The Bugle Dordogne - June 2019 by The Bugle

Victory for protesters over Beynac bypass The country’s top court has ordered work on the controversial project to stop and the site restored to its former state. >> Page 3

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Government U-turn on national speed limit In a shock move, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has announced that each department will soon have the power to decide the speed limit on their roads. networks, including here in the Dordogne. Germinal Peiro, president of the conseil départemental de la Dordogne, was one of those who welcomed the news, saying that the speed limits on “a little more than 20%” of the department’s 5,000 km of secondary roads will return to 90 km/h as soon as possible. “Like most departments, I regretted this measure, which was taken abruptly and unilaterally. It was taken for the whole territory and without any consultation,” the elected official declared. “We are ready, but we have to see when the law will be officially updated and put into force.” Last year’s reduction in the national speed limit proved controversial from the outset. As much as 80%

>> continued on page 5

Eleven departments on drought warning - pg 4

Wandering bear causes a diplomatic incident - page 11 EasyJet to ban nuts on board all flights - pg 8

Bilingual - Anyone for stinging nettles? pg 13

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 17-21 © Mark Green (Pinterest)

t was one of the government’s signature policies and contributed to the public anger which sparked the gilets jaunes protests, but the reduction of the national speed limit to 80 km/h could soon be a thing of the past as Prime Minister Edouard Philippe effectively handed back the decision to overturn the changes to local councils. “If the presidents of the conseils départementaux want to take responsibility, then in principle I don’t have a problem with that,” announced the prime minister. At the time of going to print, a survey by BFMTV revealed that more than 50 of the country’s 96 departments are planning to raise the speed limit on at least portions of their road

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ummer is finally here. It may have briefly felt like summer back in February when I was getting sunburn at my barbecue, but April and large parts of May were, shall we say, a bit “meh”! As I write this, we are due a couple more cloudy days before a long stretch of glorious sunshine and the first 30-degree days of 2019. Every year I look forward to the long, warm days of summer, but I have a very short memory and I can almost guarantee that by this time next month I will be complaining of unbearable heat, sleepless nights and mosquitoes. Given the decidedly average weather these last few months, I was surprised to find out just how bad the water levels are in much of central France. The situation is not as bad in the Dordogne, but neghbouring departments have already declared various levels of drought warning (see page 4). I guess that because we haven’t been through a heatwave, it doesn’t feel like there could be water shortages. It’s obvious when you think about it, though:

it’s less about how hot is has been and much more about how much rain has fallen in the last 12 months. And now that I think about it, it hasn’t rained half as much this spring as you would usually expect. April showers? Not really, just a bit grey and average. It is a huge concern and it is becoming increasingly hard to argue that the climate is not changing. And if you can notice that change in the space of half a middle-aged life, then you’ve probably got big problems down the line. Last year I moved from the Creuse, where droughts quickly lead to severe food shortages for the region’s livestock, to the Charente-Maritime, where vines are so important to the local economy. Just after we arrived in the area one year ago, a huge hailstorm swept through southwestern France and destroyed everything in its path. It was a narrow strip of weather, but the vineyards that were hit lost everything. Between droughts, frosts, floods and insects, it sometimes feels like a miracle that there’s a harvest at all! If the weather continues to

get more unpredictable, it could literally change everything around here. When almost all of France’s vines were wiped out in the mid-19th century by the Phylloxera aphid, it devastated large parts of the country. The industry would eventually bounce back thanks to grafts and Phylloxera-resistant grape varieties brought in from America, but not before much hardship had been endured. It seems less and less far-fetched that a severe climate event could one day deal an equally big blow to industries that are so reliant on the weather for their survival. Speaking of the weather, the silver lining that is my life has a large cloud brewing in the centre... an impending marathon visit by the in-laws! I would say it’s that time of the year again, but it feels more accurate to say, it’s that time of the month... I think they might secretly be gunning for the 183 days in one year that makes them eligible to be French residents!! As I said, we moved house last year. I’d like to say that it was for job opportunities, that it was time for a change, that it was because we found a perfect school in this area, but the honest answer is that I just wanted a house with exactly the-number-of-children-I-haveplus-one bedrooms to make it harder for people to stay. And by people, I mean my in-laws, everyone else is welcome! It was the perfect plan: “No spare bedrooms, I’m afraid, but here are the details for a few

local gîtes... what do you mean they’re all full, what a shame, how about this one... yes it is quite expensive, sorry about that, but there’s nowhere else... maybe next year then.” Wall-to-wall peace and quiet, here we come!! The reality was somewhat different: “Yes dear, the kids could do with new beds I suppose... oh, Ikea’s open today is it, we’ll pop down... yes, her room is quite big, I suppose it probably could take a double... hang on, why does he need a bunk bed... they’re coming for how long?!!” Like the condemned man, I should just stop fighting it and accept my fate with what little dignity I have left. It will surely not be too long before I’m building an annexe and helping them fill in their carte de séjour applications... Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

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rotesters are celebrating after a court ordered that the project to build a bypass round the town of Beynac must be halted immediately and the area returned to its previous state. Nestled on the banks of the Dordogne river in the heart of the Périgord Noir, Beynac-et-Cazenac is one of the region’s most beautiful towns, but is also the site of a long-running battle between local authorities and environmental campaigners as a result of the planed bypass. The medieval town is uniquely situated on the banks of the Dordogne, sandwiched between the river and a high rocky outcrop on top of which stands the 12th century château. The town is also on the busy road which winds its way along the valley from Bergerac to Sarlat and is a notorious traffic hotspot, especially in summer, when 10,000 vehicles squeeze through the narrow bottleneck every day. Those who know the area will be familiar with the sight of waiters and waitresses crossing the road as they shuttle food and drinks from the kitchens on one side to the tables on the other, while camper vans squeeze past each other with inches to spare. The situation has been improved by recent work to widen the road, but traffic is still an issue in the tiny town. In order to alleviate the problem, the

department announced plans to build a €30 million, 3.2 km bypass, which would see two bridges built across the river to take traffic along the far bank as it passed by the town. From the beginning of the project in 2016, environmental campaigners have fought to have it cancelled as the area is designated as a protected Natura 2000 zone and is home to as many as 129 protected species. Both sides have claimed legal victories in the intervening years, but the latest decision, taken by the country’s highest administrative court, confirms a previous decision taken several months go and appears to have finally brought the battle to a close, despite the work being half finished. The president of the departmental council, Germinal Peiro, has refused to concede, however, and has said he will appeal the decision. “Of course we are going to proceed,” explained the department’s top official. “Because we believe that this project is in the public’s interest and because we do not want to waste the €20 million of local money already spent, as well as the €15 million it will cost to restore the site.” Under French law, there are only three conditions under which construction projects can be undertaken in conservation zones: when no other solution is available; in order to protect the area in

Battle over Beynac bypass appears to be over

question; and when there are over-riding health and safety issues. According to the Conseil d’Etat, the country’s top administrative court, none of these conditions has been met, with the project supplying only “limited” benefits due to the high levels of traffic being seasonal. The court also noted that the recent road widening had already improved the

problem to some extent. Whilst the council is insisting that the planned bypass is not now dead in the water, it is not clear what avenues exist to get the project back on track. Opponents of the bypass are celebrating what they see as a decisive victory, but is this really the last we will hear of the battle of Beynac? ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Winemakers bury their pants Drought warnings

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ocal farmers and winemakers across the Dordogne have been burying their pants in recent months as part of a wider scientific experiment. Under the banner #BreakSLIP, the idea is to bury a pair of Frenchmade organic cotton pants at a depth of 20 cm in order to analyse the effect of farming practices on soil quality. Six vignerons in the Dordogne have taken part in the experiment and will dig up their underwear in June to see what kind of state it is in. In theory, the quicker the organic cotton is decomposed by microorganisms living in the soil, the better condition it is in, from a winemaker’s perspective. “The ground is the principle element of all growth,” explained Anthony Castaing, a winemaker from Pomport taking part in the project. “The most important thing for us is that the soil is very much alive.” The scheme was set up in

partnership with wine expert Laurent Colombier, from the Dordogne chamber of agriculture, who explained why they were using pairs of pants, rather than another item of clothing such as a cotton T-shirt: “Because of the waistband elastic! When the pants are dug up, the elastic will allow us to find them again, if the deterioration of the cotton is too significant.”

The elastic within the pants should degrade much slower than the fabric, meaning that the underwear can be found, even if the cotton material disappears completely. The project is very much a local affair and the organic cotton underwear has been donated to the experiment by Périgord-based company Olly Lingerie. ■

aybe climate change is to blame, or perhaps it is just a statistical anomaly, but the weather does seem to be increasingly unpredictable in recent times and now, despite rainfall towards the end of April, large parts of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine are gearing up for drought conditions this summer. The situation appears to be particularly bad in the north of the region, with a number of departments already announcing water-restriction measures. Although no action has been taken for the time being in the Dordogne, the neighbouring Charente and Charente-Maritime departments are already on a yellow alert. The threat level has also been raised to yellow in the Creuse, orange in the Vienne and red – the highest level – in the Indre. Across the country, eleven departments have declared drought warnings for the coming summer. “The level of water in our rivers is comparable today to what we would expect to see in July or August,” explained the Creuse Prefecture. “In addition, we have a very low water table, in some parts at a level we have not seen in 60 years.” Elsewhere in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, the water level in the Garonne river which supplies 1.5 million people and irrigates 100,000 hectares of land - was half of what would be expected for the month of May. “Water restriction measures allow us to monitor levels more closely, and to raise awareness among the public of what a reasonable usage level is,” said Emmanuelle Wargon, secretary of State at the ecology ministry, who pointed out that while the ground may appear to be damp with flourishing vegetation at surface level, there is not enough groundwater underneath. “Vegetation grows as quickly as it rains, and it consumes all of the surface water from the rain, without it being able to go into the water table,” explained Stéphane Peillet, a farmer and vice-president in charge of water at the Chamber of Agriculture in the Rhône, another department on yellow alert. According to Emmanuelle Wargon: “We know that we are likely to have tensions over water every year going forwards due to climate change. The question is, how can we share resources better? How can we save water in all conditions?” ■

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

Dordogne could soon return to 90 km/h >> continued from pg 1 of the public are against the changes and many regional authorities have been vocal opponents. The inconvenient truth for many who complain about an overbearing, centralised nanny state, though, is that the number of fatalities appears to have dropped since the changes came into effect last summer. Any councils that roll back to the higher 90 km/h speed limit on national roads will feel accountable for any future rise in road deaths. The number of accidents on the country’s roads has a natural variation year on year, but over the past fifty years, successive equally unpopular - road safety changes have resulted in the number of road deaths being cut by a factor of six. Experts predicted that the latest change would save a further 400 lives per year and figures suggest that there have indeed been fewer road deaths since the reduced speed limit came into effect. This has not stopped many local presidents from declaring that they will be raising the speed limit on large portions of their road networks as soon as possible. “This measure, decided from Paris without consultation, has turned out to be very unpopular, especially in rural areas,” said Marc Gaudet, president of the Loiret department. “I am therefore delighted that the State has placed the choice with local authorities who, due to their intimate knowledge of the area, are far better placed to decide on local matters.” The elected official has announced that he will be raising the speed limit on the entirety of the department’s RN roads (route nationale) and will also do so on the secondary road network on a case by case basis, factoring in safety

concerns. The president of the Côted’Or department is equally opposed to government interference in local matters and has said that 90% of his network would immediately return to 90 km/h: “I do not need injunctions from Paris, either to define the appropriate speed on my roads, or to give me road safety lessons.” Supporters of the reduced speed limit have warned that opponents may find that their victory turns out to be a Pyrrhic one. “For all those against the measure, the 80 km/h limit has become emblematic of the evils of centralised government,” explained one specialist at the heart of government. “But this is disingenuous of them and they have now put pressure on themselves, because if they raise the speed limit, they have to take responsibility for any future road deaths.”

It is a pressure that some officials have already recognised: raise the speed limit and be responsible for avoidable deaths, or do nothing and find the population’s anger directed away from the Elysée Palace and towards local authorities. As a result, at a recent meeting of departmental heads, representatives wrote a letter to the government asking that “any decision by the president of the department should be taken with the option of seeking the opinion of the prefect”. In other words, any decision should be taken by the departmental council in partnership with the State’s top local civil servant; both local authorities and central government should bear responsibility if it all goes wrong. One other impact the decision may have is a challenge to speeding fines

handed out in the last year. According to Rémy Josseaume, a lawyer specialising in road law, new government regulations “automatically apply retroactively to all ongoing proceedings”, and could therefore lead to the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of ongoing speeding cases. The lawyer added that motorists who have already paid any fines or who have already faced court proceedings will not, however, be able to make such claims as their cases have been closed. With so much uncertainty around, drivers should stay aware and pay close attention to roadside speed signs. Although many departments have declared their intentions, any changes will first require an amendment to the law by the French parliament and this is unlikely to happen before the summer recess. ■

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Court case reignites right-to-die debate

he tragic case of Vincent Lambert has led to a further round of heated debate about euthanasia laws in France and a patient's right to die. Following a motorbike accident in 2008, the 42-year-old has severe brain damage and has been in a vegetative state for more than a decade. His subsequent care has divided both his family and the country. Since his accident, he has been kept alive with food and water delivered through a gastric tube. He can breathe without artificial aid and occasionally opens his eyes, but after several years of trying to improve his condition, Mr Lambert's medical team recommended in 2013 that care should stop, in consultation with his wife Rachel. Despite the doctors' advice, because the rest of his family were not initially consulted, the decision was challenged in court and the lengthy legal battle over his care began. His wife, six of his siblings and his nephew favour artificial life-support being ended - but his devoutly Roman Catholic parents and two other siblings have remained adamant it

should continue. The case has been the subject of judicial rulings, going as far as the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which upheld the decision of a French court to allow Mr Lambert to be taken off life support in 2015. However, due to fears raised by Pierre Lambert that there was a plan to kidnap his son, doctors did not then carry out the plan. In May of this year, following a final judicial ruling, a new medical team finally began to withdraw his care. No sooner had his nutrition and hydration been removed, however, than a dramatic decision by a Paris Court of Appeal ordered doctors to resume life support for the quadriplegic patient. His mother Viviane hailed the latest ruling as “a very big victory” in her struggle to maintain her son's life support, adding: “They are going to restore nutrition and give him drink. For once I am proud of the courts.” Relatives against ending Mr Lambert's life had previously asked President Emmanuel Macron for help in an open letter, saying: “Mr President,

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way culture,” the pontiff said. Whilst euthanasia remains illegal in this country, French law allows so-called “passive euthanasia” for seriously ill or injured patients with no chance of recovery, in which the means for keeping someone alive are cut off. There have been growing calls in recent years for euthanasia laws to be relaxed and the sad case of Vincent Lambert has once again brought this debate to the front pages. ■

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EasyJet bans nuts

Farmer enrols sheep at local primary school

I ronment” due to “cross-contamination”. Air France states that it can offer passengers an “allergen-free meal” if it is requested in advance, but says it “cannot guarantee the absence of food allergen traces in our meals, both on board and at the airport”. EasyJet concedes that while it is “not possible to ban nuts on all flights”, as other passengers may bring them on board despite being requested not to, it will take action in extreme cases. “When a passenger who suffers from a severe nut allergy, which can result in anaphylaxis, is traveling with us we will request that other passengers travelling on the flight do not consume nuts that they have brought with them on board.” The move by easyJet comes almost three years after British teenager Natasha EdnanLaperouse collapsed and died during a British Airways flight from Heathrow to Nice in July 2016. The girl had a severe sesame seed allergy, and suffered a reaction after eating a baguette from food outlet Pret A Manger, which did not list sesame seeds on its ingredients label. She died hours after eating the sandwich, despite her father administering two EpiPen injections on the plane. ■

tion authority of being more concerned about numbers than about the children’s education and welfare. Elsewhere in France, one enterprising mayor had another way of combatting dwindling population numbers and the threat of school closures... free Viagra! “A village without children is a village that dies,” pronounced Jean Debouzy, mayor of Montereau in the Loiret department south of Paris, who is looking to add to the 650 people currently living in the commune. The municipal decree, published in May states that “The pills will be distributed to couples between the ages of 18 and 40 in order to

Screenshot: FranceBleuIsère

ow-cost airline easyJet have announced plans to ban all nuts from their flights in a bid to protect those with severe allergic reactions. “We have stopped all sales of peanuts and other nuts on board and we will also take out the last products containing nuts over the next few months,” the company said in a statement. As well as removing nuts from the menu, the no-frills airline will also stop passengers consuming nuts on board if there is a passenger with a declared allergy. “The safety and welfare of all of our customers and crew is our highest priority so we have a number of procedures in place to assist customers travelling with a nut allergy,” said an easyJet spokesperson. “We ask that any customers with a nut allergy notify us ahead of travel and we will request that other passengers travelling on the flight do not consume any products containing nuts that they have brought with them on board.” The company joins a number of other airlines in phasing out the sale on nuts, such as British Airways and Lufthansa, but most say they cannot guarantee a “nut-free envi-

n recent years, rural communities have been battling the closure of local schools as budgets tighten and urban migration leads to a decline in the number of children enrolling. Many areas are being forced to meet thresholds just to keep classes open and despite combining with neighbouring communes, schools often struggle to hit targets. When numbers fell from 266 to 261 at Crêts-en-Belledonne, a village at the foot of the Alps, locals were told that one of the eleven classes faced closure. The situation led a local farmer to take matters into his own hands and enrol 15 sheep into the town's primary school to boost student numbers.

Along with his dog, the shepherd arrived at school with some 50 sheep in tow; 15 were “officially” registered on production of their birth certificate. Among the new intake were “Shaun”, Dolly”, “Baa-bête” and “SauteMouton” - the sheepish equivalent of 'leapfrog' - all of whom took part in the comic ceremony watched by 200 parents, teachers and children, many bearing signs saying “We are not sheep!” “Now we won’t have to close any classes,” smiled Gaelle Laval, one of the parents behind the initiative, who accused the national educa-

give them the chance of conception and thus preserve the schools of the two villages,” referring also to a threatened school in a neighbouring village. The decree said that the village council would also consider offering one-off payments to any couples in the village who had a baby, but despite garnering widespread publicity, there were no queues of young men outside the mairie. In fact, the mayor confessed he didn't even have a stockpile of the famous blue pills. “If needs be I’ll get the agreement of the council and we’ll get a stock in!” ■

Double amputee Billy Whizz wins first race

ritish racing sensation Billy Monger celebrated his first victory since losing both legs in a crash after taking the chequered flag at the Euroformula Open race at Pau in southern France. The 20-year-old, whose legs were amputated following a crash during a British F4 race at Donington Park two years ago, took his first single-seater win with his Carlin team, overtaking almost the entire grid in the process. “Billy Whizz”, as he is affectionately known in the paddock, started the race in 11th place, but came in at the end of the first lap to switch to wet weather tyres. This dropped him to the back of the field, but the gamble paid off as he passed his rivals to move up towards the front of the race. When Motopark duo Julian Hanses and Liam Lawson collided and took each other out, Monger inherited a lead he would not relinquish. “Can't believe it, I didn't think two years on I'd be winning races!” the 20-year-old said on Twitter following the fairytale win in the foothills of the Pyrenees. The victory caps a remarkable comeback story. Despite losing his legs in the horrific crash in April 2017, Monger was determined to stay in the sport and returned to racing in a specially adapted car less than a year after the accident. Monger and his family had successfully appealed to the sport's international governing body, the FIA, to change its regulations restricting disabled drivers from single-seater cars and in September 2018, he claimed his maiden British F3 pole position on his return to Donington Park, the scene of his earlier crash. He finished that season in sixth place, taking two pole positions and three podiums. ■

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

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Pretty stone property with good sized family kitchen, utility room, lounge with mezzanine, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Pretty garden of just over ¼ acre with lovely countryside views and an outbuilding.

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Stone property complex with private lake. Approx. 10 acres of land including the lake. Situated in a village just 15 minutes from Bergerac. Easy access to Bordeaux and Bergerac airports. DPE: Vierge

Stunning property in the countryside 20 minutes from Bergerac. Two bedroom main house and four eco-lodges built in a natural and modern style to perfection. DPE: D

In the centre of Lalinde and with a view of the Dordogne river this large stone house comprises 3 bedrooms, 75 m2 apartment, garden and 80 m2 garage. DPE: E

Two-storey stone-built Perigourdine house (153 m²). 3 bedrooms, a study room and a useable basement. Covered swimming pool (8m x 4m). Landscaped 6,996 m² garden. 5 minutes from Lalinde town-centre. DPE: D

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Beautiful property near the centre of Bergerac on an enclosed parc of 1.7 acres with swimming pool, outbuildings and “pigeonnier”. DPE: E

XIX century perigourdine with a pool and barn on one hectare of land with a view. 20mn from Bergerac. 1 hour from Bordeaux. DPE: Vierge

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

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French bear kills Spanish sheep Cost of calls have dwindled, primarily due to hunting. When she emerged from hibernation, it was revealed that Sorita had given birth to two cubs over the winter. Although there are believed to be around forty brown bears elsewhere in the Pyrenees, there were previously only two other bears in the Béarn area, both of whom were male. According to the ONCFS, the range of a typical female brown bear is about 100 km², which is just one-tenth the range of an adult male. Although hailed by conservationists, the policy of reintroducing brown bears to the mountains has understandably proved controversial with farmers on both sides of the border and Spanish shepherds are now asking to be given more detailed information on the bears' whereabouts. Both females wear GPS transmitters and Spanish officials want

Storks colonise château A rundown 13th century castle in Normandy has become the centre of an unusual conservation project. The Château de la Rivière de Saint-Fromond, in the Manche department of Normandy, which was built by the descendants of William the Conqueror, is today home to more than 170 protected storks. The château is situated in 30,000 hectares of prime marshland, replete with frogs, insects and small mammals, perfect food for the breeding storks. “Storks can eat rodents, but they can also eat amphibians. They have very diverse food sources,” explained Guillaume Hédouin, manager of the Contentin and Bessin natural park marshes. “If it moves, they will not hesitate to eat it. They are very greedy!”

According to local ornithologists, whilst the behaviour is relatively common elsewhere, seeing this many storks nesting together is very rare in France. “In Spain, it is quite common to see storks in churches and on ruins, but in France, it is very rare,” explained local bird watcher Alain Chartier. In fact, the château has seen a surge in numbers, with visitors drawn as

to other EU countries slashed

ensions were raised in the Pyrenees recently when a brown bear released by France crossed over into Spain and killed eight sheep. The female, named Claverina, had crossed from Béarn in southwestern France into the mountains of Navarre on the Spanish side of the border. After the deaths, Spanish environmental officials met with their French counterparts, a number of guard dogs were deployed and some sheep were fitted with tracking devices. Claverina was recently brought to Béarn from Slovenia along with a second female, Sorita, to help restore the brown bear population in the area. Slovenia has more than 500 brown bears in its Alpine region and has been helping the French National Hunting and Wildlife Agency (ONCFS) to reintroduce the mammals to the Pyrenees, where their numbers

France to share the keys to the trackers, so that Navarre shepherds can follow the bears' movements. Currently they learn of Claverina's location after several hours' delay. Besides the brown bears in the Pyrenees, Spain has a further 300 in its northern Cantabrian mountains. ■

much by the storks as the beautiful ruins. The castle was used by the Germans in WWII as a munitions store, before being destroyed as the soldiers left. ■

Game of Drones

Police in the Essonne department have carried out their first ever traffic stops using drones. In the presence of invited journalists, specialist officers deployed two drones carrying cameras which monitored a section of the A126, just south of Paris. In conjunction with teams on the ground, police were specifically targeting motorbike riders overtaking dangerously on the stretch of road which is a notorious accident blackspot. Over the course of two hours, 64 infringements were recorded, more than double that which would be expected by a traditional ground-based team. The drones act as eyes-in-the-sky for the traffic police, who otherwise find it difficult to see infractions in process and pull over riders. By using the airborne cameras, operators simply notify colleagues further down the road of the offence, who then pull the rider over as they approach. The majority of the PVs (procès-verbal) handed out were for overtaking illegally by crossing a solid white line, an infraction that will cost you 3 points off your licence and a €135 fine. Drones are particularly useful to police for low-level surveillance in built-up areas where helicopter use can be restricted by the presence of airports and hospitals. Drone monitoring of motorway traffic was first promised by former Prime Minister Manuel Valls in 2015 and was previously trialled on the A10 in the Gironde in the summer of 2017. “It is an incredibly efficient tool to have at our disposal, but we will not be using it too ruthlessly,” said one officer. ■

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hatever your views on the European Union (ahem!), one policy that has been almost universally applauded over the years was the phasing out of mobile roaming charges. Gone are the days of returning from holiday to find a three-figure phone bill waiting on your doorstep. Roaming charges were finally removed altogether in 2017 and today, when you travel to another EU country, you will be billed for calls, SMS and data usage in exactly the same way as if you were using your mobile in your home country. One area that was left behind, however, were calls from your home country to another country in the EU, the price of which can vary wildly. Following further changes to EU law, from mid-May, calls to EU landlines and mobiles from your country of residence have now also been capped. “After abolishing roaming charges in 2017, the EU has now taken action against the excessive charges for cross-border calls that consumers make from their country,” said Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society. The new European Commission law states: “Retail prices (excluding VAT) charged to consumers for calls within the regulated European Union may not exceed €0.19 per minute for calls, and €0.06 per SMS.” In France, which has a 20% rate of TVA, this corresponds to 22.8 cents per minute for calls, and 7.2 cents for an SMS. This represents a significant reduction on the prices charged by most of the country's major operators. The new rules will automatically be applied across the industry, but networks will be required to contact you and offer a choice between sticking with any plan you might be on which includes calls abroad, or to choose the new legal rates. It will be the responsibility of individual users to check whether they will be better off under their existing plans, depending on how many calls they make to other EU countries. Marking the introduction of the price caps, the European Commission used the example of a mother living in Italy who calls her daughter working in Belgium for an average of two hours a month. Previously the call from an Italian landline would cost 89 cents per minute, which equates to around €105 a month on calls. However, under the new rules the total cost would be €27 for the same amount of time spent calling her daughter - a saving of €78 per month. ■

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Doctor charged with poisoning 24 patients

French anaesthetist has been charged with deliberately tampering with his colleagues' anaesthesia pouches in order to trigger heart attacks and then pose as a hero for bringing them back to life. Frédéric Péchier was already under investigation for seven cases of poisoning, but that total has now been raised to 24 victims, aged from 4 to 80, resulting in nine deaths. The public prosecutor, Etienne Manteaux, said investigators had looked into more than 66 “serious undesirable events”, but he admitted there was only circumstantial evidence against Péchier in a number of these. Health authorities consider a “serious undesirable event” as one that was

“unexpected given the state of health and pathology of the patient” and which results in serious consequences or death. According to prosecutors, the anaesthetist appeared to be the “common denominator” for the alleged poisonings and was “often in the immediate proximity” of the patients involved and made “an early diagnosis… at a stage when nothing led to suspicions of an overdose of potassium or local anaesthetics”. The four-year-old, a boy named only as Teddy, twice went into cardiac arrest twice during an operation to remove his tonsils in February 2016. He was resuscitated by Péchier. The incidents were allegedly more numerous during periods of “in-

tense conflict” between Péchier and his colleagues, Manteaux said. Péchier's lawyer, Jean-Yves Le Borgne, told reporters that the investigation proved nothing. “There is a possibility that Dr Péchier committed those poisonings but this hypothesis is nothing but a hypothesis. The presumption of innocence must be stressed.” Péchier has denied the claims, and his lawyers have accused police of tampering with statements he gave during initial questioning. “Whatever the outcome of all this, my career is over,” he said at a press conference. “You cannot trust a doctor who, at one point, has been labelled a poisoner... My family

is broken and I am afraid for my children.” Frédéric Berna, a lawyer for the patients and their families, told reporters there was already clear evidence of poisoning in the initial seven cases. “That’s already a strange coincidence,”

Berna said. “If the other cases are proven it will be even harder to believe. Do you realise that all these people, including children, went into hospital to be cared for? Some never came out, others live with, in some cases, serious consequences.” ■

Public holiday to fund Reimbursements for extra care for the elderly homeopathy to end

t is widely expected that the government is to announce the removal of one public holiday in France, with the money raised helping to fund welfare costs for the elderly. Although it is not yet known which day will be chosen, the move looks certain to prove controversial... as it has done in the past. In the summer heatwave of 2003, as many as 15,000 elderly and vulnerable people died in the sweltering temperatures and the following year, the government decided that lundi de Pentecôte (Whit Monday, or Pentecost) should no longer be one of the country's 11 annual public holidays, but neither would workers be paid for that day. Instead, their wages would be handed over to a fund that would be spent on care for the elderly and disabled; the day was rebranded Solidarity Day. In the face of public anger, however, the change was partially scrapped after just three years, the day was reinstated as a public holiday and companies were then free to assign an annual Solidarity Day as they saw fit, typically on another public holiday or via a reduction in employees' annual leave. Other companies were able to negotiate their own deals, for example the SNCF, where workers put in the equivalent of 1 minute 52 seconds more each day to retain the public holiday. Self-employed people are also exempt from the scheme, leading many to point out that there is not exactly much égalité amongst the workforce. It is estimated that last year's Solidarity Day raised as much

as €3 billion for the government, but opponents complain that there is little evidence of exactly how and where this money is spent. “There is no ‘day of solidarity’, it is nothing but PR,” CFTC union president Joseph Thouvenel was quoted as saying by the New York Times. “It has nothing to do with donated wages. That is a lie. It is a salary tax and that’s it. They just don’t have the courage to say so.” The government has said that the care bill for older people is set to grow by €6.2 billion by 2024, and will cost an estimated €9.2 billion extra by 2030. “This move would allow us to finance extra care, while also protecting the income of the French public,” said Stephane Carcillo, an economic policy advisor at OCDE. “This will bring in more funding, but other solutions will also have to be found.” It is not yet known which of the public holidays will make way, but given that France is a secular country and May already has a number of other public holidays, lundi de Pentecôte would appear to be a prime contender; although the exact date moves around, it often falls in May. What would then happen to Solidarity Day also remains to be seen, but the government has suggested any changes would be in addition to the current situation. One thing that can confidently be predicted, however, is that the country's still-powerful unions are unlikely to accept an extra day's unpaid work for their members without a fight. ■

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fter a lengthy study, the country's health authority, the HAS (Haute Autorité de Santé), has recommended that the government ends the reimbursement of homeopathic remedies. France has been an eager consumer of homeopathy and, despite a lack of scientific support for the benefits, the industry is still worth over €600 million per year. The government has come under increasing pressure to rule on the efficacy of homeopathy, which led to health minister Agnès Buzyn asking the HAS to consider the issue. Following the study of 1,200 products, the authority concluded that these remedies “provide insufficient medical service” to patients and recommended that they no longer be reimbursed at all by the State. Under current rules, 30% of the cost is reimbursed under the Assurance Maladie healthcare system. The government is now expected to make a final decision in June. Last year, a group of 124 prominent doctors released a statement attacking the “alternative medicine” industry - under which banner they included homeopathy - that they claimed was being practised by “charlatans of every type who seek moral authority in the title of doctor in order to promote the illusory effect of false therapies”. Practitioners claim that homeopathic remedies can cure all manner of illnesses and complaints and millions are passionate about their benefits. Homeopathy has been around since 1796 and is based on the hypothesis that “like cures like” - a substance that causes the symptoms of a disease in healthy people will cure similar symptoms in sick people. In general, homeopathic preparations are made using a process of dilution, in which a chosen substance is repeatedly diluted in alcohol or distilled water, usually until the resulting liquid statistically contains zero molecules of the original active ingredient. The problem for scientists, however, is that repeated studies have failed to provide any empirical evidence of any benefit beyond that of a “sugar pill” placebo affect. Manufacturers of homeopathic remedies will now have a chance to respond to the HAS study and one has already come out in defence of the industry, if not exactly from a scientific point of view. Boiron, a world leader in homeopathic remedy manufacture, has warned that if reimbursements are cancelled, as many as 1,000 jobs could be at threat. The company pointed out that only €130 million of State money is spent on homeopathy compared to €20 billion on conventional medicine and that this money did guarantee, at the very least, a placebo effect. In the wake of the report, the company has temporarily suspended its share price. In the UK, the NHS announced a ban on homeopathy and herbal medicine in 2017, which they described as a “misuse of scarce funds”. ■

Montpellier and Manchester United You would be forgiven for thinking that any headline containing the words Manchester, Montpellier and United should belong on the back pages of a newspaper, but rather than referring to the famous Red Devils, the United in this case represents the twinning of the two cities. The move follows a meeting of the cities' leaders at a recent UK France mayors’ summit following input from both countries' foreign offices and the UK's ambassador to France, Lord Edward Llewellyn. “It is a twinning in the making, a partnership that is being built as a result of international events,” explained the French city's mayor Philippe Saurel. “Britain will leave the European Union and after Brexit, the will of the British government has been to resume dialogue with France not just through official diplomacy between states,

but by popular diplomacy between cities.” “This is a great privilege, when you consider that Manchester has 80,000 students, that its metropolitan area contains 4 million people, that it is a city with a wide range of industry... not to mention two football teams in the Premiership!” Montpellier is the seventh largest city in France with a metropolitan population of just over 600,000, although thanks to three higher education establishments and three universities, as many as 70,000 residents are students. Returning to the back pages, at the time of print, Montpellier sit fifth in France's top flight Ligue 1 with one game to go. With the top four teams qualifying for Europe, a match-up between the two cities may have to wait for another season or two! ■

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World nettle eating championships

ost people will remember playing in the woods as a child and coming across the dreaded stinging nettle! Those painful red stings can still strike fear into your heart as an adult, but to most people nettles are an inconvenience that comes with living in the countryside. In theory there are many good things that can be said about the humble stinging nettle. The plant, properly known as urtica dioica, is packed with nutrients and goodness: it is rich in iron, potassium, calcium and many other vitamins. Nettles have been used in traditional English stews, teas and beers for centuries, and the French are also not against using them in their cooking. Italians use them for pesto and the Scandinavians make a delicious nettle soup called Nasselsoppa. But that is when they have been cooked - the problems start when you try to eat them raw. Urtica is covered in thousands of tiny needles, each filled with boric acid. On contact with the skin, the needles break, causing the acid to escape and burn the skin. Ouch! So why would you want to eat raw stinging nettles?! Well, as is often the case, it all started with a bet. Twenty years ago, two farmers were drinking at The Bottle Inn in Marshwood, Dorset, and arguing about who had the worst problem with nettles in their fields. “I'll eat any nettle you've got that's bigger than mine!” said one farmer. And that is how the World Stinging Nettle Championships were born. The event, held each year at that same pub, sees thousands of spectators come from across the country to witness and take part in this painful event. People have even come from as far as Australia to be part of this bizarre tradition. Competitors are given 60cm stalks of nettles from which they must pluck and eat the leaves. The bare stalks are then measured and the winner is the person with the greatest accumulated length at the end of one hour. If you vomit, you are disqualified! Competitors are often left with black mouths and tongues from the number of stings they receive. Previous winners have said that the most effective pain relief comes from beer, which is convenient as the competition usually coincides with a beer festival held at the pub!! The current record, held by Phillip Thorne, is an impressive 24 metres of nettles in just 60 minutes, although the weather plays a big role in the competition. The quality and character of the nettles changes from year to year, with moist, green plants much easier to eat than drier ones. Nearly all the big scores have been achieved following a wet spring. This year's event, which features categories for men and women, will be held at The Bottle Inn on July 27th. ■

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

n se souvient presque tous être tombés sur de redoutables orties lorsque, enfant, on jouait dans les bois... Si ces piqûres rouges et douloureuses laissent parfois une peur bien ancrée chez certains adultes, la plupart d’entre nous les considérons comme un simple désagrément lié à la vie à la campagne. En théorie, cette modeste plante mérite beaucoup d’éloges. Connue sous le nom latin d’urtica dioica et gorgée de nutriments, elle possède d’autres vertus puisqu’elle est riche en fer, potassium, calcium et autres vitamines. Les Anglais l’incorporent depuis des siècles à leurs ragoûts, leurs thés et leurs bières et les Français ne négligent pas cet ingrédient dans leur cuisine. Les Italiens l’intègrent à leur pesto et les Scandinaves concoctent une soupe délicieuse au nom de Nasselsoppa. Tant qu’elle est cuite, tout va bien : c’est quand on essaye de la manger crue que les problèmes surgissent. L’urtica est couverte de milliers de poils minuscules contenant de l’acide borique. Au contact de la peau, le poil se casse, l’acide s’échappe et occasionne une brûlure… Aïe… Diantre ! D’où pourrait venir l’idée saugrenue de vouloir manger des orties crues ?? Et bien… comme cela est bien souvent le cas… tout a commencé par un pari. Il y a 20 ans, deux fermiers se chamaillaient autour d’un verre à « The Bottle Inn », un pub situé à Marshwood, dans le Dorset. Chacun se targuait de rencontrer davantage de problèmes dans leurs champs respectifs. « Je mangerai toutes tes orties qui seront plus hautes que les miennes ! » dit l’un d’entre eux. Et c’est comme ça que naquit le Championnat Mondial des Mangeurs d’Orties Crues… L’événement, tenu chaque année dans le même pub, rameute des milliers de spectateurs venus de tout le pays pour assister et participer à ce douloureux spectacle. Certains viennent même d’Australie pour se joindre à cette tradition pour le moins bizarre. Dotés d’orties de 60 cm de longueur, les concurrents doivent en retirer les feuilles et les avaler. Au bout d’une heure, toutes les branches dénudées sont mesurées et le gagnant est celui qui aura ingéré la plus grande longueur d’orties. Toute personne qui vomit est disqualifiée ! A cause des piqûres, les concurrents se retrouvent souvent avec la bouche et la langue noircies. D’après les précédents vainqueurs, la meilleure façon de soulager la douleur est de boire de la bière, ce qui tombe bien puisque la compétition coïncide généralement avec un festival de la bière organisé dans le même pub !! Le record est détenu par Phillip Thorne qui a ingurgité une longueur impressionnante de 24 mètres d’orties en 60 minutes exactement. Il faut savoir que le temps joue un rôle important dans cette compétition. La qualité et les caractéristiques des plantes varient d’une année sur l’autre, selon l’humidité. Les orties les plus vertes s’ingèrent plus facilement que les plus sèches et les meilleurs scores ont généralement fait suite à des printemps humides. Cette année, le concours de la « Bottle Inn » se tiendra le 27 juillet et sera ouvert aux catégories masculines et féminines. ■

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2019

The versatility of garlic by Julia Watson

ou know you’re in France as soon you set foot in the Paris Metro. It’s not just the idiosyncratic door opener, more suited in design as the lock to a public loo, but the miasma of garlic that hangs in the air. It’s the one vegetable that distinguishes the British nation from the French. Its flavour brought fear (and frequent loathing) to the hearts of post-war eaters introduced to this member of the allium family through the cookbooks of Elizabeth David in the 1950s. Eating garlic separated the men from the boys (women, in those days, generally being the person assigned to cooking duties and in whose gift, therefore, it was to use the root or not). It’s curious it took us so long to discover the flavouring. Garlic has been known since the time of the ancient Egyptians. In a rather high-handed tone, ancient Romans described it as “much used for food among the poor.” Way back in those days, it was also recognised for its medicinal properties. Studies today have confirmed it contains high levels of vitamins and a large number of nutrients from calcium to iron and phosphorus necessary to the functioning of our immune system. Garlic can reduce colds and the duration of a cold. It’s said to have an impact on reducing blood pressure and in consequence cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and heart attack. There are studies that suggest it can also assist in controlling the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia, though these studies have their sceptics. Native to central Asia with at least 120 cultivars, garlic grows wild all over the place. Walk through a wood in Scotland in late spring and the scent of garlic fills the air, while the firework sparkles of its white flowers indicate that its best picking time is now past. Its leaves make a good pesto, eliminating the need for the clove of garlic and the basil, the

essential base to which are added the pine nuts or walnuts, oil and Pecorino Romano of the original Genoese recipe. In France, three types of garlic have been awarded protected AOC status. Not just the familiar Ail tose de Lautrec, the rose pink garlic of the Lautrec region most readily found in markets in spring, but the Ail blanc de Lomagne from Gascony, and Ail de la Drôme. These are the garlics to be most simply experienced by rubbing a cut clove (leave its peel on for grip) over a thick slice of sourbread toast before drizzling over a glug of good olive oil and a grinding of black pepper. Add diced sunripe tomato and you have bruschetta (pronounced ‘broosketta’, please, never ‘brooshetta’). Regular garlic is all you need for cooking. And if you come across those large containers of ready-peeled cloves, one way to use them is to confit them. Set them in a small saucepan and cover them with vegetable oil to rise 1 centimetre above them and simmer them over the lowest possible heat until they begin to turn a soft gold. Let them cool and store them in the fridge for adding to roast chicken or other baked dishes, using the flavoured oil to baste, or serve them to hearty (brave?) gourmets in a bowl, stabbing some of them with toothpicks, to eat with aperitifs. This method produces deliciously squishy, caramelised cloves. Or spread them over a slice of toast. Garlic is a good ‘elevator’ of food. Its flavour convinces the diner you’ve spent time and effort over your cooking as in this recipe that impresses but which comes together with very little time and effort. It will do its stuff in the oven while you are outside with your aperitif and confit garlic, enjoying the wonderful June weather. ■ Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

Baked garlic chicken breast Ingredients (serves 4): 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts A wineglassful of bought mayonnaise 65g grated Comte, Parmesan, or other hard cheese 2-3 tablespoons fine breadcrumbs 1 or 2 finely chopped cloves of peeled garlic to taste 2 tablespoons finely chopped tarragon A little milk in a dinner plate Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste Preheat oven to 200C. Line a baking sheet with buttered greaseproof paper. In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise, garlic, herbs and cheese. Season with salt and black pepper. Dip each chicken breast in the milk and lay it on the baking sheet. Spread each chicken breast with the mayonnaise mix and bake for 15-20 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle over the breadcrumbs then return to the oven and bake for a further 15-20 minutes till the juices run clear. If the breadcrumbs haven’t turned gold, set them under a hot grill for a minute or two.

The wines of Bergerac

hese are the months to be jumping in and out of the pool or the river and to enjoy eating in the open air and to welcome the long, slow ending of the day with a p’tit apéro. And here in the Périgord you can enjoy an evening drink that is wholly unique to this part of the world. It is light, charming and delicious. It is still quite rare. And we can enjoy it thanks in large part to one extraordinary family, Gilles and Laetitia Gérault. It begins over twenty years ago when Gilles, who had graduated from wine school and had been working at a vineyard, suddenly had the opportunity to rent some vines at one of the oldest sites for wine in the Bergerac. The vines were perched on the ridge directly to the north of the town of Bergerac with spectacular views of the river Dordogne and the conurbation below. This was where the monks in the tenth century began growing vines and making wine, required for the eucharist, after the old Roman-era vineyards had been devastated by two centuries of invasions from Arabs in the 8th century and Vikings in the 9th. It was

by Martin Walker

only two hundred years later that the monks moved across the river and began making the wine that has become famous as Monbazillac. It was called the Château du Rooy, after some Dutch or Flemish connections from those 16th and 17th century times when the Huguenots of Bergerac had close ties with their fellow Protestants in Britain and the Low Countries. Many later fled there as refugees when King Louis XIV revoked the tolerations granted by King Henri IV and began persecuting Protestants. Gilles was convinced it was good land for wine and at first as he began clearing the scrubland and coaxing the old vines into giving their best, he only made Bergerac Sec, the dry white wine. He had no clients, and depended entirely on selling unbottled wine in bulk to négociants, the middlemen and wholesalers who long dominated the wine trade in the Bergerac and the Bordeaux. (Until the 1920s, there was no difference between the two regions; Bergerac wine was routinely sold as Bordeaux.) Gilles had two strokes of luck. The first was that for his

first few years the price of wine in bulk was good and there were no great frosts or hailstorms nor other climate disasters that could have wiped him out. The second was that Laetitia believed in him and in his dream and until 2011 she went out to work in town and they lived on her salary. Every penny Gilles made from wine was ploughed back into the land, buying new vats and bottling equipment, building a new chai to make the wine and slowly planting new vines. Along the way, Laetitia produced three daughters. Gilles had a further dream, to revive an almost lost appellation called Rosette, a slightly sweet white wine that I find perfect for a summer evening. It goes beautifully with goat’s cheese, foie gras and I enjoy some sloshed over my strawberries. I sometimes use it to poach white fish and it makes a terrific partner for Chinese and Japanese food, or with a very dark and bitter chocolate. Rosette became an appellation in 1946 but there was little demand and less promotion and by the late 1990s when Gilles began there were only five vineyards still making small amounts. Even today, google

‘Rosette’ and you will find it described as a hybrid grape grown in Canada and New York state to make a light red wine or a rosé. The Rosette of Bergerac deserves better than that. It is made from Sauvignon Blanc or Gris and Sémillon grapes and Muscadelle. It is a far more serious wine than the usual cheap vin moelleux offered in supermarkets. After two years in his new vineyard Gilles decided to try, mainly because he had a good harvest and some wine left over. He made 5,000 bottles of Rosette and managed to sell the lot. “I seldom saw the children as the girls grew up,” he recalls. “I was working all the time, spending every weekend selling my wines at wine shows and markets, and after ten years I was selling 20,000 bottles of Rosette a year. I had begun to earn a living and Laetitia could give up her outside job and come back to work much, much harder with me, doing all the administration.” His Rosette is 6.90 euros a bottle, cheap at the price for something as good as this that is also just about unique - although other local vineyards are now offering Rosettes. Gilles’ other wines are are also strongly recommended. His Bergerac Sec (which won a silver medal at the Paris Concours last year)

and his Bergerac Red are a bargain at 5.40 euros a bottle. His prestige wines, called Folly du Rooy, are stunning at 13.20 euros. I was not surprised that his Folly white won gold at the Paris Concours, which also this year gave him the Prix d’Excellence for his Pécharmants (he has won six golds in the last six years). And the Hachette Guide gives it two stars. In short, he is one of the Bergerac’s finest winemakers, despite his vineyard being devastated by the great frost of 2017. “Wine is a good mother,” he told me, shrugging, before taking me off to admire his marvellous view and show me his new replanting plans. “If she fails you one year, she’ll do well by you the next.” To reach Château du Rooy, take the Mussidan road north out of Bergerac and after about 3 miles take a turning on the right marked Rosette-Est. ■ Martin Walker, author of the best-selling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 15

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The Grumpy Granny Guide Grouchy Grandpa: reinventing the authentic

ifting through this season’s tourist brochures and marketing ads, I see that the old buzz words, ‘discovery’ and ‘family friendly’, have been replaced by ‘genuine’ ‘traditional’ and ‘authentic’, as in ‘all our food is made with authentic ingredients’, ‘a traditional farmhouse gîte’, etc. This has got me thinking, because as a resident of more than 50 years’ standing in my village, I have never thought of ‘tradition’ or ‘authenticity’ in marketing terms. Of course we all know the positive images that these words are meant to conjure up but the fact of the matter is that the old times here were not necessarily better times and if you talk to elderly inhabitants they will confirm just that. The idea that before consumerism, social media and the demands of modern tourism came into our lives, three-generational families sat happily chatting round the fire together, or that the sweet song of the lark accompanied the ploughman as he plodded contentedly behind his oxen or that close– knit communities shared their time, friendship and support, just isn’t true. Changes began more than a century ago when the advent of the bicycle enabled even those of modest means to leave their village and see the world around them. Word War I completed the process when for the first time conscripts met others from different social and regional backgrounds. And yet in my part of the world there was no running water - inside or outside the home - until the mid-seventies. The village pump was too far away, so we relied on intermittent rainwater and water deliveries from the milk tanker after it had done its daily farm round. The neighbouring women spent a huge proportion of their time and energy going down to the river or to the local washhouse to spend half a day in sheer hard labour. Yes, they were all chatting very happily but every single one of them bought a washing machine in the weeks that followed the arrival of mains water; bathrooms and toilets were way down the list of priorities. The Périgord was, and indeed still is, one of the poorest areas in France, which prevented ‘solidarity’ having much meaning. Poor resources, along with poor health and teeth, were the norm well beyond the 60s and I remember our GP, newly arrived from an urban practice, expressing his surprise at the poor state of health of the locals; he had never before seen people literally worn out through a lifetime of physical labour. I am not saying that times were worse in terms of human happiness but they were certainly no better. So what exactly is meant by ‘authentic’? Let’s begin with buildings. An ‘authentic’ Périgordian farmhouse has come to mean one which is all of an age, i.e. has not had a metal roof erected over the outbuildings or replaced stone lintels with concrete but has retained some old features such as the traditional lime tree in the yard, a stone sink in the kitchen and an attractive stone hearth. We know, of course, that there was no running water in that sink, that the fireplace was used for cooking and was the sole source of heat which was often gratefully augmented by the presence of farm animals kept below in the cellar with all the smell and dirt that came with them. Restoration of almost all the local farmhouses hides the fact that Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Monthly circulation: 14,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited. Dépôt légal à parution.

since there was no refuse collection outside urban areas, most rural homes had piles of bottles, rusting sheets of corrugated iron or disused farm equipment, not to say steaming manure heaps, within easy reach of the farmhouse. You will all have come across these ‘authentic’ vestiges of the past on your walks if you leave the cleared GR paths.

Restoration of the old medieval town of Périgueux began in the 1970s. Many of its narrow, dark and insalubrious streets were demolished to make way for a series of squares and public spaces which now ensure it is a popular tourist draw. But if an inhabitant from the 1950s could return, they would be hard pushed to find their bearings. Only the city archives and old postcards reveal what the city looked like just 50 years ago. But who today would argue that the beautiful, restored towns and villages of the Dordogne should have been left in their ‘authentic’ state? Today they are a sheer delight in their harmonious use of stone and multilevelled roofs, but they often have only a tenuous link with the past. And food? Year-round residents despair of the ‘traditional’ menu served up as typical of the area and the local phrase used by the British “if you don’t like duck, you’re out of luck” rings all too true. But while the traditional diet may have been healthy (and even that is open to interpretation because life expectancy here was nevertheless lower than the national average) it was, as throughout the world, air miles and refrigerated transportation which revolutionised eating habits and enabled everyone here to eat as their grandparents never did. Not many people today would want to drink the acidic local wine drunk in lieu of easy-to-access drinking water, nor want to eat what was a constant diet of soups and root vegetables until the summer harvests. It is all too easy to forget that what is presented as ‘traditional’ food - the foie gras, the poultry, even the walnuts - was largely reserved for sale to townies and even then only to the more fortunate. Of course on high days and holidays the food was delicious and the culinary tradition of excellence is well deserved but ‘authentic’? Try a diet of bread made with chestnut flour, goose necks, pork dripping or andouillette which are just as ‘authentic’. So what about the traditional solidarity, the warm fuzzy feeling of belonging to a small community? I am not really in a position to comment on this since I have never experienced it. I believe, however, that this idea is a romantic, mistaken view of human behaviour when living in close proximity with others with limited resources. I can only say that in my community of 40-60 souls, who all those years back came from just 4 or 5 extended families of farmers,

Directeur: Steve Martindale Rédacteur-en-chef: Steve Martindale Siège: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Imprimé par: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Tirage mensuel: 14,000 copies Tous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite. Dépôt légal à parution.

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a good proportion were not on speaking terms with each other. On arrival we were informed quite clearly where the lines were drawn, who was who and what was what. I don’t recall much tolerance for those who were ‘different’ i.e. clever at school, born out of wedlock, in a mixed-race marriage, gay or handicapped physically or mentally. These ‘nonconformists’ all left as soon as they could. Today when many of the original inhabitants have been replaced by incomers, the atmosphere is no longer ‘traditional’ that’s for sure. It is more relaxed, less suspicious and every bit as willing to offer help and compassion as before. Nostalgia is obviously in fashion but we shouldn’t let it distort what we see and experience in the 21st century. The Dordogne, with only a few exceptions, has been able to transform its infrastructure with sensitivity and great respect for its heritage and there is no need to reinvent or romanticise the truth of the past in order to appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of what we have today. Or fall for misleading advertising. Grumpy Granny will be visiting some unspoilt villages in the Périgord Noir this summer. If any readers living in other parts of the Périgord have recommendations for visits to your area, please write in to tell us about them: editor@thebugle.eu ■ This is part of a series of features devoted to the tourist experience in the Dordogne provided by the website grumpygranny-guides.com which highlights those sites which are comfortable and pleasant to visit and which offer a warm welcome.

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

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

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Take control of your finances in an uncertain world - Blevins Franks

hey say the only certainties in life are death and taxes; at times like these, this has never seemed more true! As the UK enters unchartered waters with Brexit, there is much we do not know about what the future will bring. However, there are some things you can be sure of and that you can control to your benefit, whatever happens around us. Taxation of assets Double tax treaties, such as the one between the UK and France, are independent of the EU. So if you are resident here, your existing tax treatment will not change with Brexit, or any other external influence. Something that can make a significant difference to the way you are taxed is the way you structure your assets and wealth. You can usually find France-compliant investment opportunities that can offer significant tax benefits, while also providing additional benefits like currency and income flexibility. Meanwhile, expatriates who favour UK-centric assets and investments are more likely to see increased taxation with Brexit, as some non-EU/ EEA assets are treated differently. For example, once UK life assurance policies, such as investment bonds, become non-EU/EEA assets, they may no longer qualify for the full beneficial tax treatment given to assurance-vie and EU capital redemption bonds. At any time, the UK can potentially increase the tax burden for non-residents, as has happened recently with property. 2015 brought new capital gains tax liability for non-residents on UK residential property; from 5 April 2019 this also applies to commercial property. And in 2017, UK residential property owned through certain offshore structures became liable for UK inheritance tax alongside other worldwide property. Tougher tax rules are also possible following a change in UK government, including the possibil-

ity of a new wealth tax on higher-value UK assets. A locally-based adviser can advise about asset protection and how you can take advantage of taxefficient opportunities for residents in France. Taxation of pensions A similar threat hangs over UK pensions. Today, UK pensions can potentially be accessed by Britons abroad without paying any UK tax (under the double tax agreements). Brexit will not change this, but the government may take steps to recoup more taxes from expatriate pensions. The 25% ‘overseas transfer charge’ introduced in 2017 may indicate things to come. Currently, EU residents are only affected if transferring UK pension funds to Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (QROPS) outside the EU/EEA, but the scope may increase after Brexit. Once you no longer live in Britain, you may find fewer advantages to keeping UK pensions where they are, but it is essential to take regulated, personalised pensions advice to establish the most suitable approach for your personal circumstances and goals. If you are considering transferring, review your options now, before the tax-free window potentially closes. Investments It is not just Brexit that can disrupt investment and currency markets today. At any given time, external influences and events can unexpectedly shift the direction of markets. Diversification is the key to minimising risk. A portfolio made up of a mixture of asset types – including cash, equities and bonds – from different countries, regions and market sectors is best placed to ride out turbulence. This approach reduces exposure to under-performance in any single area and enables the opportunity to produce positive returns over time. Conversely, if you mainly hold UK assets, your returns will be more vulnerable to the fortunes of

sterling and the British economy during these uncertain times. Of course, you need to make sure your investments offer the right balance of risk and return for your peace of mind. An experienced financial professional can use the appropriate tools to create a clear and objective risk profile for you. Estate planning While we cannot avoid death, with good estate planning we can control who receives our legacy and when. Even after Brexit, you can override local ‘forced heirship rules’ by applying the law of your nationality to your estate instead through the EU regulation, ‘Brussels IV’. While this would ensure your legacy is distributed according to your written wishes, beware this can have tax implications. If you are seen as UK-domiciled your estate is liable to UK inheritance tax as well as local succession taxes in your country of residence. It is possible to restructure your wealth to reduce tax liabilities at the same time as ensuring your chosen heirs receive your gift at the right time, so explore your options. With careful tax, pensions, investments and estate planning, you can steer your financial future in the right direction. Cross-border financial planning is complex and needs to be designed around your specific circumstances and wishes, so take specialist advice for the best results. ■ All advice received from Blevins Franks is personalised and provided in writing. This article, however, should not be construed as providing any personalised taxation or investment advice. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com

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Chamber

Architects

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

Darren Piper

Carpentry &

Building Services Qualified craftsman with over 20 years experience running his own business in the UK - Specializing in:

sales24@thebugle.eu

 Decking (all shapes and designs)  Renovations, alterations & conversions  Kitchens  Bathrooms Roofs Based in Sigoulès and covering Eymet, Bergerac, Duras & surroundings FREE QUOTES

06 04 17 80 93

06 89 18 35 89

Based in Périgord vert 24340 A l l o f F ra nce cove r e d

e: darren.piper@hotmail.com Siret: 847 651 072 00013

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

Building Services Electricians

BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

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

GMS Electrical 40 years’ experience

French registered - French insured 10 year décennale insurance French consuel certificates obtained Any job, small or large Full re-wires, extra sockets, industrial/commericial installations... Pool heat pumps, external lighting, emergency lighting, electric gates... Contact Gary Sear:

05 53 08 94 90 06 84 27 79 67

garysear5@hotmail.com

Based near Les Eyzies de Tayac (24620) siren: 808 093 322

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2019

Electrician & Home Renovations French Registered Electrician

Contact David Hirons:

06 85 85 51 01 dhirons1992@gmail.com Siret: 810 344 820 00016

Building Services General

Chantilly Properties

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

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

ANGLO SCAFFOLDING HIRE

CHARKER DAVID

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

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

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

Dan Dan the odd Job Man! Based near Bergerac General Maintenance Shelving Woodwork and Carpentry Dry Walling Small odd Jobs

Tel: 05 53 09 42 18

Tel: 06 78 67 02 91

KP RENOVATIONS DORDOGNE

Harlequin Developments

No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

Tiling, plumbing, decorating, flooring and plasterboarding. Specialising in kitchens and bathrooms. Based in the Sarlat/Belvès areas and covering the Southern Dordogne.

Tel: 05 53 30 28 84 or 06 37 32 19 94 Fully Registered SIRET: 522 951 318 00024 / 512 253 931 00012

siret: 831 746 193 00018

est. 2007

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

Building Services Painters/Decorators Simon Carter

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

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

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

Building Services Plumbing & Heating

Your advert here

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER

06 04 17 80 93

- Emergency plumbing repairs

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

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

or see

sales24@thebugle.eu

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

Email: akbrunnstrom@yahoo.co.uk

06 04 17 80 93

Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

06 34 24 64 11

www.lakesidebandb.net SIRET: 799 067 939 00014

- Installation, from kitchen taps to full central heating systems - Breakdown / Replacement boilers - Full analysed testing

E : wellers@orange.fr

Buying or selling small items...? Check out our online Classifieds... updated daily!

www.thebugle.eu/classifieds.php

To place a Classified, simply email details of your item for sale to notices@thebugle.eu

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

JUNE 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Do you want HUGE tax efficiency for your savings in France? – Rosemary Sheppard, International Financial Adviser

hen I first meet a client it takes time for us to get to know each other, and every single person is different with different needs. However, at the root of those needs is usually the desire to find out how best to keep all those hard earned savings, investments and pensions as tax efficient as possible. Once you have left the UK and become resident in France, the ISAs and other tax efficient savings you may hold in the UK are no longer tax-free and you need to give careful consideration about how you deal with this.

With the new Common Reporting Standards that were introduced recently we can no longer bury our heads in the sand and think that the French taxman will not know about the assets you have left in the UK and will not look to tax you accordingly. Fortunately, there is a perfectly good solution for this in France – Assurance Vie. Many of my clients have heard the name, but do not necessarily know how it works. Similar in make-up to a UK Equity ISA an Assurance Vie allows you to save your money in a tax-efficient ‘wrapper’. Assurance Vie, Working for You What are the principles of an Assurance Vie and how can it help you with your tax planning? • Your investment is allowed to grow tax free.

Building Services Sandblasting Sand and Blast We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

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

www.sandandblast.com

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

Computers, Satellites & Web Design

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

06 04 17 72 05

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

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

• Should you wish to withdraw funds only the part of the withdrawal that is subject to a ‘gain’ will be subject to tax and social charges, as the majority of your withdrawal is classed as return of capital. • For higher rate taxpayers you can choose to be taxed at the lower rates attributed through the Assurance Vie regime (12.8% in years 1 – 8, plus 17.2% social charges. After year 8 if your net premiums are below €150,000 then you can benefit from a reduced rate of tax at 7.5%) or your nominal rate, so if you are a nil-rate taxpayer then you will have no tax to pay. • After your 8th year there is a tax-free withdrawal allowance of €4,600 per annum (€9,200 for a joint policy), after which additional withdrawals are taxed as above. • You can nominate anyone

Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais Slow Internet? 4G is the answer... Call us now!

Wi-Fi networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. Outdoor Wi-Fi 4G Internet. Windows and MacOS.

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

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

06 04 17 80 93

No6 DESIGN WEBSITE

to be a beneficiary of your Assurance Vie and unlike other aspects of inheritance the recipient is entitled to receive the equivalent of €152,500 tax free, with anything over this taxed at a rate of 20%. This means that anyone who is not a blood relative or spouse (stepchildren, non married partners or friends) will not be subject to the usual 60% Inheritance Tax. (Different amounts apply if initial investment is made when you are over the age of 70.) • Savings can be kept in sterling, or be made in Euros or US dollars and can be ported back to the UK should you return in the future. • You can have a choice of investment options to suit your specific requirements and level of risk, which can be altered as your needs change. • Assurance Vie policies are exempt from Wealth Tax.

Food & Drink FOR SALE:

Established catering business Specialising in Indian and English food, serving Depts 24,16,46 and surrounding. Easily managed from your home. Sale due to retirement. €25k neg as going concern including commercial equipment, training, etc. Huge Potential. Email for details. rhome2012@hotmail.co.uk

The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you

during

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

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

06 38 75 32 97

www.no6.co Siret: 80493524500014

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

Handholding Services

Struggling with the Complex French Administration?!

We are here to help! Call us or email us We will help you find a solution

06.70.23.53.33

helpishere24@yahoo.com

Language Services

www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62

www.auclairduperigord.com +33 (0)6 41 37 02 50

siret: 444 925 630 00014

d.nina@live.co.uk

Ivan Petley

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

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

Health & Beauty

Massage: Holistic + Hot Stone + Aromatherapy + Sports Clinical Hypnotherapy: + EMDR + NLP Fears, Phobias, Anxiety, Weight Control, Panic Attacks, Habit, Trauma PTSD, Smoking Cessation, Sport / Business Performance, Relaxation. Relax, Recharge, Release Mentally, Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally

Pete or Irene: 07 69 42 17 99 petehypno@gmail.com dordognetherapies.com Based near Verteillac 24320 SIRET 830 715 785 00010

Learn French in France

Gifts & Crafts

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

HELP IS HERE!!

All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Wednesday: Mauzac, Le Barrage Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Campagnac-lès-Quercy See our website for full details:

before

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

However, this is only one aspect of your tax planning and it is extremely important to take full advice from the outset to ensure that your hard-earned cash, whether in savings, pensions or investments, keeps working hard for you. If you would like to arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation, please contact me by email: Rosemary. sheppard@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. Blacktower Financial Management has over 32 years’ experience helping expats to make sure that their money works for them.

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

FRENCH LESSONS Via Skype

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

05 55 89 15 74 scarolinea@yahoo.fr Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Pest Control

Central France Pest Control Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

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

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

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93

20 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2019

ADVERTORIAL

Houses on Internet: A Global Property Network

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: “In spite of Brexit, this year started off extremely well. The number of sales are 40% higher than last year and the summer months are still to come. We still see British buyers, but also many other nationalities, which is why our worldwide advertising is so important. Our marketing efforts are definitely paying off and guarantee a worldwide exposure of your property to buyers wherever they live. “Last year HOI-GPS sold to people from 12 different coun-

tries, like France, Australia, Belgium, Holland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Canada, Denmark and South Africa. “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 in English, French and Dutch. “The texts don’t just describe the house, garden and outbuildings, but information about shopping, schools, airports and leisure is given too. “When the website for the

Property Maintenance

Retail & Commerce

La Conciergerie

bookstop

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

24600 Villetoureix laconciergerie24@orange.fr Tel: 06 42 67 94 50 siret: 840 556 228 00010 - APE 9609Z

Pools & Spas Limousin Spas

The region's leading distributor of Spas, Swim spas, Saunas & Hot tubs

New for 2019

We are pleased to announce our new range of over 80 Spas, Swim spas, Hot tubs & Saunas from top European and U.S. manufacturers. *Platinum Spas* *Superior Spas* *Tuff Spas* *Zen Spas* *BeSpa* *Durasport* *Superior Saunas* *Baltic Hot tubs* *Baltic Saunas*

Prices from €2,000 Web: www.limousin-spas.com Email: sales@limousin-spas.com Tel: 05 55 63 26 20 Siret: 752 157 610 00011

house is online, we first connect 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 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 inter-

06 04 17 80 93

Transport, Removals & Storage

Support

Smart Moves

sales24@thebugle.eu

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

09 51 45 57 49

SOS Help

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

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

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

06 04 17 80 93

Removals & Self Storage

FORTNIGHTLY SERVICES TO FRANCE FULL OR PART LOADS WELCOME WE COLLECT FROM ALL AREAS OF THE UK AND DELIVER TO ALL AREAS OF FRANCE Find us on Facebook: @smartmovesukfrance Please CALL or EMAIL Stephen

Email: depot24@mail.com

Tel: 06 27 17 18 13

www.depot24.fr Les Rivaux, ZA Les Chanterelles 24450 La Coquille Siren: 848 550 752

smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk

+44 (0)1253 725 414

Autism &

Man & Van Transport

catcool61@aol.com

+31 (0)6 41 20 73 69

FIRST MONTH FREE!

www.smartmovesremovals.co.uk

Psychologist (MBPsS) looking for part-time work helping young adults/children in their own home, giving quality psychological support & respite to their carers. Native English speaker. Please contact Catriona:

Houses on Internet Global Property Services www.housesoninternet.com

For a fully insured, careful service

www.soshelpline.org

Special Needs Support

Your advert here

ested in it.” For more information on HOIGPS or to market your property through them, visit their website. ■

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

09 82 12 69 73

Périgord Noir, will travel up to 45 mins from 24170.

www.frenchvanman.eu

siret: 841 001 456 00018

Siret 530 213 644 00012

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

Local and European Removals France to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy etc We Offer: Removals, Storage, House Clearance, also Car, Caravan, Plant Transport. French Registered Business. Local Friendly Service.

+33 (0)6 73 96 38 39

www.dordognestoragesolutions.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

ADVERTS FROM €12.50 HT / MONTH

SALES24@THEBUGLE.EU

06 04 17 80 93

DIRECTORY ♦ 21

JUNE 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

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

together.

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

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

the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €490 TTC.

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

www.oldschoolfrance.com Independent International School providing an English language education to UK standard, GCSE and A Level • English education in a French environment, ideal for older children • St-Colomb-de-Lauzun (47410) • Seamless transition from UK education • Excellent exam results • Successful placements at UK universities • All students also learn French

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €12.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 30,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad

€100

€150

Large b&w Directory Ad

€130

€195

Small Colour Directory Ad

€140

€210

Large Colour Directory Ad

€180

€270

All prices exclude TVA (20%)

Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format. Directory adverts may only contain text (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months. Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

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

30 words max

22 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2019

A big THANK YOU …. … to all those who supported the Great Phoenix Book Fair. You came in your hundreds throughout the day, not only bringing an amazing amount of donated items, but also enjoying the superb range of sandwiches, quiches, cakes and biscuits and then leaving with carrier bags laden with goodies.

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

As a result of your support, we received literally thousands of books, hundreds of CDs and DVDs, some beautiful plants and an eclectic range of bric-a-brac, children’s toys and games. And, to really add icing to the cake, during the day 2 Phoenix dogs were adopted and are now enjoying life in their new homes. Thanks to your generosity we raised more money than ever before, all of which will be used to continue the work of caring for, healing and rehoming abandoned, abused and unwanted animals. As for the next Great Phoenix Book Fair, make a note in your diaries now…

Saturday 5th October!!

Got an event for The Bugle?

notices@thebugle.eu SUDOKU - EASY

South West Left are a friendly, informal group of mostly English speakers living in the Dordogne and Lot-et-Garonne. We come from a mainly centre/left point of view and meet every month around the South West region for either discussion on current affairs - European and international - or to enjoy a meal in a restaurant, quiz night, music night or maybe a topical film. Our members plan the programme of events. If you’d like to find out more, please contact Averil de la Rue, secretary at averildelarue@gmail.com

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

SUDOKU - HARD

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 15

NEDWA - North Eastern Dordogne Women’s Association Come along and meet us at one of our regular Coffee Mornings at Auberge du Pont, route de Lanouaille, 24390 Cherveix-Cubas. Always be sure of a warm welcome, good company and genuine friendship. For more information and details of upcoming events, see:

www.nedwa.com

NEDWA is a dynamic, multi-national group of around 100 women of all ages... Whether you are retired and feel like meeting some friendly faces, work from home and want to network, or just need to get out and attend some good monthly events, NEDWA fills the gap. Activities include a book club, sewing circle, coffee mornings, walks, lunches, speakers on topics which relate to you and much more.

Dottie and her friends are waiting for you at Acorn Cat Rescue. Dottie will be vaccinated, microchipped and de-parasited upon adoption. Her adopter will be expected to have her sterilised when she is old enough. www.associationacorn.com Facebook: Acorn Cat Rescue Tel: 05 53 81 30 44

Worship services in English held throughout the Dordogne: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Eymet Temple, Limeuil, Négrondes, Sainte Nathalène (near Sarlat). All are welcome!! Please visit our website for more information: www.churchinaquitaine.org Find us on Facebook: English Church Aquitaine

WHAT’S ON ♦ 23

JUNE 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Music in the Dordogne sponsored by ARCADES Join us for concerts in the air conditioned new hall in Le Buisson, mostly of classical music, with top class French,

English, Russian and other international performers. Concert tickets cost €15 including wine in the interval. All events are organised by volunteers and serve as a meeting ground for the French and international communities of the Dordogne, including ACIP and La Tulipe.

Venue - Le Buisson de Cadouin, salle des fêtes, avenue Aquitaine

For more info, tel 06 31 61 81 68 or 05 53 23 86 22 or visit http://www.arcadesinfo.com/

Sunday 30th June and 7th July at 8:30 pm “Nights of Moscow” Quartet Accordion, Saxophone, Double Bass, Voice

30th June Programme: Romantic Russian music by Tchaikovsky, Onegin, Sviridov, Borodin, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov, Glazunov

7th July Programme: Launched in 1982 by the French Ministry for Culture, the Fête de la Musique, also known as World Music Day, is a music festival held all over the world that takes place every 21st June, the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere. Musicians (amateurs and professionals alike) are asked to perform for free, and all the concerts are free for the public. Performances & concerts take place in open air areas such as streets and parks or in public buildings like museums, train stations, castles, etc. The Fête de la Musique is a way of encouraging the major music institutions (orchestras, operas, choirs, etc.) to perform outside their usual locations and promotes encounters and exchanges between young musicians and well-known talents. To find out more about the free concerts taking place near you visit fetedelamusique.fr or contact your local tourist office for more information.

Russian modern romances by Khachaturian, Rachmaninov, Schnittke, Tabakov, Alyabyev, Gladkov, Vlasov, Basner, Gagnidze, Doga, Zubov, Vlasov

Lyuba Dmitrieva (accordion) Ekaterina Lebedev (saxophone) Elena Rigun (double bass) Olga Burlutskaya (voice)

24 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ JUNE 2019

The Ministry of Culture presents the 17th Rendez-vous aux jardins cultural event on the theme of “Animals in the Garden” on 7th, 8th and 9th June. From the smallest to the grandest gardens, thousands of people get involved in this event, which now takes place on a European scale, with nearly 3,000 gardens open to the public in 2019. Rendez-vous aux jardins is a great opportunity to explore some of the gardens not usually open to the public. For further information and for details of participating gardens, visit rendezvousauxjardins.fr

On Sunday 9th June, over 4,000 bargain-hunters are expected to descend on Eymet for one of Dordogne’s largest vide-greniers. There will be 250 stalls stretching out over 2 kilometres throughout this beautiful bastide town.