Eiffel Tower closes over pickpockets
The Eiffel Tower closed last month after angry staff went on strike over the gangs of pickpockets operating around the monument >> Page 13
Dordogne June 2015 - Issue #24
Supermarkets told to give away food
INSIDE > > >
NEWS - So British Weekend 2015
Shove ha’penny and welly hurling are coming to town as Brantôme gears up to celebrate the second annual So British weekend >> Page 5
Legislation is being introduced to ban supermarkets from spoiling and throwing away food that is still edible, requiring them instead to donate unsold produce to food charities. The move is part of the government's efforts to halve food waste by 2025.
I
n a rare example of cross-party unity, France’s National Assembly has voted unanimously to ban supermarkets from spoiling and throwing away unsold food. Instead, they will now have to donate it to charities or make it available for use as animal feed. The move is part of the government’s commitment to reduce food waste by 50% in the next decade. The new law will affect supermarkets with a surface area of more than 400 square metres; failing to agree contracts with charities and organisations to make provision for the food could result in fines of up to €75,000. Campaigners have long highlighted the amount of
perfectly edible food being thrown out by supermarkets, and “dumpster diving” has become so popular that many chains now pour bleach or other chemicals into their bins to prevent the food being taken. Other supermarkets deliberately dispose of food in locked warehouses for collection by refuse trucks in a bid to stop scavengers. “It’s scandalous to see bleach being poured into supermarket dustbins along with edible foods,” said the Socialist deputy Guillaume Garot, a former food minister who proposed the bill. “There’s an absolute urgency - charities are desperate for food,” said another MP, Yves Jégo. “The most moving part of this law is that it opens us up to
>> continued on page 13
NEWS - MyFerryLink wins appeal hearing
The Eurotunnel owned ferry company can continue to operate its crossChannel route after successfully overturning a previous ban >> Page 11
PRACTICAL - Tips for a bug free summer
Following news that the tiger mosquito could soon be in the Dordogne, we offer you some top tips for a bug free summer in 2015 >> Page 15
The Bugle Business Directory
After colonising southern Europe, the Asian tiger mosquito may soon arrive in the Dordogne >> Page 3
We all have bad habits. Develop a healthy one that actually saves you money!
4 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 17-20
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Welcome to
The Bugle
F
ollowing the surprise majority won by the Conservatives in last month's UK General Election, we know one thing for sure: the UK will in the near future hold a referendum on membership of the EU. Whatever your politics and irrespective of how you feel about the EU, if the United Kingdom votes to leave, that will have a very real impact on expats living in countries such as France. As citizens of a non-EU country, the British would technically no longer be automatically entitled to live and work in France and could even have to apply for a visa to stay. It seems unthinkable that this would actually happen and if a “Brexit” did occur, I expect agreements would be signed to make exceptions as is currently
done for Swiss citizens across Europe. It does throw up some interesting questions, however. One solution that has been suggested to anyone worried about what will happen should the UK public vote to leave the EU, is to naturalise and take French citizenship. This is relatively simple (for France!), although the usual hoops have to be jumped through and any potential French citizens need to also pass a language test. It is not something I have looked into in any detail, but I know people who have done this and it seems no trickier than births and marriages currently are here for “foreigners”. The situation raises even more questions for those of us with “French” children. My children were born in France to two British parents, which makes
them British. They can opt to take on French citizenship (as well keeping their British nationality) when they are 18, if they have lived here for a sufficient number of years before that time. But until then they remain British and travel on a British passport. As they grow older and become increasingly French - which they are bound to do as they have French friends and go to French schools - certain doors will remain closed to them as “foreigners”, a situation that would undoubtedly be exacerbated by any UK withdrawal from the EU. I believe, for example, that they would not be able to join the army or police force. That is until they are 18, of course. There also remains the potential for them to have to apply to university in France as foreign students, if they were to choose that educational path. Were my wife or I to take French citizenship, then our children would automatically also inherit it, making their lives much easier (and their passports much cheaper!!) So on a purely practical level, the only thing stopping me is the paperwork... but is this a good reason to change nationality? I am fiercely proud to be British and if I took on French nationality, I imagine I would always identify
myself as British. So would that make me a hypocrite if I applied to become a citizen of the Republic? It is a question I'm sure I will spend a good deal of time contemplating over the next few years. Personally I hope that the UK stays in Europe, but I know that there is significant support for “going it alone”... only time will tell. On a separate note, many thanks to all who made donations to my brother in his fund-raising efforts for the Alzheimer's Society – the money will be going to a good cause and is much appreciated! Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor
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INSIDE this edition 3-6 Local News 7-13 National News 14 French Life 15 Practical 16 Games 17-20 Directory 21 Community 22-24 What’s On
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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
Tiger mosquitoes at Dordogne’s borders
T
he feared Asian tiger mosquito has gradually been colonising parts of southern France over the last decade, but local authorities fear that mosquitoes will soon be making an appearance in the Dordogne. The tiger mosquito is one of the world’s most invasive pests, and is easily recognised by its black and white striped legs, and small black and white striped body. It grows to between 2mm and 10mm. The primary concern is that tiger mosquitoes spread several tropical diseases such as dengue fever and chikungunya. In an attempt to monitor their advance, mosquito traps have been set in six towns across the department considered at high risk: Bergerac, Périgueux, Sarlat, La Bachellerie, Sourzac and Saint-Laurent-sur-Manoire. The tiger mosquito is believed to have first entered Europe in the late 1970s via a goods shipment from China to Albania. A subsequent introduction in Italy in the 1990s, thought to have been from larvae in a delivery of car tyres from the USA, led to a population explosion in Italy which gradually spread. They were first seen in France in 2004 and the mosquitoes have now firmly established themselves along France’s Mediterranean coast and are moving up the Rhône valley. As many as 20 departments are now believed to be home to the invasive species.
Although people travel back to France having contracted tropical diseases abroad relatively often, in 2010 two cases of dengue were contracted in the Riviera after mosquito bites in France itself, a nightmare scenario for local health services. Authorities are stressing that there is no need to panic and have also pointed out that several other, less dangerous, species of mosquito have similar markings. They are also urging residents to take sensible precautions to help avoid the spread of the insects, primarily by not allowing stagnant water to collect in gardens (see page 15 for this and other tips for a bug free summer). ■
Bergerac celebrates 2 millionth passenger
B
ergerac Airport and Ryanair have just celebrated their two millionth passenger together. Since flights began in 2003, Bergerac Airport has become a vital link to expats flying in and out of the region. With five routes flying regularly to destinations in the UK and Belgium, the modern terminal draws passengers from across the department and surrounding areas. To celebrate this momentous milestone, the Bergerac-Roumanière Airport and Ryanair together identified Julie, a London civil servant, as the two millionth passenger. In the terminal, Julie and her husband, frequent flyers on the route from Stansted, were presented with a celebratory cake in the shape of a Ryanair jet, plus a free UK flight. This was not the first time Ryanair has marked passenger number milestones. Earlier this year the airline celebrated its 2 millionth passenger flying through Bydgoszcz, Poland after 10 years of the service. Julie should count herself
lucky as on that occasion the passenger was presented with free tickets and a calendar... but no cake! Bergerac Airport has continued to be a popular option for travellers to and from the region and is generally well liked. “It’s bright and modern,” music producer Jamie Milton from Brighton told The Bugle, as he arrived on a flight from London. “I love it. It’s people-friendly and comfortable when waiting for your flight back.” The airport, which has passenger facilities measuring over 550 square metres, is also home to parachute and private aviation clubs. The civil aviation area of 140 hectares has a 2-kilometre runway and boasts some of the latest aviation technology. Set in the rich vineyards of Bergerac, and close to Montbazillac, the airport is seen by many as the gateway to the south-west. Other airlines operating from Bergerac include Flybe, Jet2, and Transavia. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe
4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS
It’s official - summer’s here!
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
Dordogne choir ready for New York concert
I I
n the north Dordogne people reckon that summer doesn’t start until the Floralies. True to tradition, Saint-Jean-de-Côle, voted one of France’s prettiest villages, held its Floralies plant and flower show and sale in May in fabulous sunshine. Thousands of visitors over the weekend of 9th-10th May flooded in to see the hundreds of exhibitors and traders as well as the exceptional displays of flowers and plants in the ground of the château, church and throughout St Jean’s cobbled streets. “This is just a wonderful event, better than Chelsea,” said Barbara Goodrich from London. Trader John Reid was also delighted by the weekend. From his jewellery stand John told us: “This is the seventh year we have had a stall here. It’s always a great place to be, and the weather has been superb again!” ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe
Problem of rural healthcare worsens A recent report has once again highlighted the lack of healthcare professionals working in rural France, something that particularly affects the Dordogne. The average wait to see a local specialist such as a cardiologist, dermatologist, ophthalmologist or gynaecologist is now 129 days, well above the national average of 57. The issue is not a new one, but is apparently getting worse, despite government efforts to convince more young doctors and specialists to set up practices in rural areas of France. Medical specialists in these areas tend to be older, are retiring at an increasing rate and the new generation of young graduates are being lured to the big cities. Health authorities have introduced a series of incentives to encourage young doctors to work in rural areas, such as grants to see them through medical school in return for time spent in less “favourable” areas of France. In the Lot-et-Garonne, the Conseil départemental offers medical students who take placements locally €200 per month towards travel costs and a further €300 to help with rent. ■
mmediately after their winter performances in the Dordogne of Haydn’s Creation, a Ribérac choir set to rehearsing for their upcoming concert in New York this June. The Variations Vocal Ensemble, a mixed British and French group, have been assiduously rehearsing their two principal pieces for their two-requiem concert for the distinguished Manhattan audience. The venue for the beautiful and moving requiems by Fauré and Duruflé is none other than the Sterne Auditorium, Perleman Stage of Carnegie Hall. Dress Circle and Balcony seats had already completely sold out by the beginning of May with only a few other $60 - $100 seats available. The idea for the concert originated from an admiring audience member’s recording of Variations’ presentations in Ribérac and Périgueux last year. The YouTube video was spotted by the internationally acclaimed Distinguished Concerts International New York. The Musical Director of DCINY got in touch with the Dordogne choristers, inviting them to perform with other select choirs in the world-famous concert
hall under the baton of Craig Jessop. From his West 57th Street office in New York, Josh Grace, DCINY’s Programme Development Assistant, told The Bugle, “With the residency soon approaching, everyone here at DCINY is very excited and looking forward to this concert.” Josh has set up a dedicated Facebook page: www.facebook.com/ groups/578050778999407/ For Dorothy White, Variations’ hard-working secretary, the invitation has led to a deep involvement with the tour, working closely with DCINY, who are highly experienced in presenting choral productions from across the world. Dorothy told The Bugle about her tasks of co-ordinating the choristers’ travel arrangements, from both Paris and London, booking
their luxury hotel, and organizing the first rehearsals at the beginning of June. “DCINY’s attention to detail is superb, making a tricky job much simpler.” She added: “Most choristers will be staying on for private trips after the concert. Plus, we expect there’ll be some time to sightsee between rehearsals.” From their Central Park Hotel, just off Broadway, overlooking the park, sightseeing is definitely on the programme! To see and hear them in the Dordogne, go to Verteillac for Verteillac Association Day on 20th June, or visit the Facebook page of Variationsfrance. For $100 a seat you could also catch them in the Big Apple. But you’ll have to be quick! ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe
LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
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So British Weekend 2015 - Brantôme
T
he Hundred Years War may have ended centuries ago but one ancient Dordogne town will be in British hands, for a weekend at least, on 20th and 21st June. Brantôme is the setting for this historic event where the action is to be determinedly British. The town itself is an elegant and important attraction, known for its architecture, art and fine dining, but also for its varied programme of events, shows and spectacles. The notion of a British festival came from the town boatman on the river Dronne, Jean-Luc Nicolas. An avid student of history, Jean-Luc has traced the story of this town and its British connections, from way back in 1154 to the present day. “We are so bound together by the events of a thousand years,” explained Jean-Luc. “We share so much history.” During the winter of 2013 he dreamt up the idea of a weekend given over to this shared past. 2015 sees the second edition of the So British weekend. Organiser and jeweller, Carol Robinson told
The Bugle about the success of last year’s event, the huge public demand to repeat it in 2015 and the decision to make it even bigger and better! A hard-working committee of French and British locals, including Laurence Moreau, Carole Villain, Carol Robinson, Jean-Luc Nicolas, Pascal Picaut and John Beynon, have put together the weekend’s programme, backed by the mayor of Brantôme, Monique Ratineau, and the Communauté de Communes. John explained the programme: “We kick off at 2 o’clock with lots of traditional British games and sports of all kinds. From croquet to shove ha’penny, from pub skittles to welly hurling. Our French neighbours are looking forward to seeing a game of cricket, even if they don’t fully understand it. These sports are on during all of Saturday afternoon from 2 o’clock on the meadow by the river. There will be a traditional brass band giving 2 free concerts on the market place, a marching Scottish pipe band and roving choirs throughout the town. We hope to have Brantôme Police Horses
here, too. At the Hotel Charbonnel, manager Carole Villain is serving afternoon teas with live music overlooking the Dronne. We end Saturday with music and dancing with Third Stone on the Place du Marché from 9 pm until very late.” Carol outlined Sunday’s events: “There’s a British market by the Abbaye all day. In the afternoon there’s an exhibition of classic cars and the possibility of taking a classic car ride around town. Between 2 and 4 o’clock on the Place du Marché we have the hilariously talented “Incontinentals”. They are a gang of superb musicians, very quirky, very funny, very British. From 4 pm to 5pm there’s an introduction to English, Scottish and Irish country dancing.” Pascal Picaut, a dealer in fossils and gems in Brantôme added: “There are still a few pitches for traders or exhibitors at the So British Sunday market. It’s not too late, but stall holders need to be quick. They should contact John Beynon on 05 53 54 81 19 or at jobelix@wanadoo.fr, or Brantome24 on Facebook.” ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe
6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS
Très Jolie
Ladies fashion accessories Mail order available or find me at a local market Piégut market every Wednesday Paula Robinson
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Three more beaches awarded Blue Flag Three locations in the Dordogne have been awarded the prestigious “Pavillon Bleu” label, highlighting them as among the best swimming locations in the country. The trio of lakes join Tamniès, which became the first area in the department to receive the Blue Flag in 2011. The new intake are lakes at Saint-SaudLacoussière in the Périgord vert, La Jemaye to the south of Ribérac and Gurson near the western borders of the Dordogne. In order to win the right to fly the coveted Blue Flag, an area must meet a strict set of criteria including frequent water quality tests, the regular cleaning of beaches and banks, a sufficient number of bins and suitable entertainment for children. ■
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
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Grumpy Granny Guide VE Day gets the
W
ith tourists numbers still increasing in the Périgord and with an endless stream of new sites and activities opening up to visitors, it is becoming a challenge, if not a problem, to know which tourist sites to recommend to visiting friends and family who may have limited time and resources. The Grumpy Granny Guide, which went online a year ago, was set up to help you decide exactly which sites would meet your expectations. With its evaluation of almost 100 sites, and with more to come this year, this website has proved hugely popular with its assessment of the visitor experience rather than just the usual description of what there is to see. Particularly useful if you are visiting with small children, or for anyone with mobility issues, who tires easily or quite simply wants to know what to expect once you’ve paid the entrance fee.
vintage treatment
V The Grumpy Granny Guide is published by a not-for profit association ‘Comfort-Explore’, and is completely free of commercial interests as well as being very user-friendly. The association’s original objective was to improve visitors’ experience of the area by making sure there was a good match between visitors’ expectations and their actual experience but today it has widened its brief and is anxious to encourage visitors to go off the beaten track, to discover some of the less well–known, less crowded but nevertheless interesting, sites to be found throughout the Dordogne. The association president, Marie Lachèze would love to hear from anyone who would like to share their
tourist experience. “We would like to invite everyone who has comments or recommendations to make, particularly about sites they know of which are a little unusual, off the beaten track or which they feel could do with a boost to get more people to visit, to contact us. Or to join our association which is all about improving the quality of the visitor experience in this area. As a strictly noncommercial venture, we rely heavily on visitors’ comments to add substance to our own evaluations.” ■ The Grumpy Granny Guide can be contacted through their website www.comfort-explore.com or directly at contact@comfort-explore.com
E Day in 2015 was an important 70th anniversary across Europe. In Cadouin in the Dordogne, it had an extra, very special significance. In a little known operation, 13 parachutists belonging to the American OSS (Office of Strategic Services) landed on 11th August 1944. Their mission, code-named “Percy Pink”, was aimed at supporting local resistance groups and ensuring communications with HQ. Unsurprisingly they were joyfully greeted as liberators. To commemorate that Liberation and Victory in Europe, for the 70th anniversary British and French members of the Traction Club invaded Cadouin to help mark the event as part of the commune’s Victory celebration, and provided an unusual period flavour with a rally of their vintage motors. The club is dedicated to preserving, maintaining and
driving the iconic French classic car, the Citroën Traction Avant, often used by the Resistance. Marathon Traction motorists Ronald and Hélène Knoth worked with Cadouin municipality to organise the commemoration and the rally. Cadouin is just a small village between Bergerac and Sarlat, but with a great and rich history. Later in 2015 it will celebrate another anniversary, the 900th year of the Abbaye. Noted also for its river frontage on the Dordogne, its bamboo garden and ancient market halle, Cadouin was also the birthplace of Louis Delluc, a pioneering, serious film director of the 1920s. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe
Le Premier FESTIBIO du RIBERACOIS organised by the Association OSONS BIO
LA MEYFRENIE, VERTEILLAC - 11th July This inaugural Organic Food Festival of the Riberac Region will be held in the farm of La Meyfrenie at Verteillac, on 11th July 2015, starting at 2pm. There will be a full programme of events, including a producers’ market, cooking workshops with a local chef, permaculture growing techniques, demonstrations of horse-drawn farm equipment, children’s activities including a taste workshop, bread making, an exhibition on biodiversity, a bookshop... and much more! From 7pm there will be music (BAL TRAD) provided by LE TRIO DELTHEIL and organic meals will be available from the producers’ market. Visit our Facebook site for more information (in French): www.facebook.com/pages/Festibio/353572018176229 Your favourite one stop shop where you will find something for all the family within our 32000ft² sales floor.
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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
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France begins removal of tyre reefs
C
ontroversial plans to create artificial coral reefs off the coast of France have ended in failure after authorities admitted defeat and have begun the task of removing tens of thousands of used tyres from the sea off the Côte d’Azur. The old tyres were dumped in the sea in the 1980s in piles or rows to a depth of around 30 metres as part of a project to restock the waters with marine life by giving fish and coral a new home. Thirty years later, the experiment has been declared a complete failure. Not only did fish and coral shun the rubber reefs, preferring natural reefs or concrete ones created for the same purpose, the tyres may actually have caused environmental damage in the meantime. Undersea currents and storms dispersed the tyre reefs, with thousands piling up, crushing coral and plant life and blighting the seabed. “Things didn’t work as we had imagined at the time,” said Elodie Garidou of the protected marine areas unit (AMP), speaking to Le
Monde. There have also been concerns by environmental groups that the “inert” tyres in fact leech toxic hydrocarbons into the sea. “If colonisation never took place, it's because the used tyres are covered with hydrocarbons. When they break up over time, they release heavy metals into the environment that are toxic for marine life,” explained Jacky Bonnemains, from the Robin Hood environmental pressure group. The long process of removing the tyres from the sea has now begun, with the first 2,500 successfully removed from the south coast of France just in time for the start of the recent Cannes Film Festival. Ten times this number still remain on the seabed at various locations along the south coast of France, however. Although the failure has left the project's founders red faced and the clean-up job looks set to be lengthy and expensive, France is far from alone. According to scientists, around 200 artificial reefs made of tyres are in existence worldwide,
notably in waters off the United States, Japan, Malaysia and Israel. While France has an estimated 90,000 m³ of tyre reefs, Japan has 20 million m³! The United States has more than 1,000 artificial reefs along its coastline and around two million
tyres were sunk in one location off the coast of Florida in 1972 in an attempt to promote marine life. It was an idea that originally came from tyre giant Goodyear. “Goodyear came along and said 'that will be useful to fishermen and the sea.' They were trying to give a veneer of
usefulness to the deliberate dumping of waste in the environment,” claims Mr Bonnemains. Florida's state environmental agency has described the reefs as a “serious” threat and launched its own programme to begin their removal in 2007. ■
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8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
Plans to change tax End in sight for declaration system minimum card payments
B
T
he day after the deadline for posting 2014's tax returns, the government announced plans to move towards a system where income tax is collected at source, something that will be familiar to those who have worked in the UK. Under the current system, workers must put their income tax to one side until September of the following year when tax returns have been submitted and the amount due calculated. No timetable has been set for the changes and this is not the first time that a government has said it would change the income tax system. As recently as 2013, former prime minister JeanMarc Ayrault admitted the current system was “almost unreadable and very complex”. At the time, polls showed that just over half of those surveyed supported deducting taxes at source.
“The idea is to move towards a simplification of tax collection, with gradual implementation through the simplifying of payslips and taking [taxes] at source,” said the government's spokesperson Stephane Le Foll. He added that the government would take its time to make sure everything runs smoothly. Although there appears to be political and public desire for the changes to the system, it may not be that simple to implement. “The practicality of changing the way taxes are paid in France means it would be extremely difficult to do,” explained tax expert Patrick Delas, from Russell-Cooke. “It would also be extremely expensive for a government that doesn’t have any leeway in terms of budget. It will also mean much more work for businesses, who already have the complicated job of working out so-
cial security contributions. There will also be the people who work in the revenue offices for the government, who will fear job losses if this change is made.” Other potential problems may arise from the transitional period when workers will be asked to pay for the previous year's tax whilst simultaneously having tax deducted from their pay checks for the current year. “To stop people from paying twice, you will have to skip a year,” explained Michel Taly from Parisian firm Arsene Taxand. “How can this be implemented without causing injustice to anyone? For anyone whose income is stable, there won’t be a problem, but for the others? It will naturally be better for them if we skipped the year in which they earned the most. Smoothing things out will require complex solutions.” ■
eing told you have not spent enough to pay by card could soon be a frustration consigned to the history books after France's finance minister, Michel Sapin, announced a shake-up to the way banks charge commission. Under current rules, many banks charge a fixed minimum commission for all card payments, as well as a percentage of the transaction value. This has led many retailers to refuse to take card payments for
At the same time, the finance minister also announced plans to create an independent price comparison website to help consumers untangle the huge numbers of commission, charges and penalties imposed by the country's banks. There is currently no standard model which means that banks charge different types of commissions and fees, often with generic, meaningless names and comparing one bank to another is a difficult task.
small amounts, where the fixed commission forms a large percentage of the transaction. “I don't want any more obstacles when it comes to paying by card,” said the minister, who is to ask banks to change the way they operate. Sapin indicated that if the banks did not comply then he would tackle the issue with legislation.
Finance experts have long joked that someone is more likely to divorce in France than to change their bank, but this could also soon be changing after senators voted in amendments to the loi Macron that will require banks to seamlessly transfer direct debits and standing orders for migrating customers, free of charge. ■
France is still the most visited country in the world
Official figures have once again confirmed that France was the most visited country in 2014, meaning it holds on to the coveted crown. A whopping 83.7 million people visited these shores last year, far ahead of the second placed US, which attracted just under 70 million tourist visitors. Spain (61 million), China (56 million) and Italy (48 million) round out the top 5 with the 31 million tourists that visited the UK proving enough for eighth place on the global chart. Asia still represents a lucrative and growing tourist market for France. The new fast-track 48-hour visa for Chinese travellers was introduced in January last year, a move that saw a 61 per cent increase in visas given to Chinese nationals in 2014. The government has previously announced ambitious plans to boost visitor numbers beyond the 100 million mark. ■
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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9
10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
Police cleared over Paris youth deaths
A
French court has cleared two police officers over the deaths of two youths in 2005 that led to some of the worst rioting seen in France for decades. The judge threw out the charge of “non-assistance of a person in danger” against Sébastien Gaillemin, 41, and Stéphanie Klein, 38, who were accused of not raising the alarm or warning the emergency services when a group of youths ran into an electricity substation. The trial dates to an incident on 27th October 2005 in Clichy-sous-Bois, a notorious Parisian suburb, when police were called to a construction site to investigate a possible break-in. Three teenagers, who were on their way back from a football match, saw the police and ran, hoping to avoid the lengthy questioning that youths in the housing projects said they often faced from the police. An inquiry concluded that they had not committed any crime, but that they had fled simply because they had seen the police. After climbing a wall, the youths hid in a power substation, but while hiding, two of the boys, Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré, suffered fatal electric shocks. The third, Muhittin Altun, received serious burns but survived. The deaths triggered the biggest wave of civil unrest France had witnessed since 1968. That first night, 15 cars were set alight in Clichy-sous-Bois, an area home to 30,000 residents, mostly second and third-generation immigrant families living in poor conditions in high-rise apartment blocks. The violence quickly spread and over the next 20 days reached as far as Rennes,
Bordeaux, Strasbourg and Marseilles. Nearly 3,000 people - half of them minors - were arrested, more than 9,000 cars were set on fire and 126 policemen and firefighters were injured. Following the acquittal, Jean-Pierre Mignard, lawyer for the civil plaintiffs, called the verdict “shocking”, saying: “There is nothing in this verdict, not a single line or word that takes into account the arguments of the civil plaintiffs. The prime minister recently spoke about the existence of a social apartheid in France’s banlieues (suburbs). Today, one gets the
impression of a judicial apartheid.” At the heart of the trial was a sentence Mr Gaillemin transmitted over police radio during the chase in which he can be heard saying that if they had climbed into the EDF substation, “Je ne donne pas cher de leur peau” (I wouldn’t bank on them coming out alive). During the trial, a tearful Mr Gaillemin told the court that he had checked twice to see whether the teenagers were still in the substation and only left once he was satisfied this was not the case. There had been fears that the verdict
Baby born on AF flight
A plane touched down in Paris last month carrying one extra passenger after a woman gave birth in the air. It was not revealed how pregnant the woman was when she boarded the plane in Dakar, but her baby was clearly impatient to arrive and chose a headline-grabbing way to enter the world. Most amazingly of all, the majority of those on board the plane did not realise that their number had grown by one. “About an hour after take-off, the pilot sent a message over the intercom in a very calm voice, asking if there was a doctor on board,” one passenger told L'Express newspaper. A short while later, a doctor made his way to
could spark more unrest, but community leaders reacted angrily to these suggestions. “I heard earlier someone say: ‘Zyed and Bouna died for nothing.’ I sincerely hope not. But we will have to break yet more bad news for our suburb,” said Samir Mihi, from the Clichy-sous-Bois residents’ association Au-delà des mots. “Nothing will happen in Clichy-sousBois. Stop taking our district hostage and claiming that there will be rioting. I invite you to come to Clichy-sous-Bois outside such circumstances and you'll see we live pretty well.” ■ the back of the plane where the baby was successfully delivered, apparently without complications. This stroke of “luck” to have a doctor was on board may actually be more likely than you would imagine, with figures produced by Le Figaro suggesting that there is an 80% chance of having a medical professional on any given flight. Shortly before landing, the captain announced the baby's arrival, news that was met with applause from passengers. The woman and her newborn were greeted in Paris by a medical crew, who later confirmed that both were doing well. Air France were quick to scotch the urban myth that babies born on their planes received free flights for life, but did say that they would be sending the family a gift. ■
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Eurotunnel's MyFerryLink wins appeal
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ross-Channel ferry company MyFerryLink has successfully overturned a decision banning it from operating a service between England and France. The company, which is owned by Eurotunnel, had previously been deemed to have too large a share of the cross-Channel market by the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Eurotunnel bought three ferries from SeaFrance for €60m following the company's liquidation in 2011 and used them to launch its MyFerryLink venture. In a previous report, the CMA said the ferry service gave Eurotunnel half the cross-Channel market, a situation that could lead to higher prices for both passengers and freight customers. It added that it believed Eurotunnel had bought the ships in order to stop ferry operator DFDS from acquiring them and voiced concerned that if no action was taken, DFDS could exit the market, leaving Eurotunnel with an even larger market share. “With two of the operators on the Dover-Calais route making substantial losses, it remains our view that the current level of competition on the route is unsustainable and likely to lead to the exit of a competitor,” said Alasdair Smith, deputy chairman of the CMA following the initial ruling. “Having one of only two ferry operators owned by the competing rail link would be bad for customers. It would be much better for passengers and freight customers to have
three competing cross-Channel operators - with Eurotunnel running the rail link and two independent operators on the ferry route.” MyFerryLink hailed the overturning of this decision as a “momentous victory”, while the CMA said in a statement it would “study the judgment carefully
and consider its next steps”. “The decision represents a significant victory both for our dedicated employees and for our customers, who will continue to benefit from healthy competition on the short sea route,” said MyFerryLink director Raphael Doutrebente. “This should now spell the end of the road for
the CMA’s attempts to suppress the MyFerryLink business, which has always sought to deliver a high quality and reliable service for its customers.” MyFerryLink currently employs 533 people in France and a further 71 in the UK and operates as many as 24 daily crossings between Dover and Calais. ■
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12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS
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France failing on recycling targets
F
rance's consumer watchdog has described as “disastrous” a report that shows less than a quarter of household waste is recycled, a figure that puts it well behind its European neighbours. The European average is 28% and Germany recycles 47% of its waste. According to the report by the consumer watchdog UFC-Que Choisir, despite increasing investment in recycling from €5.25 billion to €6.5 billion between 2008 and 2012, the amount of waste being recycled has only risen from 17% to 23%. In the report, the watchdog warns that France is very unlikely to hit the 50% recycling target rate before 2020 set by the EU. This European target is rising to 70% by 2030. UFC-Que Choisir president Alain Bazot said: “This situation cannot get any worse, or rubbish will continue to increase,
Do you know the difference between these two symbols...? as well as the cost. It’s an economic and ecological urgency.” The report lays the blame at the feet of the country's waste disposal companies, which it says are not doing enough to
French economy shows strong signs of growth
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n a rare piece of good news, the French economy beat all expectations to grow by 0.6 per cent in the first quarter of 2015, a faster rate of growth than both Germany and the UK and the highest rate seen for more than two years. As recently as April, France's statistics gathering body, INSEE, had predicted growth of 0.4 per cent and the strong figures surprised almost everybody. One person that was certainly pleased by the growth was Finance Minister Michel Sapin, who has previously been forced to defend the government's prediction of 1% growth for 2015. “This first figure is very encouraging,” Sapin told reporters. “Our growth perspectives for 2015 are today clearly comforting.” He said that many saw the one per cent growth target as “unrealistic a few months ago”, but that it “now looks like the minimum”. Elsewhere, Italy's economy returned to growth, expanding by 0.3 per cent and Spain's
grew by an impressive 0.9 per cent in the first quarter. Growth in the Eurozone as a whole was strong at 0.4 per cent, outpacing both the UK and US economies. In more disappointing news for the Eurozone, the German economy, the biggest in Europe, grew by just 0.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2015, slightly slower than the 0.5 per cent expected. German analysts were disappointed as they had been hoping to build on the 0.7 per cent growth seen in the fourth quarter of last year. Peter Vanden Houte, an economist at ING, said the figures suggested the Eurozone’s recovery was becoming more widespread. “Growth is clearly broadening across the Eurozone. That said, the jury is still out on whether Eurozone growth has reached enough escape velocity to see a selfsustained recovery. A resolution for the Greek problems will also be needed to lift the uncertainty that still prevents businesses from increasing investment.” ■
meet targets, a fact that the watchdog puts down to a lack of regulation and poorly enforced rules. The report also says that these companies have no interest in increasing the amount of
waste they recycle as this only cuts into their profits. There is also a lack of education within the wider public. A recent survey revealed that 59% of those questioned
believed that the “Point vert” logo (the interlocking, green, curved arrows) signified that a product could be recycled. In fact, this symbol simply means that the producer adheres to
legislation that requires it to contribute to recycling costs. Furthermore, only one in three surveyed said that they had been given information on recycling rules in France. ■
Guess what...? Women still do all the housework!
A
study has revealed what fifty per cent of the population probably already knew... French women still do the vast majority of the household chores. The survey, carried out for the Caisse d’allocations familiales (CAF), revealed that women in France also spend two and a half times as much time as men looking after their children. When asked if they had done any cleaning in the last week, 93% of women answered in the affirmative, but only 40% of men had reached for the javel in the previous
seven days. When it came to ironing, a paltry 9% of men knew where the ironing board was kept, compared to 73% of all women. Men fared better in the kitchen, though, with around 50% performing cooking duties compared to 93% of women. Surely the modern man helps out with the shopping, however? Well, sometimes... 64% of those surveyed helped fill the cupboards, but again women outworked their male partners, with 85% passing through the supermarket checkout. ■
High visibility vests soon compulsory for bikers Since 2008, drivers in France have been required to have a high visibility vest in their car at all times, along with other compulsory items such as an emergency warning triangle. If found without a “visi-vest” during a check, drivers face a fine of €11, but this becomes €135 if you fail to use one following a breakdown or emergency stop. Now, following a decree published in the Journal Officiel drivers of motorbikes and scooters will also have to comply with this rule from 1st January 2016 or face similar fines. ■
NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 13
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The French Supermarkets banned are still among from spoiling old food world's biggest drinkers >> continued from pg 1
A
study of alcohol consumption in developed nations has revealed that the French are among the heaviest drinkers in the world. The study has shown that while the overall amount of alcohol consumed has fallen nationally over the last 20 years, the French still drink the equivalent of 120 bottles of wine each every year.
France came top in the study of all 34 countries that make up the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), with a significant increase in drinking among educated women. “In France, women with high education are twice as likely to be hazardous drinkers as less educated women, while men with a low and intermediate level of education are more likely to drink at risk,” the study said. Despite the fall in overall drinking levels, the report warned that this statistic masked the trend towards binge drinking: the top 20% of drinkers in France account for 50% of all the alcohol consumed. The report also noted that France had lower levels of taxation for alcohol, and especially wine, than most other OECD countries. “The cost to society and the economy of excessive alcohol consumption around the world is massive,” said OECD secretary-general Angel Gurría. “This report provides clear evidence that even expensive alcohol abuse prevention policies are cost-effective in the long run and underlines the need for urgent action by governments.” Worldwide, the harmful consumption of alcohol has risen from the eighth to the fifth leading cause of death and disability over the last 25 years. ■
others who are suffering.” According to official estimates, the average French person throws away 20kg-30kg of food a year, around a third of which has never been opened! The value of this wasted food is estimated to be as much as €20 billion. Of the 7.1m tonnes of food thrown away in France each year, 67% is binned by consumers, 15% by restaurants and only 11% by shops. The Fédération du Commerce et de la Distribution, which represents big supermarkets, criticised the plan. “The law is wrong in both target and intent, given the big stores represent only 5% of food waste but have these new obligations,” said Jacques Creyssel, head of the organisation. “They are already the pre-eminent food donors, with more than 4,500 stores having signed agreements with aid groups.” When the new laws were first announced, food charities were cautiously optimistic. “Donations already work very well in France thanks to tax break incentives, but this text is a good thing as it will enable us to gather even more unsold produce,” said Gaëtan Lassale, head of the French federation of food banks. He did, however, raise the question of who would pay for the increased infrastructure required. Speaking to Le Journal du Dimanche, he said that the proposed law could put charities under financial strain as
they would be forced to invest in “cold storage, refrigerated lorries or hangars” to store the food. The EU is already looking into changes to “best before” and “use
by” dates on certain products in a bid to cut down on food wastage. Many foods, such as dried pasta for example, carry best before dates but are perfectly safe to eat long after this date has expired. ■
Eiffel Tower closes over pickpockets
V
isitors to one of the world's most iconic landmarks were left disappointed recently when they were met with a sign that simply said “The Eiffel Tower is temporarily closed”. The closure followed a walkout by staff over the growing problem of pickpockets operating in the area around the famous tower which attracts around seven million visitors a year. A spokesperson for the 40 staff refusing to work said they were powerless to prevent gangs of “between four to five” pickpockets, with “sometimes 30 on the monument” at any one time. “There have always been pickpockets at the Eiffel Tower, but we are now facing an organised network,” said a union representative. Angry staff have called on management to provide “formal guarantees so that lasting, efficient measures are taken to end this scourge that numerous tourists fall foul of every day”. Another member of staff said that he had been threatened while chasing away a pickpocket: “He said to me why don't you let us work... if this continues you will have problems.” The protesting staff complained that managers only went as far as “informing visitors” about the risks of pickpockets, but lacked any determination to tackle the problem, which has become “troublesome for an internationally renowned monument”. Workers at the Louvre Museum staged a similar walkout in 2012, which prompted a security clampdown at the home of La Joconde (the French name for the Mona Lisa). The number of reported crimes subsequently fell. Paris authorities were quick to highlight that violent theft was down 25% and pickpocketing was
23% lower in the first four months of 2015 when compared with the same period last year. The city's authorities have also broken up several major theft networks recently, according to public prosecutor François Molins, who visited the Champs-Elysées
tourist district to show how seriously police are taking crime against visitors. Paris will deploy 26,000 police officers this summer in a dozen top tourist sites around the French capital to fight against tourist theft. ■
14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
In the garden - jobs for June
W
ell, where do we go from May - the loveliest of months, when everything just shoots up and bursts into being?! This year is a pretty strange thing, with May's weather (normally the signal to the start of the summer weather) being unseasonably 'cold', so things that like the heat have had a setback in the garden. All we can do is keep an eye on them and, if in the beginning of the month the weather hasn't perked up, maybe construct a temporary cover for the tomatoes and peppers, etc. whilst at the same time giving each plant a good mulch, since it has been quite windy, which has helped dehydrate plants. Put things back in the tunnel or greenhouse if you have one, if the really low night time temperatures persist. Otherwise, the relatively long daylight hours have helped plant growth significantly, and the perennials are rampaging away in the borders. Keep an eye on them and if they get too big for their neighbours, prune them back. Use the prunings as mulch round your shrubs, roses, etc. Also remove the spring wildflowers before they set too much seed and keep an eye on the grass lengths. A super healthy garden has long, medium and short
by Michelle Pierce
grass, to accommodate the insects and then the birds that feed off them. You've pruned off the seed heads of your lilacs, you are keeping an eye on your fruit trees so that they don't set too much fruit (you plan to be hard-hearted and remove some of the immature fruit) and you're looking after the soft fruit garden. The veg is growing well (since the majority is mulched, you don't need to do that much watering) and you have a good idea what you are going to sow in
Rendez-vous aux jardins 2015 The 13th edition of the “Rendez-vous aux jardins” event will take place on 5th, 6th and 7th June. This annual event, organised by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication, discovers gardens through a theme. This year it's about walking in gardens. Throughout France, more than 2,000 private and public gardens will offer countless events: guided tours, demonstrations, knowledge sharing, exhibitions, games, contests, openings until sunset, walks, music, readings, poetry, theatre, films, etc. For more information on events taking place across the region visit rendezvousauxjardins.fr or contact your local tourist office.
July or August for the next half of the year. This is really a little lull in the year - with May having been all action-packed, June is a tiny interface between the later sowings of July & August for the tail end of the year. But get an idea of what you want to grow for the winter and start thinking about either growing it from seed or from plug plants. At the same time you need to be looking after the summer harvests, like leaf veg, lettuces, salad leaves, radishes, carrots, etc. which don't really need work per se, but you need to thin out the rows (replant the thinnings), keep on top of watering, earth up the early potatoes, harvest the things that are good to go, harvest the early seeds, replant the selfsown babies.... lots to do. The first crop of nettles is ready for harvesting. They can be made into nettle tea (purin d'ortie) - so easy to do! Shove stems in a bucket of water, leave til it stops bubbling, at which time you know the fermen-
tation has ceased. Then you can either choose to use it immediately, filtered, diluted 1:10 with water, or put it in containers out of the light for later use. Also, comfrey should be able to give you a first crop now – either as a mulch or as a compost heap activator. Even if you are pretty late in sowing this year, the majority of things will catch up if you sow them NOW. Keep on top of weeds, but leave some of the most beautiful ones alone - the campions, the umbellifers and the stitchworts, etc. They embellish the more relaxed areas of the garden and help attract wildlife. Keep sowing at regular intervals, to have a succession of crops. And be organised with your harvesting for some things. What I mean is, try to avoid finding yourself with 100 lettuces all at an optimum stage for picking at the same time. Start picking some at an immature stage (remembering that all leaf veg could be considered similarly to 'cutting let-
tuce' in the sense that if you pick individual leaves rather than dig the whole plant up, it will continue to grow and develop new ones). Then turn to the others. Leave some plants to go to seed by themselves and you'll have new plants next year for free, with no effort involved. Pick flowers, especially those that are in the way, for the house, and branches of roses that are overhanging paths or shrubs that are too big. They'll probably make great greenery for vases. Keep deadheading things to keep them flowering as long as possible and label any particular colours that grab your eye, so that later when you want to propagate them or just move that clump of irises to another bed, you are sure which colour it is. Annuals in pots can suffer quite a lot in the summer, and so require a lot of watering. Reduce this by mulching the surface of your compost. There are endless possibilities, many of which you don't need
to buy in; you could use a layer of leaves, dried lawn clippings, stones, remnants of bark from sweeping out the woodshed, wine corks! And remember to feed them from time to time with liquid fertiliser, purin d'ortie, or put slow release fertiliser in the compost. Pot up self-sown plants which have put themselves in the wrong place and once potted up, leave them in a semi-shaded place for a couple of days to recover before moving them somewhere sunny. Reduce the vigour of thugs like mint or marjoram by pruning them back and drying the stems for winter use. Go visit gardens to support Open Gardens. Enjoy the first harvests from your garden and the sheer pleasure of going down to your patch with a trug or basket and coming back with it laden with flowers, veg, fruit and herbs! Bliss!! Good gardening!!! ■
PRACTICAL ♦ 15
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How do I know if I am a tax resident in France? This month Prune CALONNE, English-speaking avocat in Toulouse and The Bugle’s resident lawyer, explains the rules surrounding tax residency in France.
T
here is no such thing as a single precise definition of what makes someone French tax resident. Several criteria are used to determine if you fall into this category or not (article 4B du Code général des impôts). In brief, you will be French tax resident if: -Your main home is in France. You need to live more than 183 days a year in France. Or -If your centre of economic interest is in France.
Or -If you run your business from France or are an employee there. Or -You arrive in France with the intention of becoming a resident. Nothing needs to be done to become French tax resident. You need to be the tax resident of one country in the world. If your family lives in France and you are a cross-border worker outside of France, it can become a tricky question to know whether you are
French tax resident or not. There can be some major differences between individuals in similar situations, on the way they are taxed. It differs greatly mainly because of the interpretation the local tax agency has of the domestic and international treaties that relate to your situation. European Economic Area rules states that any individual can only be affiliated with ONE member state. If you work abroad, you have to be affiliated with the country where you work and therefore shall not have to pay social contributions such as CSG/CRDS on your income from outside France. However, if you live in France with your family, it is likely that the French local tax authori-
ties will claim the CSG/CRDS social contributions which pay for the French social security obligations of your family as a “foyer fiscal” or household! If you and your family decide to relocate, HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have published useful information for people living in two countries. If you still think you do not know where you stand, I would recommend that you seek the advice of an English-speaking tax lawyer at the beginning of the planned relocation, if not beforehand. At CALONNE & ADOUEDUGAST law firm, Prune CALONNE, English-speaking French Avocat works on a regular basis with an Englishspeaking tax lawyer. Do not
hesitate to contact me for further details. ■ For more information on this or any other topic, please do not hesitate to contact: Prune CALONNE, Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse, 117 route d’Albi 31200 Toulouse Phone: 05 34 30 51 33 Mobile: 06 74 16 11 12 Email: scpcalonneadouedugast@ hotmail.fr Web: www.cad-avocats.com My firm can arrange appointments in CAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.
Top tips for a bug free summer
I
have compiled a list of tricks to try and reduce the amount of unwanted creatures that might wish to invade your house this summer. Logs are full of creatures which like to eat wood. All unused firewood should be taken outside and not left in the house. If you are in a high risk termite
area, wood should be stored at least 20m from the house. An easy way to check for termites is to tap wood along the wall every few inches with a screwdriver handle. Damaged wood will sound hollow and, if the area is extremely damaged, the handle may break the wood’s surface.
Replace exterior light bulbs with yellow bulbs. They’re less attractive to bugs like beetles, crickets, moths and flies. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, and they don’t need much. A bottle cap full of water can produce hundreds of mosquitoes. Regularly empty ponds, bird baths, fountains, plant pots, buckets, barrels, toys, pet water dishes or anywhere else that water may gather. Fill in low areas in lawns and landscaped areas where rainwater may collect and stand. Ticks need to be removed as soon as possible because some carry Lyme disease. Put the tick in a plastic bag and place it in the freezer. If you should develop a bull's-eye mark on your skin, a fever, muscle aches or joint pain, take the saved tick to your doctor so that it can be used in the diagnosis. Photograph any insect or trace
Mon Jardin
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you find, it makes it easier to identify and therefore treat the problem without the detective work. All insects need food, water, air and shelter to survive. Remove one or all of them and they will go elsewhere. There is no silver bullet to insect control, no one wants to have to invest elbow grease; but that’s the underlying trick to long-term pest suppression - making the environment inhospitable to the pest. Clean up whatever is attracting them, and seal them out. Prevent their access to food and they’ll starve. Get rid of clutter and they won’t have a place to hide. Just about any pest we mention can be significantly reduced by these two measures – cleaning up and keeping them out. Finally, if you can't beat 'em, eat 'em. They might just be edible so why not enjoy the ex-
tra protein? Most bugs taste like a combination of nuts and mushrooms. You could add them to a stir fry or toast them up crispy in your oven (do your research first, though, just to make sure). Mmmm!
For more information on this topic or anything else to do with pest control, please contact Robert Moon from Applicateur 3D: 02 48 60 83 72 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com
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16 ♦ LANGUAGE & GAMES
LEARNING FRENCH VIA INTERNET
Perhaps you would like to learn French in comfort at home or from your office? You are not in France and you wish to communicate with a native French person for one hour per week? LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING is the answer. You only need internet access and a free Skype account. It can be a one-to-one lesson or you can share the lesson with a person of the same level.
TRANSLATION SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE
Please contact Sophie Arsac for further information – 05 55 89 15 74 - scarolinea@yahoo.fr
SIRET 502 409 212 00011 – APE 8559B
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
SEARCHWORDOKU © - by Anthony Parson Complete the alphabetical Sudoku grid to the left using only the letters already shown, then use the result wordsearch grid to find: An artist
How does it work...? Complete the Sudoku grid in the usual manner, using only the 9 letters already shown. Once complete, you will be left with a 9x9 wordsearch grid, in which to find the final piece of the puzzle. See the completed example to the right, the clue for which is "An English county". Be careful not to jump to conclusions, as with the letters available, the answer could be SURREY, SUSSEX, ESSEX, or as it turns out in this case... SOMERSET.
Solution on page 21
SUDOKU - EASY
SUDOKU - MEDIUM
SUDOKU - HARD
The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 15
Letters to
The Editor Chris Calder By Email
H
ave you ever heard anyone say, “I’m glad I had cancer”? Probably not, but I can truly say that if I had not been diagnosed with an aggressive cancer, it is unlikely that my life would have taken the course that it did. My wife and I moved to central France after we retired and we bought an old stone house with an adjacent derelict cottage. Mod-
ernising the house and renovating the cottage to make it suitable for holiday renting was the aim, and we achieved it within the first year. As we settled into an active and healthy lifestyle, augmenting our pensions with income from renting the cottage, we believed that we could look forward to enjoying our tranquil rural idyll for years to come. But just when we thought that life could not be better, the bombshell dropped. I was diagnosed with cancer. My doctor confirmed that test results had indicated a problem
How beating cancer made me a novelist and I was given an early appointment with a consultant surgeon. He explained that I would need an exploratory operation to establish the size and location of the tumour, followed by a course of chemotherapy. If the tumour had seeded, I would need a second operation to remove the infected organ entirely. In that event it would be carried out after completion of the chemotherapy. The consultant was commendably frank; exactly what I preferred. “It is cancer,” he said, “a very aggressive type.” While I was still reeling inwardly from this, he added, “But we will beat it, together.” After a few moments’ thought, I asked, “What will happen if I don’t have the chemo?” He shrugged. “You’ll die.” I wanted the truth, so I had no problem with his candour. “OK,” I
said, “let’s get on with it.” Following the first operation eight days later, I was recuperating in my room in a French hospital, spending my time reading and thinking. Watching television wasn’t an option because at the time my command of the French language was, frankly, awful. During my idle thinking time I had the germ of an idea for a novel, based loosely on some of the more interesting and arguably bizarre incidents that I had experienced in my working life. During the next few months the structure of the story began to take shape. My chemotherapy sessions were carried out in the out-patients department of a Limoges hospital and getting there, having the treatment and getting home again took up a whole day. Much of that in-
volved hanging around, so I had plenty of time to keep working on the story. A week after my final chemotherapy session I was back in the hospital for the major operation and spent two weeks in recovery. I had the time and the motivation to flesh out the story and a few months later my novel Payback was published. Since then I have written two more; not bad for a septuagenarian, you may agree! I have to say that from start to finish the attention I received from the French health system was of the highest order. Thanks to their dedicated professionals I am now completely clear of cancer and enjoying life pursuing my new career.
Chris Calder www.chriscalder.com
DIRECTORY ♦ 17
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
Business Directory
Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Activities & Leisure
Animals & Pets DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS
Clipping, cutting, hand stripping, bathing, ear care & nail trimming. INGRID GELAUDIE ** New address ** La Baronnie, 24260 Audrix
Tennis in Bergerac SHAMPOOCHIENS Summer 2015 Dog Grooming Parlour Summer camps for kids 7-13 years old - August 2015 See www.dordognetennis.com Over 10 years experience from the leading provider of public tennis in the UK Camp runs Monday- Friday 10-12 and 1-3pm
Email : dordogne@willtowin.co.uk
Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76
All breeds catered for Clipping, hand stripping and bathing 30 years’ experience 24500 Eymet
06 31 98 92 07
05 55 41 17 76
Auto Services
Building Services Architectural Services
05 53 58 55 38 and home of CANOUAN ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS Puppies sometimes available Siret: 499 234 615 00015
sales24@thebugle.eu
05 55 41 17 76
Your advert here
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
Architectural DRAWING SERVICE Renovating your French property? New build? Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables
MOTOR PARTS
Tel: 05 53 52 36 05
Suppliers of Car & Van Spares & LHD headlights
lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.com
CHARENTE
Direct to France at big savings! also Mower Batteries and drive belts!
SIRET: 493 770 358 00015
www.motorpartscharente.com
CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...
Delivery via UPS direct to your door in France
JOHN SOWERSBY +44 (0)1377 255470 / +44 (0)7830 170761
motorptscharente@aol.com
ADVERTORIAL
Big Dish Satellite announces new VoIP Service
W
e are very pleased to announce the launch of Europasat’s new telephone service specifically aimed at satellite broadband customers. We are conducting a trial with several of our customers who have kindly agreed to beta test this new telephone system and put it through its paces before the official launch next month. This new telephone system works with a special router that simply plugs into the satellite modem. A conventional telephone, either hard wired or cordless, then plugs into the router so you can make and receive calls with a normal telephone over the satellite broadband system. Presently, this system allocates a British telephone number and several packages are available but the top package includes unlimited calls
to British and European fixed lines plus half an hour to British mobile phones. So, who are Europasat? Well, they are one of the leading Satellite Internet Service Providers in the UK providing both the Tooway system and the rival Astra Connect system and we are Europasat’s biggest reseller in France … we carry large stocks of both Astra Connect and Tooway equipment for collection or dispatch from our workshop and office on the Limousin/Dordogne border. Every satellite broadband system that we supply will give you a British IP address by default, so no more messing around with fiddles to get access to UK only services like the BBC iPlayer. Europasat offer a 7 day service hotline and this, combined with the proven Big Dish Satellite after sales ser-
vice, makes for a potent and effective combination … that means if things go wrong, you won’t have to wait several days for replacement parts to be sent out from the UK. We have the spare parts right here within easy reach of the Limousin and the Dordogne. We also have the diagnostic tools at our fingertips to test your connection … if your dish has moved out of alignment, we can monitor that from the workshop and we can arrange a fix for you. Many of you will know that Big Dish Satellite is one of the longest established satellite installation businesses in France, having moved here in the late 90’s just as Sky was migrating to the brand new Astra 2 satellite. We got involved in satellite broadband seven years ago working with French service providers but switched over to a British provider when
the new Tooway service launched in 2011. Satellite broadband is very much designed for DIY but not everybody wants to do that so we have a small team covering the Limousin and the Dordogne. Between us, we are a highly experienced unit, having installed many Tooway and Astra Connect systems. Gary Goodwin covers
the Creuse and the Haute-Vienne, meanwhile John Hetherington installs in the Dordogne and beyond. Details of all Europasat’s satellite broadband packages are on our new look website:
www.bigdishsat.com John Sidwell 05 55 78 72 98
18 ♦ DIRECTORY
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
ADVERTORIAL
Houses on Internet: A Global Property Network
H
ouses on Internet – Global Property Services (hereafter referred to as “HOIGPS”) is the internet/marketing company that helps people sell their French property to buyers worldwide. Richard Kroon, founder and director of the company says: “The number of responses from prospective buyers and sales keeps rising. No doubt one of the reasons is that we have been able to increase our worldwide advertising budget and reach more prospective buyers than ever.” Last year HOI-GPS sold to people from 15 different countries including Australia, Belgium, Holland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and of course France. Richard continues: “Our continuous global marketing is
definitely paying off and guarantees a worldwide exposure of your property to buyers wherever they live.” The actual work all starts with the presentation of a property - if that’s not good enough, all other marketing efforts are useless. Our photographers usually take 150 to 200 photos of a house and in addition copy any good (summer) photos our clients may have themselves. About 50 to 60 of those photos are selected, enhanced and presented on the dedicated website we make for each property. The text doesn't just describe the house, garden and outbuildings, but also contains information about shopping, schools, airports and local leisure activities. When the website for the house is online, we first con-
nect it to our main HOI-GPS websites which attract over 135,000 visitors from 40+ countries each month. Most of these people find us through Google and our additional Google advertising. To reach an even larger audience, a summary of the presentation of the house is also placed on several other leading property websites. These adverts are also connected to the dedicated website of the house, making it all one big global property network. As the property market has become a global one, a prospective buyer can be on the other side of the world while the owner is in bed sleeping. With our approach, the buyer does not have to wait and can see the entire property whenever he wants, at the moment
he is interested in it. For more information on HOI-GPS or to market your property through them, visit their website. ■
Houses on Internet - Global Property Services www.housesoninternet.com
05 55 65 12 19
To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76
Building Services Architectural Services CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions. Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E
FR: 0033 (0)6 05 56 42 81 UK: 0044 (0)7448 466 662
Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com
For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email:
Building Services
sales24@thebugle.eu
ETS RICHARD
05 55 41 17 76
Building Services
Siret: 498 843 051 00018
ElsaConception
(Architecture/ Design/ Decoration) Need interior design advice? Planning a project? Giving a space a makeover? Need to submit a building permit or a declaration? I can support you in all your makeover, renovation or construction projects. Sarlat and surrounding areas (up to 100km)
Tel: 06.87.09.38.94
ARTISAN IN RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION WORK INCLUDING BARN AND LOFT COVERSIONS. SPECIALIST IN OLD STONE WORK, ALL TYPES OF ROOFING, PAINTING, BATHROOMS, TILING, GUTTERING, WOOD CONSTRUCTION, PLASTERBOARDING, INSULATION. BASED IN PERIGORD NOIR COMPETITIVE PRICING
For more information please visit my Facebook page : Entreprise Richard
BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN
Your advert here
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)
CHARKER DAVID
Specialist in the renovation and restoration of period and contemporary buildings All small works undertaken
Tel: 09 72 35 74 73
Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com @iret: 794 282 368 00016
ESTABLISHED IN 2005
E : richard.stienstra@orange.fr
Electricians
Your contact in renewable energy Use the power of the sun and/or wood. We sell, or sell and install, heating & domestic hot water systems. For more information:
www.solaire-power.eu
Tel : 05 53 56 66 61 / 05 53 91 85 32 24340 Ste-Croix-de-Mareuil siret : 511 301 038 00036
T : 06 38 71 08 36
Web: http://www.elsaconception.com
05 55 41 17 76
General
Solaire Power
Stonework, Traditional renderings in Lime, Doors and Windows, Dry line walls, Zinc work, Electrical wiring and interior finishes
E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr
Tel: 05 53 09 42 18 No Siret: 402 444 871 00030
sales24@thebugle.eu
05 55 41 17 76
Harlequin Developments All aspects of renovation and refurbishment, big or small, undertaken.
For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email: sales24@thebugle.eu
05 55 41 17 76
Building Services
Harlequin Developments are a Distributor and Installer for Solarventi, solar dehumidifying and water heating products, as well as a range of other renewable energies
05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97
harlequindevelopments@live.com www.harlequindevelopments.com
Painters/ Decorators
SIRET: 494.501.067.00016
Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts
Simon Carter
Painter & Decorator Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK experience, now based Haute-Vienne/north Dordogne border.
Your advert here
Tel: 05 87 19 91 50 Mob: 07 81 26 88 65
05 55 41 17 76
siret: 792.130.932.00017
Specialist services: Interior & exterior painting & decorating, wallpapering, plastering. FREE QUOTES
Web: www.sjcmontluc.fr Email: sjcmontluc@yahoo.fr
Would you like to receive your copy of The Bugle by post each month? We can deliver a copy to your door, hot off the press
France, UK and Europe - €16 per year
Email us for more details - subscriptions24@thebugle.eu or visit www.thebugle.eu
DIRECTORY ♦ 19
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
P RIVATE P ROPERTY S ELLERS L TD
S ELL A ND B UY P ROPERTY W ITHOUT E STATE A GENT FEES WWW.PRIVATEPROPERTYSELLERS.COM • List on Rightmove Overseas from £85 • NO agent fees added to your property price • Excellent customer service support • Pro-active marketing of all listings across a range of media platforms • Website listed in high profile publications • No expensive marketing contracts • Househunters buy direct from owner - NO ESTATE AGENT FEES
Building Services
Food & Drink
General
'ROUSSIS MAID' (formerly Cartes de Christine)
APRONS HAND-CRAFTED CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Quality product at affordable prices. Customized, if required, especially for you. Available blank or with either English or French greetings.
Email: ellinghamroam764@yahoo.com VISIT ME AT THE FOLLOWING MARKETS: PIEGUT (Wed), BRANTOME (Fri) AIGRE, CHASSENEUIL & CONFOLENS (Monthly) FIND OUR CARDS AT: Magazin Artisanat, Confolens Send an email to sign up to the newsletter
Plumbers PLUMBING & Karen’s Kitchen for you in HEATING ENGINEER Catering the Dordogne - Installation, from kitchen taps to full central heating systems
- Breakdown / Replacement boilers - Emergency plumbing repairs - Full analysed testing
M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02 E : wellers@orange.fr
Specialising in home-made pastries: Sausage rolls, Pasties - Cornish, Cheese & Onion, Steak & Stilton, Vegetarian & Chicken. Eccles cakes. Scones made to order. All prepared and baked daily on the premises you cannot get fresher! Bacon, cheese, bread, tea bags & tinned produce all in stock. Find me at your local market: • Tue - Le Bugue • Thu - Eymet • Fri - Le Buisson • Sat - Villereal • Sun - Issigeac
www.karenskitchen24.com
Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018
06 12 93 78 52
Computers & Satellites
The Dordogne Chippy
Sat-Elec Formerly Electrosat
UK & French Satellite TV
Dishes & Freesat boxes always in stock Terrestrial digital aerial installations From a single outlet to multi-point systems
TOOWAY BROADBAND Approved Supplier
Wi-Fi, Data Networks, CCTV For sales, service or advice call Mike G on:
05 55 09 15 73
We only use our own qualified staff No call out charge Free quotations All areas covered Quality work from qualified Staff 5 Place de la Republique Sauviat-sur-Vige 87400 siret no 798 364 600 00014
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.
Siret: 800 525 040 00013
Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts
Eco Entrepot
05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday
SOS Help
anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!
01 46 21 46 46 3 - 11pm daily Confidential & Non-profit
Central France Pest Control Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection
02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com
rats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets
See our website for full details:
10 years UK experience - Covering depts 24/47/33
siret: 444 925 630 00014
Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning
PROCHEM trained and Qualified
06 32 32 64 54 / 05 53 58 00 98 email lucidservices24@gmail.com
24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)
05 55 41 17 76
Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Saturday 6pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditional English roasts served For further details call Steve:
Gifts & Crafts
siret 537 415 903 00013
Ivan Petley
54 bis, rue du 26 Mars 1944 - 24600 Ribérac
Tel: 05 53 90 46 28
SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024
Property Sales
DSD Removals & Storage The Removal Experts
• All risk insurance cover • Part loads & dedicated lorries • Professional staff & modern vehicles • Every vehicle from a Luton van to a full removals lorry
+44 (0)1274 724 545
Short ‘optimised’ web videos in English and/or French for your property sale or your business.
www.VideoProFrance.com Te: +33 (0) 6 99 07 64 28 contact@videoprofrance.com
or email: steve.francis24@gmail.com or facebook: Beaupouyet La Poutre
Open 12h-14h & 19h-22h Private car park Terrace Homemade fresh food Holder of “Restaurant de Qualité” award
Transport, Removals & Storage
La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental
Contact Joanna:
05 53 80 29 54
Restaurant Le Commensal
Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts
France ↔ UK
sales24@thebugle.eu
French/International cuisine. Themed nights each Friday: 1st Friday - Curry night 2nd Friday - Quiz night 3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!! 4th Friday - Live Music night
Curative and preventative
siret: 512 614 306 00011
La Poutre
Bar & Restaurant
aka The Shed
32,000ft2 of great products incl. British Groceries, DIY, Housewares, Furniture, Clothing, Toiletries plus loads more!!
CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING
Email: Stephen@Wisedale.com
Tel: 05 53 30 23 96 Mob: 07 78 52 20 46
Pest Control
All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Monday: Le Champsac (every other week) Tuesday: Tremolat Wednesday: Star Inn, Périgueux Thursday: Eymet Friday: Lauzun
www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62
09 51 45 57 49 Relax and browse in comfort Hot and cold drinks served
www.soshelpline.org
(except the last Friday of the month when it is Daglan)
Quality second-hand books in English & French 19 rue Victor Hugo 24310 BRANTÔME
Tel: 06siret86 89 81 02 528 539 448
Email: info@applicateur3d.com
Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you
bookstop
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: 05.55.80.29.88 Les Bregères, 23150 St-Martial-le-Mont alison.petley@wanadoo.fr
Retail & Commerce
info@dsdremovalsltd.com
www.dsdremovalsltd.com facebook.com/DSDRemovals
Man & Van Transport
Genuine/Reliable/Honest Local + Europe + UK runs Now also available for House/Barn clearances! 14m3 capacity 4.2m load length French Spoken
05 55 33 21 59 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres
www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012
To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76
20 ♦ DIRECTORY
www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015
ADVERTORIAL
“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity
A
simple solar energy system that runs on its own, even when you are not there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter. The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the backing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s energy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with discomfort, lots of work and expense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/ or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi model came together.
How it works The principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, built-in, solar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a control unit and an on/ off switch. Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour. The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season. Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th generation Solarventi have exceeded all expectations. In Southern Europe, Solar-
venti is not only used for ventilation/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement. Several technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C. A DIY Solution? The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours. All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product - in Scandinavia it still is. There are no electrical or water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance
- if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €630 TTC. Several ex-demonstration models available at reduced prices, call for details.
SOLARVENTI - Available in the Dordogne and Lot from Harlequin Developments Tel: 05 55 68 67 56 Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97
ADVERTORIAL
Calling ALL private property sellers!
Try a radical new approach Bringing your house to market!
Advertising your property and getting an agency involved is easy, however to reach out to a new marketplace is not. With our 2 million business database we are able to send weekly property alerts and have a great deal of interest from our smaller list of 20,000 who are
really keen. We make our messages compelling, so we get the best results. Have a look at our dedicated website www. buyfrenchproperty.co.uk - we get very high levels of traffic to the site weekly. On our site you will see our charges; they are a fraction of an agent as we do not do their job, you do that. When we feel the buyer is ready to talk to you, we hand them to you to do the deal, show them around and fill in the detail. Essentially I am your marketing agent, seeking potential buyers of your property by means of our “radical” advertising approach, for a fee in the event of a successful introduction.
For more information and to start getting those enquires coming: see our website - www.buyfrenchproperty.co.uk call me - 06 77 80 20 68 or email - rod@stayinfrance.fr
Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 20,000 pairs of eyes each month!!
For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 05 55 41 17 76 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu
6-Month Contract €108
Small b&w Directory Ad
(€18/month)
Large b&w Directory Ad
(€24/month)
Small Colour Directory Ad
(€27/month)
Large Colour Directory Ad
(€36/month)
€144 €162 €216
12-Month Contract €162
(€13.50/month)
€216
(€18/month)
€243
(€20.25/month)
€324
(€27/month)
Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format. Directory adverts may only contain text - no logos, images or artwork are allowed. The minimum contract length is 6 months. Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.
Large Directory Ad 46mm x 71mm (Actual Size) 45 words max Small Directory Ad 46mm x 46mm (Actual Size)
30 words max
COMMUNITY ♦ 21
JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
Monday
Market Days
Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère
Tuesday
Beaumont du Périgord Bergerac Brantôme Cénac-et-Saint-Julien Lanouaille Le Bugue Mareuil Neuvic Ribérac Salignac Eyvigues Thenon Trémolat Villefranche-de-Lonchat
Wednesday Bergerac Hautefort Jumilhac-le-Grand La Tour Blanche Montpon-Ménestérol Montignac Périgueux
Domme Excideuil Eymet La Coquille Lalinde Monpazier St Astier St-Julien-de-Lampon Terrasson
Belvès Bergerac Lalinde La Roche Chalais Le Bugue Montignac Mussidan Neuvic Nontron Périgueux Razac Sarlat St Aulaye Thiviers Verteillac Villefranche du Périgord
Friday
Sunday
Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines
Thursday
Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Sigoulès Vergt
Saturday
Agonac Beaumont du Périgord
Bergerac Couze St Front Daglan Issigeac Pontours Pressignac-Vicq Rouffignac Sarlat Sorges St Cyprien St Génies St Pardoux la Rivière
Eymet Cricket Club is busy preparing for its 32nd season. At least 22 matches, either home or away, are scheduled for this year. The club also has a very active junior section, coaching youngsters and bringing them on to join the senior team. Full details of ECC, including a fixture list, past history, match reports, contact details, etc. can be found on the website: www.eymetcricket.com As always, new members are welcome, be they players, social members or just lovers of the game. Our teas - and tea ladies - are renowned throughout the Aquitaine!
Let Shaman Cast His Magic Shaman is a five-year-old German Shepherd cross looking for a home after spending several months in the Bergerac SPA pound. He is a well trained and responsive dog, understanding the instructions ‘sit’, ‘give paw’ and ‘lie down’. He is playful, loves to go for walks and play ball. He has not yet been socialised with other dogs, but loves people - although he is adventurous and does not stick to you like glue! Anyone who would like to give a home to this super animal can contact the SPA on 05 53 63 98 46 or email adoption@spa24bergerac.org Volunteer dog walkers are always welcome and needed!
editor@thebugle.eu
“Portraits de Familles” is a documentary film introducing the Homestay concept in the Périgord Vert, Dordogne. The Conseil Départemental of the Dordogne commissioned film director Laura Leeson to make the 25-minute film which is filled with sympathy and humanity. It gives the stage to some Perigordian hostfamilies, and their Homestay guests, promoting their caring profession and the offer of alternative accommodation between your “own” home and a retirement home. To acquaint you more fully with the Homestay concept, “Portraits de Familles” will be shown, followed by a debate, on Tuesday 9th June at 3pm at the Salle Annexe, behind the Town Hall, Mareuil-sur-Belle. This event is organised by
©Conseil Départemental Dordogne
Homestay in Périgord
the Conseil Général’s Social Service for the Elderly, in partnership with the CLIC (local information and co-ordination centre) of the northern area of the Dordogne and several local partners. For further information please contact the CLIC du Nord Dordogne on 05 53 56 91 63. ■
AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES – JUNE 2015 The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers). All services are held in English. For further details, please see our website: www.churchinaquitaine.org or contact the Chaplain: Revd Dr Paul Vrolijk T: 05 53 23 40 73 E: paul.vrolijk@gmail.com SUNDAY 07 JUNE 10:30 Service of the Word – Bertric Burée 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Worship – Monteton 11:00 Holy Communion – Doudrac 11:00 Holy Communion – Temniac church 17:00 Evensong - Limeuil 18:00 Evensong – Bertric Burée Tuesday 09 June 11:00 Holy Communion – Allez Wednesday 10 June 11:00 BCP Holy Communion – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 14 JUNE 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Morning Worship – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes Thursday 18 June 10:30 BCP Holy Communion - Limeuil SUNDAY 21 JUNE 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Holy Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship - Limeuil 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton 11:00 Service of the Word – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 25 June 11:00 Holy Communion - Condom SUNDAY 28 JUNE 10:30 Morning Worship – Bertric Burée 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes
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WHAT’S
ON
Exposition de l’osier au rotin 1st June to 28th July 2015
Summer Exhibitions in the Château de Limeuil A new association, “RIVES D’ART”, has been set up in Limeuil with the aim of exhibiting artworks and other art expressions in the Château de Limeuil. Limeuil is one of the most beautiful villages of France and each year it welcomes many tourists from all over the world. The hall for exhibiting art is situated in the château’s panoramic garden. Visits to the exhibition are free (but there is an entrance fee to the garden). In June, an American painter, Bruce Stebner, is exhibiting. He will be giving morning classes in oil painting from 8-10 June (3 lessons for 95 euros) and 17-21 June (5 lessons for 150 euros). The opening times of the Chateau are: Monday to Sunday from 10h-12h30 and 14h-18h. Closed on Saturdays. For more information about exhibiting or should you be interested in joining a painting class, please email: rivesdartlimeuil@gmail.com
Issigeac Tourist Office is hosting a rattan furniture exhibition from 1st June to 28th July 2015. Linking in with the Foire à la vannerie (Basketry Fair) being held on Sunday 19th July, this is a presentation of rattan furniture from the Etablissement Peyramaure Frères et Eguizier in Objat, Corrèze. Visitors will discover the history of this company and its evolution over a century through a series of photographs, together with a remarkable collection of furniture that will be presented in two rooms. A further room will be devoted to the various tools used. Issigeac Tourist Office Tel: 05 53 58 79 62, Email: ot.issigeac@orange.fr Open Monday to Saturday from 10h-12h30 and from 15h-18h30 and on Sunday morning from 10h-12h30. Free entry.
Sarrazac Arts et Musiques 2015 Programme Sarrazac Arts et Musiques have been in existance since 2009 and stage musical events, an art exhibition and a Christmas market each year. The musical events in the salle des fêtes are priced at 8 euros. The church event is ‘libre participation’. Saturday 6th June, 20h30 Salle des fêtes Swing Home Trio – Jazz manouche Sunday 12th July, 17h Eglise Trio Aubert – Mendelssohn Violin, cello, piano Sunday 22nd August, 20h30 Salle des fêtes Rocket – Blues, rock & soul Quator Rock Sunday 22nd November, 10h-17h Salle des fêtes Marché de Noël For more information tel 06 16 83 53 74 or email simonjfenn@aol.com
Music in the Dordogne sponsored by ARCADES Join us for concerts in the air conditioned new hall in Le Buisson, mostly of classical music, with top class French, English, Russian and other international performers. Concert tickets cost €15 including wine in the interval. All events are organised by volunteers and serve also as a meeting ground for the French and international communities of the Dordogne.
Venue - Le Buisson de Cadouin, Nouvelle Salle des Fêtes, Avenue Aquitaine
For more info, tel 06 87 88 15 33 or 05 53 23 86 22 or visit http://www.arcadesinfo.com/
UPCOMING CONCERTS Sun 7th June 18:00 Lyon String Quartet Programme - MOZART Quartet in F major, KV 590, WEBERN Langsamer Satz, GLAZOUNOV Novelettes, Op. 15, BORODINE Quartet No. 2 in D major. Amélie Chaussade and Ludovic Lantner violin, Manuelle Renaud viola, Nicolas Hartmann cello. Sat 27th June 20:30 Piano recital by Folke NAUTA Programme - Vorisek, Chopin, Schubert and Kapustin Sun 2nd August 21:00 Piano recital by Zhu Xiao-Mei Programme - Bach
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JUNE 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu
FestiVillars
Concert Jazz Pique-nique Boschaud Abbey 14th June Jazz Concert and Picnic, as part of the FestiVillars en Périgord, with the theme of Jazz Standards and Chansons Françaises: Charles Balayer (hammond organ), Marjolaine Paitel (vocals) and Hervé Roble (drums). Concert starts at 18h30. Tickets: €12, free for children under 16. There will be a bar (opens 18h) but bring your own picnic.
Félibrée – Felibrejada 3rd - 5th July
Cantabile Summer Concert Saturday 20th June, Eymet Church, 8pm CANTABILE is the ACFAA choir which brings the French and British communities together through music. There is something for everyone in this year’s concert which includes Vivaldi’s Gloria, popular operatic arias and a celebration of the music of Michel Legrand. With the special participation of Alison Hudson (mezzo-soprano) and Peter Fowler (baritone) this is a celebration not to be missed. Free entry! The Félibrée (Felibrejada in Occitan) is an annual festival of Occitan language and heritage. It travels around different towns and villages of the Périgord each year and this year it’s coming to La Douze, which will be spectacularly decorated with garlands of flowers for the occasion.
Dordogne collectors’ fairs and flea markets in June
This celebration, which revives the troubadours who once sang the language of Oc in all the courts of Europe, is the festival of the language of Oc. There are shows, parades of traditional groups with authentic costumes and musical instruments and craft demonstrations. The first Félibrée, inspired by Frédéric Mistral and the Félibrige, was held in 1903 in Mareuil-sur-Belle and is today attended by thousands of spectators.
As well as a pleasant way to spend a sunny afternoon, brocante flea markets are a passion for millions of lovers of old artefacts. The Dordogne is often regarded as one of France’s secret treasure houses for amateur antique collectors. As the month of June arrives, announcing the real start of the summer, so the season of browsing, haggling and collecting gets under way. For details of dates and venues to keep chineurs busy throughout the month visit vide-greniers.org/24-Dordogne
For more information visit www.felibreeladouze.com
L’Esprit d’Alhambra et Créatures Mythiques
An exhibition of paintings and sculptures by Sjoerd and Gillian Meijer Viewings by appointment at the Atelier Grand Moulin, 24440 Saint-Avit-Sénieur Tel: 05 53 22 86 63 for more information
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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2015