mobile phones have existed, drivers have been using them to make calls whilst driving. The introduction of the smartphone, however, has brought a whole new range of hazardous habits for today's dangerous driver - texting, checking emails or even surfing the web! A 3-month survey conducted by Le Parisien newspaper at traffic junctions across 80 communes has revealed the scale of the problem: a motorcyclist taking a glove off to send a text message; a driver with a mobile phone in one hand... and a beer in the other; and a woman who rolled straight through a red light whilst staring at her phone. The conclusion of the study was

that 7% of all drivers were using their phone in some way, with 40% of those holding it in their hand. In response to this and a number of other studies, which indicate that 1 in 10 accidents involve the use of a mobile phone, authorities are now looking at the possibility of more severe penalties for using your phone at the wheel. “Faced with increasing numbers of motorists who are addicted to their phones, we have to increase the penalties involved,” a member of the ministry for road safety was quoted as saying. “Some countries, such as Italy, have the power to suspend a driving licence for three months for repeat offenders, but we can also look at heavier fines and more points deducted.”

“I am not at war with smartphone users, but I am stunned that 7% of people would risk using their phone at a junction,” said Anne Lavaud from the Prévention Routière, which has argued for a section on the dangers of phone usage to be included in the driving test. The road safety association has also suggested that employers be forced to allow their workers to turn off their work phones while travelling and that cars should be fitted with technology to block mobile phone signals. In 2015 there were almost 1 million points taken off licences for using mobile phones while driving, which represents approximately 318,000 offences. ■

Paris favourite for 2024 Olympics

aris looks to have won the battle to host the 2024 Olympics after Los Angeles appeared to switch its focus to the 2028 Games. Budapest, Rome and Hamburg had all previously withdrawn from the race, leaving Los Angeles as the City of Light's only opponent. “To be blunt, LA 2024 has never been only about LA or 2024,” LA’s bid leader, Casey Wasserman, said. “Even when the issue of a dual award for the 2024 and 2028 Games was initially

raised, we didn’t say it’s ‘LA first’ or it’s ‘now or never’ for LA. That sounds like an ultimatum. It has always been our contention that LA 2024 had to make as much sense for the Olympic Movement as it did for the people of LA - and we’ve stuck to that premise.” Despite the comments, an LA 2024 spokesman insisted the city had not yet given up on hosting the 2024 Olympics: “LA has not conceded 2024. Indeed, LA has a firm belief that it is the best host for the 2024 Games given the current

situation in the Olympic movement.” Hosting the world's largest sporting event has become something of a poisoned chalice in recent times, with costs spiralling into the billions and a legacy of empty and abandoned venues. “There is an absolute consensus among sports economists that it is economically damaging to host the Games, unless one puts a very high value on the local population enjoying the party,” David Forrest, an economics professor at the Univer-

sity of Liverpool, told The Guardian in February. “The only publications attributing benefits to hosting are by consultancies paid by politicians to validate their vanity projects.” The host cities for 2024 and 2028 will be announced by the International Olympic Committee at a meeting in Lima on 13th September. If successful, LA (1932 and 1984) and Paris (1900 and 1924) would join London (1908, 1948 and 2012) as the only cities to host the Summer Games three times. ■

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Famous Spanish bullfighter dies in French arena

enowned S p a n i s h bullfighter Ivan Fandiño has died after being gored by a bull during a fight in south-west France. The last time a bullfighter was killed while performing was in July 2016 when Spanish matador Victor Barrio was gored in the chest live on television, but the fatality is the first in France since 1921 when Isidoro Mari Fernando died in an arena in Béziers. Performing in front of a crowd in Airesur-l’Adour, Fandiño tripped on his cape and fell to the floor, before being thrown in the air by the half-tonne bull and gored in the chest. The Basque bullfighter, from Orduña near Bilbao, was rushed out of the arena by his fellow fighters, but suffered two heart attacks whilst en route to hospital and was pronounced dead on arrival. Fandiño was well known for his daring, never hesitating to fight bulls that his colleagues had declined to take on. In Bilbao in

2012 he single-handedly took on six bulls put forward by six different breeders. The incident has once again raised the wider controversy over the sport of bullfighting, known as la corrida in France. Bullfighting is still permitted in areas where it has a long-established tradition, mostly in the south-west around towns such as Nîmes and Béziers where

the sport still enjoys a strong following. The centuries-old tradition remains popular in Spain, with around 1,800 shows a year before a total audience of some six million “aficionados”, who see the sport as an art integral to Spanish culture. In 2015, the French Corrida was removed from a UNESCO list of “intangible heritage”, much to the delight of animal rights

campaigners, but the government has thus far shown no desire to introduce an outright ban. At the time, Guillaume François, a lawyer for the French bullfighters’ union, said the court's decision would have “absolutely no impact on bullfighting in France”. A fatality on French soil, however, may further increase the pressure on this ancient tradition. ■

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Eurozone economies join global recovery

he first green shoots of an economic recovery appear to have put down roots and figures just released point towards a continent that has shrugged off recent political turmoil to join the global recovery. According to officials at Eurostat, the currency area grew by 0.6 per cent in the first three months of the year, as they upgraded the GDP figures from their initial estimate of 0.5 per cent. Analysts had initially feared that growth could be dented by political uncertainty including the French election and the fallout from Donald Trump’s victory in the US. The strong figures suggest that there is little evidence of any harm from those events. Claus Vistesen, from Pantheon Macroeconomics, described the numbers as “sizzling” and pointed to the PMI surveys of the private sector which indicate Germany and the rest of the eurozone are growing at their fastest pace since 2011. “The key theme is that investment has picked up in the last six months, offsetting a slowdown in private spending,” he said, adding that exports had also increased. Of the “major” Eurozone economies, Spain's showed the strongest results with a 0.8 per cent rise in GDP in the

first quarter, followed by Germany (0.6 per cent), France and Italy (which both managed 0.4 per cent). The figures for France were upgraded from an initial estimate of 0.3 per cent. Finance leaders across the bloc were also quick to point out that during the same period Britain’s GDP growth was downgraded from 0.3 to 0.2 per cent. French consumer confidence also climbed to its highest level for a decade according to national statistics agency INSEE. Its index hit 102 in May, up from 100 in April and the strongest reading since August 2007. “The strong start to 2017 sets the eurozone economy up for a decent expansion this year as a whole,” said Jessica Hinds at Capital Economics. “We think annual GDP growth will rise from 1.7 per cent in 2016 to around 2 per cent.” The encouraging numbers are not restricted to the continent's big economies – in fact, the opposite is true. The fastest-growing eurozone country was Latvia which expanded by 1.6 per cent in the quarter, while the strongest growth across the EU as a whole came in Romania which saw a 1.7 per cent expansion. In total, 9 countries in the EU posted growth of 1 per cent or more. ■

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The mystery of wobbly suitcases finally solved!

t might not be the biggest issue facing humanity today, but anyone who has run across an airport or train station will be familiar with the phenomenon of the wobbly rolling suitcase! Luckily, scientists in France, experimenting with model suitcases on treadmills, have analysed the “problem” and come up with a surprising solution... run faster! French researchers from the University of Paris Diderot undertook a study looking into the mechanics of what exactly makes these kinds of suitcases so unstable. “The problem is the interaction - the clash, in other words - of rotational and translational motion,” explained Dr Sylvain Courrech du Pont, a researcher involved in the project. “It may seem paradoxical, but it is precisely because the suitcase is designed to roll in a straight line that it moves sideways.” “Lifting a wheel forces the rolling suitcase to shift sideways. This coupling follows that wheels roll without slip-

ping and that the tilt rotation axis of the suitcase, going from the handling point to a rolling wheel, is not perpendicular to the rotation axis of the wheel,” the study assures us, somewhat confusingly! During their experiments, the researchers tested a twowheeled aluminium suitcase on a treadmill rolling at between 1 and 16 kilometres per hour. They analysed how the motion

depended on how weight was distributed on the suitcase and on the speed at which it was pulled. The scientists found that when one wheel of the model suitcase got lifted off the floor - mimicking what would happen if a real suitcase hit a bump or a pit - the model began rocking from side to side with each wheel taking turns to lift off the ground in a pendulum motion. In real life, the typical reac-

Short cut down from the Eiffel Tower!

What goes up, must come down. But at the Eiffel Tower recently, getting down was an awful lot quicker when a 90 kph zip line was installed from the second floor of the iconic landmark. The minute-long rides were a publicity stunt organised by Perrier, the French sparkling water brand, as a tie-in to the recent French Open tennis tournament. The company said the idea was to give participants a taste of what a smash serve might feel like, where speeds regularly exceed 200 kph.

Adrenaline junkies were able to leap off the platform 115 metres above the ground, before travelling 800 metres to the other end of the Champs de Mars. The 100 “lucky” winners were selected in an online draw, with the high-speed trips taking place throughout the 2-week clay court tournament, which was eventually won for a tenth time by Spanish great Rafael Nadal. ■

Confused cyclist fined A bemused Russian cyclist, travelling across Europe on her way to Spain, got herself into hot water recently when she tried to pay at a toll booth on one of the busiest days of the year for traffic. Gendarmes, who had been following her on CCTV, had to intervene as the woman, in her 50s, stopped at the Chatuzange-le-Goubet péage on the A49 between Grenoble and Valence in southeastern France. Cyclists are not allowed on motorways in France and the woman was travelling at significantly less than the 130 kph speed limit as she trundled down the hard shoulder. The Russian did not have to pay the toll fee, but she was forced to hand over a €22 fine for breaking the law, before being escorted by gendarmes to the nearest public road. ■

tion of the tardy traveller is to slow down, but scientists have now revealed that the best course of action is actually to pick up the pace; the faster the suitcase travels, the more energy is required (i.e. bigger bumps) to start the case rocking backwards and forwards. “It is a very extensive study, covering experiments and theory, on a problem experienced daily by anyone who has car-

ried luggage,” said physicist François Petrelis. “It shows that many problems, even of daily interest, are still waiting for a solution. Young scientists sometimes have the feeling that most progress was made a long time ago. This may be true in some fields of physics, but in most areas there are many problems that remain unsolved!” Next month: why does toast always land butter-side down?! ■

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

JULY 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

In the garden - jobs for July by Michelle Pierce

’ve always rather (unfairly) poohpoohed people who have garden notebooks to record rainfall, temperatures, daybreak and dusk times, etc. But that’s where I now realise that I’ve been completely wrong. Such a document would be a gem when read in the winter or spring, because it’s all very well saying to yourself 'Oh, it was hot last summer', but the reality of what that means to the gardener can easily get lost during cooler months. With the first of the summer’s heatwave warnings just behind us, and temperatures which climbed to the late 30s in the region, we’re seeing a very similar pattern to the last couple of years, only we’re having August weather in June!! So lots and lots of extra work is required: watering most days; things suffering in pots; things with scorched leaves; things going to seed more quick-

ly than usual. Mulch if you can, and just try and keep things reasonably hydrated. The bracken growing by the side of the road can be collected and will do a really good job. With hot temperatures, the primary function of mulch is not so much weed control as it is creating an insulating buffer that cools the soil surface. If you have lots of weed, you can also hoe this out and leave them directly in situ to dry out, be killed, and then you pile them round the plants you want to protect. If you have a greenhouse or polytunnel, think about putting up some kind of shading, to deflect the midday sun’s burning rays. You can buy it from a garden centre, often by the metre but it can be a bit pricy. You can also use an old sheet, which will do the job but look less pro. Keep ponds, water features,

etc. topped up, and leave some saucers of water out for the wildlife. Remember to water your compost piles occasionally to keep them active. Prune back the summer flowering shrubs like buddleia once they’ve finished flowering, as well as the wisteria. Keep deadheading the roses and the flowering perennials. Also keep picking soft fruit and veg. If you see that berries are drying out, water the bushes/canes well to rehydrate them - a little diluted nettle tea won’t harm, either. Remember to resow things like rocket, basil or coriander to keep an ongoing quantity of plants. Keep picking herbs for drying, or flavouring things like vinegars and continue collecting seeds for drying. Look after your tomato plants well. Make sure they’re securely staked. Keep them well watered and fed, and remem-

ber to pinch out the side shoots. Don’t bin these. Use them as cuttings, and try growing new plants from them. One easy trick is to pile fresh nettle stalks round the base of your plants, which both acts as a mulch and feeds the plants. But make sure you don’t use the stalks that have seeds on them! Or you could cut your comfrey leaves and do the same. Traditionally, we sow lots of things in July, to be ready for winter crops. However, with the weather conditions at the moment, maybe it’s more prudent to wait a while and hope for some rain. Or sow into modules or pots. So, lots to do, but rather difficult in the heat! The solution is to go out early in the day - or late - and don't forget to be careful of your skin. Good gardening! ■

What you need to know about pensions today - Blevins Franks

ensions are complex, yet often the cornerstone of a comfortable retirement. Today, with Brexit looming and more options than ever for what you can do with your funds, it is difficult to establish the best approach – there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution. Here, we take a look at current pension issues that could affect you. While there may be some cause for concern, expatriates could find opportunities ahead. Pension providers are feeling the pinch Around 15 million Britons have ‘final salary’ company pensions, where an employer guarantees to pay a fixed amount for the whole of retirement. Widely considered ‘golden’ pensions, the income provided depends on salary and length of service, but is usually quite generous. The biggest issue facing these pensions is how they are financed. The cost of providing them has soared as returns from the assets underpinning them – mostly UK bonds – have shrunk. With historically low interest rates and increased life expectancy, many companies face significant shortfalls in funding payments promised to members. Like BHS, with its £571 million pension deficit, companies with insurmountable deficits can fail alongside their pension schemes. Transfer values are at an all-time high To offload pension liabilities, many companies are offering members large cash sums to leave. Calculated as a multiple of a member’s future pension payment, it is not unknown for

SUDOKU - EASY

pay-outs to double from 20x two years ago to 40x since the Brexit vote. In an extreme example, if you had a final salary of £30,000 per year, you may have been offered £600,000 two years ago – but £1.2 million today. Although this example is unusual, even more modest sums could provide a retirement income that well exceeds the original annual payment. Today’s unusually high transfer values can outweigh the benefits of drawing a guaranteed pension for life, but professional advice is essential. Expatriates can access tax-efficient opportunities Many expatriates in France benefit from reinvesting their UK pension funds into a taxefficient ‘assurance-vie’. Alternatively, you could transfer to a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) to unlock French-compliant tax benefits. This can also offer estate planning advantages. While most final salary pensions are payable to your spouse on death, QROPS and other arrangements offer the flexibility to include additional heirs and roll your wealth across generations. These options can be advantageous, but tax benefits vary greatly between providers and jurisdictions. Taking regulated advice is crucial to determine if this approach is suitable for you, navigate your options and avoid pension scams. Advice is essential before transferring As tempting as inflated pay-outs are, transferring from a final salary pension comes with

risks and many members are better off staying where they are. An adviser can help you weigh up the advantages, disadvantages and long-term implications. For benefits worth over £30,000, the Financial Conduct Authority makes it compulsory to take regulated financial advice before transferring. You should at least confirm your current transfer value and check if your scheme is at risk. The government’s Pension Protection Fund offers some protection but only compensates up to £33,678 a year at age 65, so if your pension offers more and your scheme is vulnerable, consider transferring. A lower pension allowance could catch you out If your total UK pension savings (excluding the State Pension) are close to £1 million, you could breach the UK lifetime pension allowance. Anything you access over the limit is liable to 55% UK taxation when taken as a lump sum or 25% as income, even if you are resident in France. Calculating your lifetime allowance is complex and you could go over without realising it, for example through investment growth. Those close to or over the limit should consider HMRC ‘protection’ options or transferring to a QROPS before attracting further tax penalties. Once in a QROPS, funds are out of reach of lifetime allowance charges. The window of opportunity may be limited If you decide transferring is right for you, now may be the time to act. The UK’s new ‘overseas transfer charge’, for example, may be an indication of things to come post-Brexit.

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 20

Since 9th March, transfers to QROPS based outside the European Economic Area (EEA) attract 25% taxation unless you live in the same jurisdiction. While liability lingers for five tax years after the transfer date, transfers made before 9th March 2017 are exempt. Currently, this tax will not affect expatriates in France transferring to a QROPS based within the EEA, such as Malta. But by eliminating Britain’s EU commitments, Brexit offers the UK government more scope to recoup revenue from Britons living in Europe. Many speculate this could prompt further penalties on pension transfers, or trigger rule changes to make withdrawals more difficult. As such, there may be a limited time to transfer without penalties. With so much uncertainty ahead, there has never been a better time to review your pension arrangements. Take personalised, professional advice to establish what makes financial sense for your individual circumstances and objectives. A locally-based adviser can keep you up-to-date with any developments that may affect you as an expatriate so you can enjoy the retirement lifestyle you want in France. ■ Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@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.

SUDOKU - HARD

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

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The wines of Bergerac

t has always surprised me when a modest dwelling attached to a vineyard calls itself a château. And in the Bergerac, while we have many châteaux, only a handful of the vineyard buildings are truly worthy of the name: Monbazillac, Jaubertie, Monestier La Tour and Tiregand are the most prominent. And I have a special fondness for Château de Tiregand, the grandest estate of the Pécharmant, whose owner, François-Xavier de St-Exupéry has become a good friend. Long before I met him, however, I had been intrigued by the reputation of his wines. At first I found them somewhat austere, almost certainly because I had drunk them too soon, immediately after opening the bottle. Then at a friend’s house I drank from a bottle which had been opened three hours before dinner and decanted into a carafe and was entranced first by the richness of its smell and then by the range of tastes in the mouth and by the satisfying length of the aftertaste. I was converted. I had been told that the name Tiregand comes from a famous duellist of the Middle Ages, since the words tirer and gand suggest a drawing of the gauntlet to issue a challenge. In fact, it comes from a bastard son of England’s King Henry III in the 13th century called Edward Tyrgan. I’d also been told that the name Pécharmant meant

by Martin Walker

‘charming hill,’ since péch is the old dialect word for a hill but in fact it seems to originate with an early feudal lord called Armand. One thing is sure; this long ridge and plateau to the northeast of Bergerac has long been famous for its wines. In the Bordeaux, they like to cite the 1855 classification of the grand cru wines but in the earlier classification of 1816, the wines of Pécharmant were placed in the top rank alongside the great vineyards of the Médoc. This is fitting because these wines have a unique characteristic, a sloping layer of anthracite clay called tran which is rich in iron and manganese and makes for a very distinctive terroir. The slope means that water runs off it so the vine roots are not soaked and the clay is too dense for the vines to penetrate so they take a turn to the side, running above the tran, and pick up some of the mineral flavour. This perhaps helps explain why I found the wines a little austere at first. But since I first began drinking the wines of Tiregand in the 1980s, something fundamental has changed. In those days, when mechanized farming meant the vine rows were planted 3.5 metres apart so the tractors could pass, it was the fashion to produce heavy bunches of plump and fleshy grapes, with as few as 4,000 vines to the hectare. “Previous generations fa-

voured the volume of grapes over their richness, but we do the opposite. A grape’s soul lies in its skin, not the flesh, which simply adds volume,” says François-Xavier. So over the past two decades, he has planted an extra row of vines between the old rows and aims at 5,800 vines to the hectare and has an experimental patch with as many as 7,300. The more vines to the hectare, the more they have to compete and the resultant stress adds to the richness and complexity of the fruit. The rules for the Pécharment appellation are quite strict. The wines must include three of the four rootstocks; cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, merlot and malbec. But no grape can contribute more than 60% or less than 5% of the wine and the two cabernets combined must contribute at least 30%. But this allows a lot of flexibility. Clos Montalbanie, the second wine of Tiregand and a bargain at around 7 euros, is made from younger vines and has 10% Malbec. The standard red wine of Tiregand, at 11 to 15 euros depending on the year, is composed of 54% merlot, 23% cabernet sauvignon, 18% cabernet franc and only 5% Malbec and spends a year in oak barrels. The pride of the vineyard are the Grands Millésimes, made of 60% merlot, 35% cabernet sauvignon, 5% cabernet franc and

without malbec, usually priced at around 20 euros and worth every penny. I’m still drinking the 2005 on special occasions, and the 2009 is reaching its peak. When the last of my case is gone, I’ll turn to the 2011 which won a coveted gold medal at the Paris concours. In my view, it is one of the finest wines to have come from the region. It is hard to say what will become of this year’s wine, after the devastating frosts that hit Europe in the last week of April, killing off the fresh buds on the vines. The second budding is looking promising, but the overall harvest will be much smaller across the whole of the Bergerac area. Still, at Tiregand, there are compensations, starting with the château itself with its magnificent views across the Dordogne valley and the rich history. It was the place where in the 16th century religious wars the Protestant troops shared out their loot from Catholic castles and

churches, including the silver casket containing the relics of Saint Front from the cathedral at Périgueux. The winery itself, built with gigantic logs rescued from the destroyed old bridge at Bergerac in the 1660s, is a magnificent place to visit for a tasting with its endless ranks of some 500 oak barrels that cost more than 600 euros each. Put a note in your diaries; on the heritage days of the third weekend in September each year, the château is open to the public. And on September 8, the annual jazz concert is not to be missed. ■ Martin Walker, author of the best-selling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

The Grumpy Granny Guide - Fun for Reluctant Teenagers Ah, the challenge of what to do with the adolescent who is visiting on sufferance, anxious to get back to a screen in any shape or form rather than admire spectacular views or the historic heritage of the area! This is the age at which horse riding and canoeing are considered tame compared with the attraction of WhatsApp and Snapchat and when adolescents tell us they are too old for Le Bournat but too young for prehistory. The choice seems to be to drag them out willy-nilly but we all know that sulky looks and monosyllabic replies can ruin the day for everyone. Or leave them at home while we go out and do our best to enjoy ourselves while worrying about what they are up to in our absence. But negotiation is always worth a try and here are some selected sites which may appeal even to the most recalcitrant teenager and which offer something of interest for you too. Big Bird - This is a new attraction in Le Bugue which has a challenging level of activity for every age. A unique physical experience for a teenager. Milandes - A very easy place to visit with a display of interesting stage costumes and clothes worn by Josephine Baker who was as big a star as Beyoncé in her time (1930s). Adults can admire the castle and boys will go for the display of falconry which is one of the best in the area, being small-scale and participative so you get an excellent view of the birds. Commarque - The Château de Commarque is an outside visit on many levels and is still wild and exciting enough to leave plenty to the imagination.

Young people can be left to explore while you take things at a quieter pace. Gorodka - Just outside Sarlat, this is an absolutely extraordinary exhibition of installations made from recycled objects including a massive aircraft engine! It is mind boggling and totally unique. Just guessing where all the bits and pieces that make up the sculptures come from is fun in itself. Not always mentioned in the tourist guides due to the eccentricity of the owner. Calviac Zoological Park - This park does not involve a lot of walking (but you do have to climb), is full of unique animals you get to see up close and is compact enough that everyone can go their separate ways without getting lost. Danny, my teenage consultant on these matters, strongly recommends the night markets because they’re fun for everyone and going to the aqua parks of which there are several in the Dordogne, the runaway favourite being the Étang du Bos near Audrix. She also suggests a minigolf tournament, going to several courses over a number of days which offers a different challenge each time. None of the online listings of minigolf courses is anything like complete so to find those near you, ask at your local tourist office. Let me know how you get on! grumpygrannyguide@orange.fr This is part of a series of features devoted to the tourist experience in the Dordogne provided by grumpygranny-guides.com which highlights those sites which are comfortable and pleasant to visit and which offer a warm welcome.

Hard to know which tourist sites to visit? Grumpy Granny Guide

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

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

www.GRUMPYGRANNY-GUIDES.com

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 15

JULY 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

BBQ Paella

by Julia Watson

bout this time of summer, barbecuing starts to look appealing again - until you lift the lid on your kettle barbecue to discover a scuzzy grill uncleaned from your last summer’s cook-out. Don’t let that put you off. Just take a length of aluminium foil, crumple it up, and use it to scrub off the gunk. It will fall like autumn leaves from a tree. Barbecue is not just a grilling technique, it's a whole philosophy. (Some women might say it’s also a way to get your man to cook supper.) Just as with the origins of pasta, there are arguments over where barbecue comes from. The word is thought to be a corruption of ‘barbacoa’, the term Spanish explorers gave to the wooden platforms people in the Caribbean used to slow cook meat over fire. In the US, where grilling is a national sport, there are further arguments - over what meats are used, what flavourings,

what methods. For Texans, barbecue means beef. In Memphis, it’s pig in a tomato-based sauce. And the meat must be pulled, not shredded or minced, as they do in North Carolina where the sauce is vinegar-based. In Kansas City, barbecue means ribs. In Europe, barbecuing is less inspired. It tends to be limited to hamburgers, made to each man’s secret recipe of his own exclusive version. But while the eye-watering smoke and curses over burnt fingers frequently result in the presentation of a blackened puck of exhausted mince, the barbecue itself can produce one of the best paellas you’ve ever eaten. It’s certainly one to knock the socks off those that have been stewing all morning in markets throughout the Dordogne. A good paella doesn’t have to be infused with saffron - for me a musty flavouring that makes everything taste like it's been cooked in the corduroy section of a fabric department. Nor does it have to include traffic light

colours. Chunks of yellow pepper? Out. Ditto red and green capsicums. This is a dish about rice, not about a disproportionate quantity of extras, from chorizo and chicken to squid, shrimp and peas. And you don't have to have conniptions about the exact ratio of rice to protein and vegetables. Keep it simple. This is rustic food. In a 30cms paella pan brown some chunks of bone-in chicken thighs in vegetable oil. Next, pour in a quantity of water to flood the chicken pieces with liquid. Once the chicken has released its flavour into a rich stock, add short-grain rice calasparra if you can find it, arborio risotto rice if not. Just before the rice comes to the al dente point that concludes the cooking of the dish, add chopped garlic, and chunks of seasonal vegetables. You really don’t want them mushy. More precisely, opposite is a recipe for a barbecue grill version of chicken and vegetable paella... ■ Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

Chicken and vegetable paella 60ml Spanish olive oil 450g seasonal vegetables such as green beans, peas, chopped courgettes, and cauliflower florets 200g mushrooms 1kg chicken legs and thighs cut into chunks 1 tbs roughly chopped fresh garlic 175g grated fresh tomato Pinch of saffron (optional) 900ml water 120ml dry white wine 1 tsp piment d’Espelette (from the markets) 340g Spanish calasparra or bomba rice, or Italian arborio risotto rice Lay a 30cms pan on a charcoal grill filled with red hot and evenly spread coals. If you don't make a good fire, you won't make good paella. Add the olive oil to the pan. Once hot, sear the vegetables until they get a nice brown colour. Remove vegetables from the pan and reserve. Add a little more oil to the pan if necessary, then add the chicken in small batches, and sear until the skin is golden and crisp, removing the chicken to a warm dish and reserving. Add the chopped garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the grated tomato and cook for 1 minute, making sure to scrape up all the browned bits from the chicken. Pour in the wine and let it reduce by half, about 2 minutes. Check the heat and if necessary remove the paella pan from the grill and add more coals to increase the temperature. Return the vegetables and chicken to the pan and pour in the water. Allow the mixture to boil for 2 minutes to flavour the liquid. Then stir in the rice. Season to taste with salt and boil for 10 minutes. Do not stir the rice again, as this can cause the rice to cook unevenly. The intense charcoal heat will create a crust or socorrat. (Don't worry. You haven't ruined the paella. For many the socorrat - the caramelised crust at the bottom of the pan - is the best part of the paella.) Remove the paella pan from the grill and check the coals again. Spread them out to reduce the heat. Return the pan to the grill. Crumble the saffron across the top of the paella if using and sprinkle over the pimenton evenly. Do not stir the rice. Cook for another 5 minutes. Remove the paella from the heat, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let the paella rest for 5 minutes before serving.

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OVER 25,000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH FOR AS LITTLE AS €13.50 HT SALES24@THEBUGLE.EU

05 55 41 17 76

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2017

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Animals & Pets

Auto Services

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

Building Services Architects/Surveyors

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

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

+44 (0)1377 538 639

motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.com

05 53 58 55 38 Siret: 499 234 615 00015

MinouCats

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

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

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

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

Blacksmiths

and home of CANOUAN ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Ironwood Motif

Renovating your French property?

Artist Blacksmith

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www.ironwoodmotif.com

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Ferronnerie d’Art

Pergolas, staircases, railings, handrails, balustrades, balconies, gates, sculptures, outdoor structures & more. Simple or elaborate, intricate or uncomplicated, small or large, we can fabricate, forge and hand make ironwork customised to your needs.

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

Tel: 05 65 30 53 99

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

SIRET: 481 198 638 00019

SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

Facebook & Instagram: Ironwood Motif

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

Building Services Electricians

BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com @iret: 794 282 368 00016

Qualified Electrician From wire a plug to a full rewire + Property Services: Gite Preparation, Key Holding Painting, decorating, Grass Cutting, Strimming, etc

Tel: Susan 06 41 81 63 96 Siret: 824 825 095 00014

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Building Services General CHARKER DAVID

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

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

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

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

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 €490 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

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

JULY 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Chasing Dreams and Flies; A Tragicomedy of Life in France

orothea Shefer-Vanson's fourth novel, ‘Chasing Dreams and Flies; A Tragicomedy of Life in France,’ recounts the saga of a couple from England who decide to follow their dream and leave England in order to move to France. As they approach retirement age, Sophie and John Williams are anxious to escape the Britain of the early 2000s, but find that there are various hurdles on the road to fulfilling their dream of living the good life. They assume that with the help of their friends and by dint of their devotion to one another they will be able to succeed in their new life. In the process, however, they find that they are limited by their ignorance of the French language and culture as well as being harassed by the hostility of one of their neighbours. Like them, Julie Smithers has left England to live in France, but in her case it is in order to write a book and escape a painful romance. Her encounter with expat handyman Steve gives her renewed hope of finding happiness despite her reservations. In the unexpected denouement, all the characters happen to be in the same place at

almost the same time. The book is available in both ebook and printed form from Amazon. ■

https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Dreams-Flies-Tragicomedy-France-ebook/dp/B01LW3D212

Harlequin Developments est. 2007

All aspects of renovation and refurbishment, big or small, undertaken. Kitchens fitted and tiled Replacement doors and windows Parquet flooring Oak framed porches Plasterboard and Insulation

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

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

06 34 24 64 11 or see

www.lakesidebandb.net

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

upvc-solutions uPVC windows, doors, porches & conservatories

Available in white, beige & oak woodgrain. Visit our website for more information.

www.upvc-solutions.webs.com email: upvc-solutions@orange.fr

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Building Services Painters/Decorators Simon Carter

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

Advertising with The Bugle

ith 7 years’ experience delivering print advertising to an expat market, The Bugle represents one of the most cost-effective ways to let English speakers know about your business. An advert with The Bugle starts from just €13.50 HT per month – that’s less than 45 cents a day to put your business in front of 25,000 people each month. In the Dordogne we have more than 150 distribution points across the region and surrounding areas where readers can pick up a copy for free. We also distribute 2,500 copies through Bergerac Airport, which means that we are in the perfect position to target not only residents and secondhome owners, but also tourists and those new to the region. The Bugle is the only English language newspaper dedicated to the Dordogne - in fact, today, The Bugle is the only free English language newspaper in France and we are growing all the time. If you would like to discuss any of our advertising options further, why not give us a call today to find out more about the ways that we can help you grow your business.

Building Services Sandblasting Sand and Blast We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

service for wood, stone and metal. Perfect for stripping away years of grime or paint. Contact us for a free quote, or see our website:

www.sandandblast.com

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

Tel: 05 87 19 91 50 Mob: 07 81 26 88 65

Your advert here

siret: 792.130.932.00017

05 55 41 17 76

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

Web: www.sjcmontluc.fr Email: sjcmontluc@yahoo.fr

Building Services Plumbing & Heating

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

siret: 503 133 159 00015

- Full analysed testing

sales24@thebugle.eu

M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02

05 55 41 17 76

ADVERTORIAL

E : wellers@orange.fr Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

Computers, Satellites & Web Design 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

T: 05 55 41 17 76 E: sales24@thebugle.eu W: www.thebugle.eu

WEBSITE No6 DESIGN before

Authentic Indian Cuisine to eat in or takeaway

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

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

- Update your own site if you like! - Enjoy a fully maintained site - Enjoy full website support contact@no6.co

06 38 75 32 97

www.no6.co Siret: 80493524500014

Food & Drink

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine. Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Sat: 6pm - 10pm, Sun: 12pm - 3pm, 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

The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm 1st Monday: Le Champsac Tuesday: Tremolat 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

Eymet - every Tuesday Lauzun - 2nd, 4th & 5th Friday of the month Allemans du Dropt - every Saturday See our website, Facebook page, or give us a call for venue details

www.bombaybusserie.com 05 53 83 26 20 / 06 74 13 56 01

AUBERGE AUX DELICES DE LA TREILLE 24350 MONTAGRIER

05 53 91 12 63 A La Carte or 2 Set Menus Lunchtimes (except Sun and bank hols) Soup+Starter+Main+Dessert - €15 Soup+Starter+Main - €11.90 Soup+Main+Dessert - €11.90 Soup+Main - €8.90 €26.40 Menu Soup+Starter+Main+Cheese+Dessert

Shhhhh... it’s aisecret!

TheiSecret CurryiClub Pop-Up restaurant serving Indian Restaurant Curries

Weihaveiregularivenues in Ribérac, Villeréal, Bergerac, SteiFoyilaiGrandei & Nontron ‘Secret Curry Club Dordogne’ secretcurryclubdordogne@gmail.com

06 84 35 42 73

siret: 444 925 630 00014

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

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

Gifts & Crafts Ivan Petley

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

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

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76 Language Services

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JULY 2017

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

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

R.S.M.DISTRIBUTION Transport, Central France Furniture & Pest Control UK mattresses Removals & Storage

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

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

NEW STOCK HAS ARRIVED

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DORDOGNE WAREHOUSE Sarlande (24270)

FRENCH LESSONS

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

www.fudgejj.com email: ray.mole@wanadoo.fr

with a native French speaker Why commute? Long distance learning is the answer! C’est simple, call Sophie...

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

Tel: 05 49 87 67 34

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

By appointment only

Via Skype

05 55 89 15 74 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Property Sales

Pest Control

Eco Entrepot aka The Shed

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

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

Support

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

Retail & Commerce

bookstop

Quality second-hand books in English & French 19 r Victor Hugo, 24310 Brantôme

09 51 45 57 49

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

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

www.soshelpline.org

Rent a Daughter in the Dordogne

Man & Van Transport

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

09 82 12 69 73 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

Smart Moves For a fully insured, careful service

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

smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk

+44 (0)1253 725 414

www.smartmovesremovals.co.uk

MICHAELS MOVERS Removals

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

for Grocery shopping, retail therapy, visits to the doctor/hospital, small tasks, dog walking, day trips, short holidays, etc. English & Dutch spoken Tel: 0031 6 20602520

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

siret: 790 909 436 00012

www.michaelsmovers.freeindex.co.uk

www.rentadaughterinthedordogne.com email: claudiadekanter@live.nl

Removals, storage & house clearance in Dordogne

06 73 96 38 39 (FR)

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

JULY 2017 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Uncertainty surrounding Brexit and elections makes for a shaky GBP/EUR exchange rate, but do we really need to worry about this?

n a day-to-day basis ‘Yes’, this is making our lives a little difficult as expats. As the pound falters with uncertainty of Brexit negotiations that have finally begun in earnest and a government that is fighting to remain in power, the euro has also strengthened its stance with the announcement that Greece has finally agreed a deal with its creditors to unlock the long-overdue next tranche of bailout funding. The payment is necessary to help Greece cover its maturing debt costs in

July; without it the country is at risk of default. As a result the euro has surged on the back of market relief that catastrophe has been avoided. It is not all bad news, however, as I have mentioned in previous articles that you do not need to necessarily move your funds from sterling to euros to benefit from the advantageous tax system for savers in France. Yes, there is little that we can do to mitigate the day-to-day needs of currency conversion to pay bills (although using a good currency company is always a good start and something that we can help you with), but for your longer term savings needs we can explore overseas options that will not only be French tax compliant and can help with Inheritance Tax planning, but will earn you some interest too. Many of you with savings in the UK may be

wondering what interest is anymore! In fact with the commencement of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) on 31st May and the sharing of saving and investment information between tax authorities there is little that can be ‘hidden’ by keeping it in your UK ISA or Premium Bonds or any other savings account that you may have and this is potentially costing you money. If your rate of interest is below the current rate of inflation at 2.9% then the reality is that the real value of your savings is being slowly eroded away. It’s all too easy to sit and do nothing and hope that interest rates in the UK will rise... eventually, but can you really afford to do that and are you really winning enough to be able to say that you are getting the average return of 1.25% on your Premium Bonds? For most of us our hard earned

savings need to work harder than ever for us now, especially in retirement to help us enjoy the beautiful life in France that we moved here for. We don’t all have a huge amount of savings, but whatever you have needs protecting, so please do not hesitate to get in touch to see if I can help you do that. All initial consultations are without obligation or cost. For an independent, professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email: Rosemary. sheppard@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) through whom we have a registered branch and passport for financial services in France. License number 00805B.

Creative Writing Residential Retreat in Dordogne Experienced tutors, feedback and guidance on writing your memoirs, poetry, short stories, novels. The support of other writers. 5 nights full board. £300 / £350 in September. For more information contact David and Michele Lambert at info@retreatfrance.co.uk

Mindfulness, Yoga & Creativity Retreat Guided relaxation and meditation, experienced tutors, nature walks, creative response activities (poetry, art, mandalas), yoga, singing, cooking, and periods of silence. The retreat is designed to give you time and space for inspiration to feed your Creativity. 5 nights full board. £300 / £350 in September. For more information contact David and Michele Lambert at info@retreatfrance.co.uk

Debate, discussion, déjeuner? Lively minds sharing ideas and views? Like the sound of this?

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

SUNDAY 09 JULY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 All Age Worship – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes 11:00 Morning Worship – Condom South West Left are a friendly, informal group of mostly English speakers living in the Dordogne and Lot et Garonne. We come from a mainly centre/left point of view and meet every month around the South West region for either discussion on current affairs - European and international - or to enjoy a meal in a restaurant, quiz night, music night or maybe a topical film. Our members plan the programme of events. If you’d like to find out more, please contact Averil de la Rue, secretary, by email at averildelarue@wanadoo.fr

Wednesday 12 July 11:00 BCP Holy Communion – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 16 JULY 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship – Dondas 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Morning Worship – Limeuil

10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton 11:00 Prayer & Praise – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 20 July 10:30 Holy Communion - Limeuil 17:00 Evensong - Limeuil SUNDAY 23 JULY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes 10:30 Holy Communion – Saint Médard, Lot et Garonne 11:00 Prayer & Praise – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 27 July 11:00 Holy Communion – Condom SUNDAY 30 JULY 10:30 Special Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Joint Communion – Eymet Temple 10:30 Service of Blessing for Pets – Limeuil 11:00 Prayer & Praise – Sainte Nathalène time TBA 40th anniversary concert

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WHAT’S

Animal sculptures Christian HIRLAY 6th July - 20th September Exhibition of sculptures organised by the Galérie Bénédicte Giniaux in the grounds of the Château des Vigiers in Monestier. This exhibition presents 30 recent creations in metal by the artist. Visit the exhibition area at Vigiers daily from 10h-21h (free entry) . For more information visit www.galeriebenedicteginiaux.fr

CHÂTEAU DE HAUTEFORT

« La nuit, au château... »

Wednesdays (until 30th August) Explore the castle, at nightfall, in the company of Marie or Gilles de Hautefort, the brother and sister of Marquis Jacques-François, the owner of the château in the 17th century, the architect Jacques Maigret, and Queen Anne of Austria. An unusual visit for all the family! Ticket office: 21h-22h (no booking necessary) Tickets: €12; 7-14s €7; free for Under 7s. For more information visit www.chateau-hautefort.com

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

The third Organic Food Festival of the Ribérac Region will be held in the farm of La Meyfrenie at Verteillac on Saturday 8th July, starting at 2 pm. There will be a full programme of events, including a producers’ market, conferences, children’s workshops, wine tasting, refreshments and concerts.

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ARTISANS CRÉATEURS DE GUYENNE

FOIRE ARTISANALE D’éTé (ARTS & CRAFTS FAIR) CHÂTEAU DE SAUSSIGNAC

8-9 JULY 2017 10h-17h Restauration / Refreshments Tel: 05 57 46 04 09 Mme Ela Harris

Battle of castillon July 13, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 August 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19

Spectacular sound and light show commemorating the last great battle of the Hundred Years War, when France took back Aquitaine from the English in 1453. Performed on a natural arena encompassing 17 acres, within firing range of the original battle ground, 600 volunteers, including 400 actors and 50 horseback riders, re-enact the Battle of Castillon. The 90 captivating minutes, filled with stunts, special effects and explosive expertise are combined with the everyday life of the Middle Ages, including rural scenes set in a farm, scenes from the grape harvest, shooting parties and market day with street sellers and a travelling dentist! The show takes place at the foot of the Château Castegens. Belvès-de-Castillon is 3 minutes from Castillon-la-Bataille, on the Gironde/Dordogne border. The performance begins at 10:30 pm in July and 10 pm in August. It is recommended that you arrive one hour before. An open-air restaurant offers dinner from 7 pm (reserve online). Light refreshments and drinks are also available on site and picnics are allowed. The village of Aliénor welcomes visitors from 6:30 pm prior to the show for an evening of entertainment for the whole family: medieval jousting and combat; demonstrations of dance; theatre; traditional games; and a chance to meet the animals that participate in the event. Also present on site are local artisans and shopkeepers as well as wine producers. For more information and tickets: Tel 05 57 40 14 53 or visit www.batailledecastillon.com Tickets: Adults €19-€27; 5-12 year olds €12; FREE for Under 5s

WHAT’S ON ♦ 21 Concert organised by the association SARRAZAC ARTS ET MUSIQUES Sunday 9th July, 5 pm, Eglise de Sarrazac Sarrazac Arts et Musiques are delighted to announce the appearance of Duo Adfinitas

Warwick Hewson and Nao Maebayeshi Piano for four hands with a programme of Mozart, Beethoven, Debussy, Schubert, Piazzolla, Bowen and Waldstein. Entry 10 euros with reductions for 12-15 years. For more information tel 06 16 83 53 74.

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Sarlat Theatre Festival 20th July - 5th August

The Sarlat Theatre Festival is one of the city’s great institutions. Since 1952 it has animated the ancient stones of Sarlat 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 20th July and 5th August. For more information tel 05 53 31 10 83 or visit www.festival-theatre-sarlat.com

Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd July

Issigeac Basket Fair The Issigeac Foire aux Paniers et à la Vannerie takes place on Sunday 16th July and welcomes more than 40 basket makers from all over France. This highly decorative event attracts thousands of visitors every year to see, admire, buy, learn and simply enjoy the spectacle.

Summer Fair

Following their hugely successful weekend event in 2015, Les Soeurs Anglaises are delighted (and proud!) to announce the return of Deanna Bogart (USA) and Luca Sestak (Germany), and to welcome mega-Boogie star Silvan Zingg (Switzerland). Acclaimed for their individual interpretations of Blues & Boogie Woogie, these three renowned musicians provide the perfect mix of infectious rhythms, masterful musicianship and riveting vocals. For those who can’t keep off the dance floor, there will be a jive demo and an opportunity to “dance to the music”!

Bertric-Burée (24320) 22nd July 2017 10h-15h

r e e B nt Te

Craft Stall

Pla Sta nts ll

Hog Cream Roast Teas

Food, prepared and served by Sven Hanson Britt, Masterchef The Professionals finalist (and current Executive Chef for Miele UK) and his team, is included in the price of full weekend bookings, as well as the possibility to buy at the events for those booking individual concert tickets. The profits from the weekend will be donated to the international charity Médecins sans Frontières. The main event of the weekend will be a concert on Saturday 22nd July with a line-up of internationally acclaimed blues and boogie musicians – piano, guitar, saxophone and more. In addition to great music, the biannual festival offers weekend guests delicious food & wine and superior accommodation at an outstanding venue. The festivities continue on Sunday 23rd July with a live music-packed Blues & Boogie Picnic.

Carnival games for all ages, music, clothes and much more...

A weekend not to be missed! For more information visit bluesboogie.org For tickets visit bluesboogie.eventbrite.com or tel 05 53 91 38 40

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Mimos - a dizzy week for Périgueux

very year in July since 1983, the normally calm and wellbalanced capital of the Dordogne loses its head for a week. This is the week of the Mimos. Originally dedicated to Marcel Marceau, the globally famous mime artist, its size and scope have grown to encompass all kinds of theatrical events that rival the Edinburgh Festival, including the most bizarre and moving presentations. For residents and visitors the streets, squares, gardens and public venues of Périgueux are to be turned upside down by 24 varied troupes of actors, jugglers, acrobats and performance artists throughout the days and evenings from 24th to 29th July, with more than 200 performers in total. Many street shows are free and you can even bring your own seat,

but if you absolutely must sit down then you can book and buy a ticket in advance. For British visitors whose French is not as good as it perhaps could be, most shows have an element of Marceau’s tradition of minimal speech and are generally suitable for children. Spectators at this major European mime event can expect to run the whole gamut of emotions from empathetic tears to gasping with laughter.

The theme for 2017 is “Equilibre / Déséquilibre”, roughly translated as “balance and unbalance”, with the promise of vertiginous aerial acts and gravity defying stunts. The troupes come from ten different countries including the UK’s Vamos Theatre and their presentation of “The Best Thing” (27/07 - see below). To choose a show go to: www. mimos.fr by Brian Hinchcliffe

A swinging sixties story of unconditional love from the UK’s leading full mask theatre company. It’s 1966. The record player’s on, her hair’s bobbed and eye-lashes curled: for seventeen-year-old Susan, life is an adventure waiting to begin. But what happens next turns everything upside down, and its repercussions will last for decades to come. Step into the wordless world of Vamos Theatre for this bitter-sweet story of mistaken morals and broken hearts, 45s and beehives, where sexual revolution proves a hard and rocky path to tread. Funny, heart-breaking and human, The Best Thing is the latest touring production from one of the country’s must-see theatre companies.

At the end of July each year, Montignac is host to a world folklore and dance festival. This 37th edition takes place from 24th to 30th July and invites performers from all over the world. Tel: 05 53 50 14 00 or visit: www.festivaldemontignac.fr

Marché des Potiers, Limeuil Sat 22nd & Sun 23rd July

Got an event? 05 55 41 17 76

Pottery market in one of France’s most beautiful villages, Limeuil. It takes place in a lovely setting by the waterside where the rivers Dordogne and Vézère meet and this year welcomes 45 exhibitors who come to share their passion and their profession. On the Saturday evening there will be a performance of «Raku Punk» by Jean-françois Bourland and Valérie Blaize accompanied by an afro-jazz group. FREE ENTRY.

Ton Koopman marks Telemann’s 250th anniversary at the 16th Itinéraire Baroque F estival At this summer’s Itinéraire Baroque, Ton Koopman is marking the 250th anniversary of German composer Georg Philipp Telemann during his annual festival in the Dordogne. The composer’s works form the backbone of the 4-day programme alongside Koopman’s trademark Bach Cantatas with the Amsterdam Baroque Choir and Orchestra. Set in the picturesque medieval villages and towns around Ribérac, the festival runs from Thursday 27th July to Sunday 30th July 2017. The annual highlight is the Saturday ‘itinéraire’, starting with an organ recital by Koopman followed by five ‘taster’ concerts - in a circuit that takes in small forgotten Romanesque churches. The performers remain in the same church offering a 40-minute concert to each group of concert-goers, while audiences travel between the churches in search of the next baroque “amuse-bouche”. The 2017 Festival line-up includes both new and returning performers such as soprano Bettina Pahn, the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra and Choir, and L’Arco Sonoro. Several performers will also be making their Itinéraire Baroque debut this year, including baroque dance specialist Hubert Hazebroucq. Hazebroucq is much in demand as a period dancer and choreographer, having appeared on BBC 4’s documentary The King Who Invented Ballet: Louis XIV and the Noble Art of Dance in 2015. On 28th July, Hazebroucq dances a specially choreographed baroque piece to Telemann’s Fantasias for Flute Without Bass. Another first-time performer this year is organist Gerhard Gnann, who performs as part of the Itinéraire day on 27th July. Hailing from Zwolle in the Netherlands, Ton Koopman is an acclaimed organist, harpsichordist and conductor, as well as the Artistic Director of the Itinéraire Baroque. For more information and to reserve tickets visit www.itinerairebaroque.com

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