The Bugle Limousin - Mar 2015 by The Bugle

Flu epidemic sweeps across the Limousin

At its peak, over 500,000 new cases were being reported nationally per week and the Limousin was the worst hit region in France >> Page 7

Limousin March 2015 - Issue #65

Online registration to vote in UK Elections

NEWS - Fifty Shades sets cinema records

The Electoral Commission has launched a campaign to encourage more British expats to exercise their right to vote in the upcoming UK General Election. Anyone living outside of the UK for less than 15 years can register online to vote in May's parliamentary elections.

NEWS - Ticks and Lyme disease

General Election where people can register to vote online and it is hoped that the new online process will encourage more UK nationals living overseas to register to take part in the Election. To register as an overseas voter, you must have previously been registered in a UK constituency within the last fifteen years. If you were too young when you left the UK to have been registered then you can still register as an overseas voter if your parents (or guardians) were registered in the UK within the last fifteen years. “A lot of people aren’t aware that it’s possible to register as an overseas voter for the Gen-

>> continued on page 10

The release of the film adaptation of Fifty Shades of Grey has seen record ticket sales in the cinemas of the Limousin >> Page 3

Limousin has the highest rate of Lyme disease in France, so with "tick season" fast approaching, we look at how best to avoid the dangers >> Page 5

NEWS - Monopoly sets with real money! © Jean-Christophe BENOIST (WikiCommons)

n 7th May, millions of people across the UK will head to the polls for the General Election, but a great many British expats living abroad will not vote – even though many have the right to do so. On 5th February, the UK Electoral Commission launched an overseas voter registration campaign which aims to encourage British citizens living overseas to register to vote. The Commission's goal is to boost the number of expats on the UK’s electoral registers – of the 5.5 million British currently living abroad, there are only 20,000 registered to vote. This is the first UK

INSIDE > > >

To celebrate 80 years of the iconic board game in France, Hasbro have shipped sets of Monopoly containing real euro notes >> Page 10

The Bugle Business Directory

Fancy a weekend break? Chalair has unveiled regular flights from Limoges to Barcelona >> Page 3

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

8 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 20-27

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

love this time of year. As winter slowly fades, the horizon holds the promise of long days, warm sunshine, BBQs and maybe even the odd holiday! I know that in reality I will soon be cursing the spring showers, bemoaning the speed at which the grass is growing and complaining that I'm too hot, but that's why now is the perfect time of year, before the realisation that the next season simply brings different challenges. Since enough time has passed for my brain to forget the bad bits from last time round, I have nothing but hope and excitement!! The fact that my newborn has finally started sleeping through the odd night might have something to do with my good mood. You never feel more alive than right after a bout of illness and the same goes with tiredness; you get so used to it that you forget what normal feels like... and when normal arrives, it is sheer bliss!

In fact, I have also been a bit under the weather until the last few days so it's a double whammy of bounce back feelgood! Fortunately, I think I dodged the flu that has been rampaging across the region (see page 7). I didn't realise initially how bad it was, but the Limousin was the worst hit part of France and there were 500,000 cases a week nationally at the peak of the epidemic. I say I dodged it; I did, in fact, have a bad case of what I call flu, but the doctors confusingly refer to as a mild cold - I am nothing if not a stereotype. One thing that has turned my mind away from winter and towards the year ahead was reading Michelle Pierce's (as always excellent) piece on what needs to be done in the garden this month (see page 14). She makes it sound so easy and every year I start the growing season (which runs from April to September for me - I'm not a hardcore gardener) full of good

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intentions. Most years I fail, but last year saw a fairly good crop of vegetables... until blight decimated my spuds and I gave up a bit. Keeping on top of the garden can occasionally feel like a chore, especially when you have a job and a young family, but there is nothing more satisfying than pulling up fresh vegetables and free ones at that! I remember when I first moved to the region that I was constantly petrified of snakes when I was out digging around the potager, having been told that there were deadly vipers about. I assumed that there were thousands of them lying in wait and that they all had a taste for English flesh. I think in 10 years I have only seen a couple and they scarpered the minute they saw me. As long as you are vaguely sensible, you're unlikely to have a problem. Another danger, one that I am probably guilty of not taking seriously enough, is catching Lyme disease from ticks, which is a real problem in the Limousin (see page 5). Unlike the snakes, there really are thousands of the little buggers in the garden and I directly know of a couple of expats that have contracted Lyme disease and anecdotally about several more. It's potentially not a very nice thing to have. I mentioned in my article about avoiding walks through

long grass in shorts, but I think I'm most likely to pick up a tick from my dogs. When they have been out playing in the spring and summer, they will often come back literally crawling with ticks; I'm sure I have pulled off at least 10 in one session before, either wandering through their fur or already latched on. My wife and daughter were bitten by ticks several years ago, fortunately with no repercussions which, if you are aware of the potential dangers and take sensible precautions, will almost always be the case. It's human nature to be wary of the big thing with sharp teeth, but I imagine a mosquito is much more likely to bring you down than a lion and the same probably goes for vipers and ticks! On that cheery note, until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

INSIDE this edition 3-7 Local News 8-13 National News 14 French Life 15 Practical 16 Bilingual 17 Letters to the Editor 18-19 Classifieds 20-27 Directory 28-30 Community 31-32 What’s On

CONTACT us Tel: 05.55.41.17.76 General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions@thebugle.eu Editor: Steve Martindale Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France

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World's largest plane lands at Limoges

f you happened to look up into the skies around Limoges on the afternoon of 11th February, then it would have been relatively hard to miss one of the world's largest planes coming in to land at Limoges-Bellegarde Airport. The Airbus Beluga was developed primarily to transport airplane parts around Europe and is one of the largest cargo planes in service in the world. Airbus is a consortium formed by British, French, German and Spanish aerospace companies and various parts of each plane are manufactured at different European sites. In general, the wings and landing gear are made in the UK, the tail and doors in Spain, the fuselage in Germany and the nose and centre section in France, with final assembly in either Toulouse, Hamburg or Seville. These various sections all need to be

brought together and it is the Beluga's job to do this - you can literally fit a plane inside this plane! There are only five Belugas in service and the trip to Limoges was part of a

training exercise. The nature of the runway means that Limoges Airport is often chosen for this kind of training. After a short stay in the Limousin, the massive aircraft took off for home. ■

Limoges Airport unveils new routes

fter an increase in passenger numbers in 2014, Limoges Airport received more good news following the unveiling of several new lines by the French airline Chalair. In April last year Chalair took over the Limoges-Lyon route, operating 2 return trips every day, as well as a Sunday evening service. Despite slightly disappointing returns (42% of seats sold compared to a target of 50%), the compa-

ny has committed to this route for another year, introducing vacances scolaires rates and also onward connections from Lyon to a dozen destinations through a partnership with Aigle Azur. The company also unveiled weekly Saturday flights to and from Ajaccio, Corsica, with prices starting from €89 one-way as well as flights every Wednesday and Sunday to Nice, also priced from €89.

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Although Chalair deals largely with business travellers, of particular interest to expats looking for a break is the company's unveiling of its first international route from Limoges, to Barcelona. From 25th April, the airline will be running flights to and from the Basque capital every Friday and Monday, meaning travellers can pop down for some weekend sun or avoid the weekend and stay for the week for €94 for a single leg. ■

Fifty Shades sets cinema records The book Fifty Shades of Grey was a publishing phenomenon when it first hit the shelves and the film adaptation of E. L. James' novel about the relationship between a wealthy businessman and a young student is proving just as popular with the cinema going Limousin public. So much so, that cinemas in Limoges are reporting record numbers of ticket sales. Perhaps helped in part by its less restrictive 12 rating in France (see page 12), cinema goers have been flocking to see the film in their thousands. The BBFC (British Board of Film Classification) rated the film 18 in the UK for “strong sex and nudity, along with the portrayal of erotic role play based on domination, submission and sadomasochistic practices”. During February, the film was being shown on 3 screens, 12 times a day: 2 screens in central Limoges and a third at Ester. Bruno Penin, director of the “Grand-Ecran” cinema complex, said that he had never seen such demand for a film. The business saw over 1,500 advance tickets sold on its website in just a few days, before the film had even been released! ■

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Limousin to finally get Cirque Valdi building to become dance hall its own velodrome

t goes without saying that cycling is a popular sport in France and many expats who make their home here also take up the pastime. So it will be welcome news to locals and expats alike that the Limousin is soon to have its very own velodrome, due to be unveiled at the beginning of 2016. Unbelievably, along with Corsica, the Limousin is the only region in France not to have a velodrome - an unenviable statistic that will come to an end next year when the facility opens in the small commune of Bonnac-laCôte, just north of Limoges. Since 1972, when the Grand-Treuil velodrome was pulled down, cyclists in the Limousin have had to practise their sport on the region's roads - not always the safest option!

“We really wanted to respond to the strong demand from practitioners of this sport,” said Claude Brunaud, mayor of Bonnac-la-Côte. “In 2006, when we were first approached as part of a feasibility study, it was not always easy for cycling clubs to go out on the roads on Saturday afternoons, something that has only become worse 10 years later.” The velodrome will be run and managed by the City of Limoges and will be open to all cyclists, regardless of age or experience, from children learning to ride through to club competitors. “We don't want to exclude anyone,” explained Claude Brunaud. “This facility is aimed at everyone: schools, after-school groups, disability sport, cycling clubs and indi-

viduals.” The track, which is yet to be given a name, is not being built with profit in mind. In order to encourage its use, tickets are likely to be free, or at least heavily subsidised, but organisers are keen to stress that neither will it be expensive to run, requiring just one administrator and one person working part-time on maintenance. The velodrome will not initially have a roof, although one may be added at a later date. “We really hope that this project will add to the sporting infrastructure Limoges has to offer on an inter-regional level,” concluded the proud mayor of Bonnac-la-Côte. “My dream is to see the track being used every other night by cyclists of all ages and abilities.” ■

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he Cirque Valdi was once the crown jewel of La Souterraine's tourist attractions. When the world's largest miniature circus opened in 2007, more than 60,000 people per year came through its doors. By 2012, however, this number had dropped to just 10,000 and following disagreements between the attraction's owner, Maurice Masvignier, and the communauté de communes that housed it, the circus closed its doors. Since then, much has been made of what to do with the building, next to the Yves-Furet cultural centre on the outskirts of the town, that was purpose built for the circus. It has lain empty for several years now, with local authorities continuing to pay back the loan taken to

build it. There have been many rumours, most notably of a bowling alley, but the future of the building now appears to lie as a family centre for dance and entertainment. The project is the idea of Thierry Desmoulin and his son Florian, who plan to create a multi-generational, multicultural complex, centred around a dance hall. Thanks to shows such as Strictly Come Dancing and equivalents around the world, the number of people taking up dancing has been on the increase in recent years. There are already many thés dansants that take place across the region, but these are often in community halls that are not always fit for purpose and tend to mostly attract an older generation.

The Demoulins plan to attract a wider audience by offering a games room with baby-foot and video games alongside the dance hall activities. There will also be food and drink available and the pair are planning to hold regular themed events (salsa, 80s, disco, etc.) The heart of the concept is that families or groups of friends can come together and if you are not so keen on dancing, there will be plenty of other entertainment on offer. The project has the backing of local authorities and there is very little work required to convert the building for its new planned purpose, although with final authorisation for the project still pending, there has not yet been any date set for the first dance. ■

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

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Residents warned against danger of ticks

cult. If you are bitten by a tick, you do not necessarily have Lyme disease - studies suggest that only between 1-7% of ticks carry the disease, so in the vast majority of cases you will still be fine. If you are bitten by a tick carrying the Lyme disease bacteria, you will still not necessarily get the disease. It usually takes 24-48 hours for the bacteria in the tick to pass into your blood system. Ticks are initially tiny and “cling on” to you once they bite you, before sucking up blood and becoming large and swollen. The harmful bacteria are normally carried in their gut, and only travel up to their mouth and into your skin once the tick has fed and become engorged - usually at least 24 hours after the initial bite. So if you regularly check yourself for

ticks and remove any you may find within 24 hours, you are much less likely to contract the disease. There are a few myths surrounding the removal of ticks, but in general terms, always remove them with a tick removal device these are cheap and readily available (see image). Do not try to burn off the tick and do not cover it in petroleum jelly or perfume - although this may kill the tick, it may first cause it to regurgitate potentially infected material into the skin, increasing the risk of transmission of infection. If you are unlucky enough to catch Lyme disease, a course of antibiotics will usually do the trick, but treatment will vary depending on individual circumstances, so as always with medical issues, check with your GP! ■

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against Lyme disease is awareness. The Limousin, along with Alsace, has one of the highest rates of Lyme disease in France and the problem has now reached a point where two MPs recently tabled a

motion to parliament aimed at introducing measures to prevent Lyme disease and improving its diagnosis. Despite widespread support from campaign groups, the motion was rejected, with the government saying that the new health laws due to be debated by parliament would take any concerns into account. The move has, however, served to once again highlight the problems that surround this mercurial disease. Lyme disease is an infection that can result from being bitten by a tick that is infected with the borrelia bacteria. This bacteria lives in certain animals, mainly rodents, although some birds and other small animals also carry it. Ticks feed by biting the skin and sucking blood from these animals and so some ticks get infected with the bacteria before going on to bite a human. Ticks cannot jump or fly, but climb on to passing humans from long grass or foliage, so avoiding walks through long grass wearing shorts or a skirt is a good start. The first and most typical symptom of Lyme disease is a rash that spreads out from the site of the tick bite, often resembling a bullseye target. Left untreated, the bacteria can then spread to other areas of the body causing a wide variety of symptoms many months later, including joint pain, heart problems, or nerve/brain problems. Lyme disease can occur a long time after the initial bite from an infected tick (3-30 days, although the average is 7) and the victim may not even have realised they were bitten - around 20-30% of victims do not develop the telltale rash. When further symptoms of the disease do manifest months or even years later, they are wide and varied, making correct diagnosis notoriously diffi-

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he Limousin as a whole has one of the lowest rates of crime in France and Creuse is in fact the safest department in the country. There are, however, other risks associated with living in such a rural environment and one of those is Lyme disease. The ticks that carry the disease are most active in the coming months, with April being the peak of tick season. So now is the time to pay most attention to the potential dangers of ticks... and the best defence

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Haute-Vienne Open Gardens Snowdrop event Limousin worst hit region for flu lake owners syndicate Do you own a lake or pond in the Haute-Vienne? Are you responsible for a stretch of river? If the answer was yes to either of these questions, then you may be interested to hear about the Syndicat d’étangs de la Haute-Vienne (Haute-Vienne lakeowners syndicate). Founded in 1916 and today under the guidance of president Serge Barry, the syndicate offers technical information, legal advice and even group insurance to members, who in return pay a modest annual subscription fee. With national and European regulations continually changing and being updated, the organisation aims to keep its members informed about changes and ensure that they conform to all regulations. Today, the group has over 700 members, although there are more than 11,000 lakes and ponds in the HauteVienne department. To find out more about the Syndicat d'étangs de la Haute-Vienne or to become a member, contact Serge Barry on 05 87 50 41 90 (mornings only) or by email at bcaf@safran87.fr ■

etween 25th and 31st January and beyond, my garden, 'Birdsong', was open under the auspices of Open Gardens. Why would a garden be open in the depths of winter? Nothing to see? Ah! Snowdrops of course. There was a good turnout for this Snowdrop event which may well have been the first of its kind in France - making it a double first as it was also the first Open Gardens' garden to open in 2015. Each session commenced with a presentation on Galanthus (Snowdrops), their history, the current mania for them (galanthamania), the numerous varieties (over 1000) and the differences between them. This was then followed by a guided tour of my collection of Snowdrops. I have over 100 different galanthus that flower over a long period. Being mid-season, there was plenty to whet the appetite of a budding galanthaphile.

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The events finished with fresh beverages, home-made cakes and the opportunity to share experiences and ideas for winter gardens, all while raising money for charity. I found this event to be very rewarding and it was such a pleasure to share my enthusiasm for these white jewels whilst most gardens sleep. The positive feedback from everyone means that this event will be repeated in 2016. See my website http://birdsong.pagesperso-orange.fr for more information on Snowdrops and my garden. Alternatively, please phone to arrange a visit on 05 55 60 67 40. To keep up with gardening events, go to Open Gardens' new website: www.opengardens.eu Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts supports the French Charity “A chacun son Everest”. by Sheila Cole

Very few people get through winter without some form of illness, but this year has been particularly bad for flu. As an epidemic took hold in January, the number of cases increased, made worse by the fact that the flu jab being issued this year appeared to have no impact on the virus. The threshold for an epidemic is defined as 177 infections per 100,000 inhabitants for two consecutive weeks, but the start of February saw an average of almost 500 new cases per 100,000 people across the country. At its peak, half a million new cases were being reported per week, with experts still advising that vaccination was the best option, despite the most common strain of influenza recorded being slightly different from the one used to develop the vaccine - making it largely ineffective. The Limousin was the worst hit region in the entire country, with 1,901 cases recorded per 100,000 inhabitants; far ahead of the next worst affected regions of Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur and Midi-Pyrénées with just over 1,200 cases per hundred thousand. The epidemic was at one point so severe, with two million people struck down by flu, that the health minister, Marisol Touraine, enacted emergency protocols to deal with the crisis. To avoid further spread French health authorities are advising people to follow basic hygiene rules: cover your mouth when sneezing and coughing and avoid close contact with those who are ill. ■

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conomy minister Emmanuel Macron’s package of economic reforms aimed at kickstarting the economy have made it through France's lower house of parliament, but not without controversy. The so-called “loi Macron” was due to be voted on by MPs in February, but, fearing a Socialist revolt and a defeat of the landmark reforms, Prime Minister Manuel Valls invoked a rarely-used constitutional device - article 49-3 - to bypass a vote and force the bill through. The bill had initially been expected to pass, despite opposition from within the government, but as the debate progressed there was increasing concern amongst the Socialist Party's leadership that it may not have enough support, resulting in Valls' decision to bypass a vote. “I won't take a risk with a bill like this which I consider essential for our economy,” Valls told deputies amid heated scenes in parliament. “This legislation is important, even essential, to relaunch growth, create employment and to overcome certain blockages in our economy.” By using article 49-3, a tactic that has not been employed in almost a decade, a bill is considered to have

passed through parliament, unless opponents file what is known as a “censure motion” within 24 hours, triggering a vote of no confidence in the government. The opposition UMP party invoked this rule, but only 234 mainly opposition MPs voted for the subsequent motion of no confidence, far short of the number required to defeat the government. Despite their anger over the reforms, the left-wing faction of the Socialist Party said they would not go so far as to bring down the government. “Voting for a no confidence motion submitted by the opposition is inconceivable for a Socialist,” rebel MP Nathalie Chabanne said following the vote. “We are still part of the majority and we are still Socialists. I am not going to abandon my convictions simply because I do not agree with a draft bill.” “The French people expect us to act. For us to remove blockages. The main blockage is our too-weak growth. It prevents us from creating jobs, from reducing our mass unemployment that is hurting us so much,” Valls told MPs. “We will continue, with all the means given to us by the Constitution. We will continue to reform without stopping. Without weakening we will continue

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to advance - for France and for the French people.” The Macron Law contains 200 pieces of legislation, changes that are considered essential by the EU, which has urged France to reform in order to bring down its ballooning budget deficit - currently far above European limits. Central to the reform package is a plan to extend the number of Sundays that shops are allowed to open from a maximum of five per year to 12. The changes will also see the creation of “international tourist zones”, such as the Champs-Elysées and Saint-Germain areas of Paris, where most of the capital's department stores are based. Businesses in these zones would be permitted to open on Sundays all year round, as well as opening until midnight seven days a week. Employees working between 9pm and midnight will receive double pay and the cost of their travel home, with the employer also required to cover any childcare costs incurred. The changes are not universally popular and the Socialist mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, is a staunch opponent of extending Sunday opening times, describing it as a “backward step for democracy”. The bill also includes provisions

Macron Law passes through parliament

Manuel Valls forced the changes through the lower house to free up France’s strict employment law, and open up certain areas of regulated professions to competition – most notably notaires, bailiffs, and court clerks. These protected professions currently operate with a virtual monopoly and came under attack last year when the Inspection Générale des Finances (IGF) highlighted them as making more money than any other economic sector while at the same time demanding inflated fees for services. The IGF said that while these professions are currently making heftier than deserved profits, often thanks to a closed-shop setup, surveys showed that their level

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of customer service was “seriously questioned by users”. Coming in for particular criticism in the report were court clerks (greffiers). The average greffier makes a net profit of €44 for every €100 spent by a consumer, giving him a net monthly income of more than €10,000 per month. The IGF found that the figure bore no relation to the level of education required or risk involved in that particular profession. When the reforms contained in the Macron Law come into force, these professions will be opened up to competition and prices will no longer have a fixed minimum. ■

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Baby swap families awarded €2 million

he families of two girls who were accidentally switched at birth 20 years ago have been awarded almost €2 million in damages by a court in Grasse, southern France. The clinic involved in the mix-up was ordered to compensate both women, their parents and their siblings. The families had initially sought €12 million in compensation from the clinic, but the court finally ordered €400,000 for each of the girls, €300,000 for each affected parent and €60,000 for each brother and sister. “I am perfectly satisfied with the ruling because responsibility within the medical chain was acknowledged,” the lawyer for the victims, Gilbert Collard, said following the court battle. The clinic's lawyer, Sophie Chas, said that she could not say for certain whether an appeal would be lodged against the court's ruling. One of the mother's involved, Sophie Serrano, has spoken publicly about the case, but the other family chose to remain silent throughout the legal battle. “It's a relief. We have waited for this for so long,” Ms Serrano told iTELE. The story began in July 1994. Three babies on the same maternity ward were suffering from jaundice, but the unit they were in only had

two incubators equipped with the special lights required to treat the condition. The baby boy was placed in one of the incubators and the two girls were placed side by side in the other. After treatment, the girls were then returned to their mothers who raised immediate concerns. Sensing something was wrong, one pointed out to hospital staff that her daughter had light skin but it now appeared much darker. Staff dismissed her concerns, saying that the difference was due to the effects of the lamps in the incubator. Ten years later, worried by the fact that his daughter had darker skin and bore no resemblance to him, one of the fathers ran a paternity test, revealing that he was not her biological parent. More shockingly, however, further tests revealed that neither was his wife the girl's biological mother. A subsequent inquiry established that the two girls had been switched at birth and were growing up in separate families, just 30 kilometres apart. “They took my innocence away,” one of the two girls told Nice-Matin newspaper before the trial. “They took away my dreams, my hopes, my desire to have children.” The two families involved did meet ten years ago when the mistake was first uncovered, but it was decided that the girls would remain where they were and they did not stay in touch. “I don’t see my

biological daughter anymore,” Ms Serrano told Nice-Matin. “The social, educational and cultural differences [between the two families] added to the pain of our unconscious rivalry and took their toll on our relations.” She said that she “instinctively loved her biological daughter” from the moment she met her and added that although she officially only has three children, “in my heart I have four”. When the baby switch was first uncovered, the families pressed charges against the clinic where it took place, but as the incident occurred more than 10 years previously, the case was dismissed under the statute of limitations. ■

Compulsory English for leaders?

rance has long fought to maintain the “purity” of its language and battled hard against any linguistic invasions from “Anglo-Saxon” words. In 2006, former president Jacques Chirac pledged to stop the spread of English across the world, and especially in his own country. He also famously led a walkout from a European Union summit in Brussels when a business leader from the French delegation addressed the room in English. “We fight for our language,” said Mr Chirac at the time. “I was profoundly shocked to see a Frenchman express himself in English at the table!” This position looks set to soften over the coming years, however, after the country's National School of Administration (ENA) announced that all future graduates must be fluent in English. Anyone with political ambition in France probably attended the ENA and both Chirac and Hollande are among its alumni. It may be a few decades before today's students become tomorrow's leaders, but future presidents should have the requi-

site English skills to avoid the mistakes of their predecessors. Sarkozy once apologised to Hilary Clinton for the poor weather by saying, “sorry for the bad time” - a poor translation of “temps”, the French word for weather. Hollande was also left red-faced when he famously wrote to Barack Obama in 2012 to congratulate him on his re-election and signed off “Friendly, François Hollande”, mistranslating the informal French word “Amicalement”. More worryingly in this second instance was that no one on President Hollande's staff had a high enough level of English to spot the obvious mistake before the message was sent. The ENA's director, Natalie Loiseau, confirmed that the changes to the entrance exam, which is one of a number of reforms she has pushed through since taking up the post in 2012, reflected a break with the past. Ms Loiseau said the new competitive ENA exam - with English included - would come into force in 2018, giving potential entrants plenty of time to start learning the language. ■

10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Monopoly sets on sale containing real money

or fans of the board game Monopoly: go to the shops, go directly to the shops, do not pass Go and do not collect €200. That is if you would like to be the lucky person to find a box containing REAL MONEY. In order to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first appearance of Monopoly in France, the game's manufacturers have announced that they have shipped 80 boxes of the popular board game containing real euro banknotes. Ten sets will contain five real 20-euro notes, two 50-euro notes and one 100-euro note (€300 in total). A lesser prize can be scooped in 69 sets, which will have five 10-euro notes and five 20euro notes (€150 in total). But one box will contain a full set of euro banknotes, worth €20,580! “We wanted to do something unique,” said Florence Gaillard, brand manager at Hasbro France, which rolled out the prize sets at the beginning of February. “When we asked our French customers, they told us they wanted to find real money in their Monopoly boxes.” A survey carried out revealed that 50.5

per cent of respondents would like to find real money in the box, with another 26.4 per cent wanting free hotel accommodation at the locations on the board. The operation to switch the notes was carried out in secret in the small eastern town of Creutzwald, where the games are packed up before being shipped throughout France. The company soon came across a problem, however; stuffing the boxes with real banknotes made them bulge slightly, although it is believed that this problem was fixed. You will also not be able to tell which boxes contain the real notes by weighing them - there is no discernible difference. “The difference is marginal, unless you turn up at the shop with precision scales,” said Patrice Wimmer, a bailiff called in to count the money and oversee the packing. Monopoly is the most popular board game in France and there are around 500,000 sets sold each year. The 80 lucky boxes are part of a batch of 30,000 “80th anniversary” editions being distributed - a mixture of classic, junior, electronic and “vintage” Monopoly. ■

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Expat online voting registration >> continued from pg 1 eral Election. We need to challenge the misconception that once you’ve moved overseas you can’t take part. Many people can and now it’s easier than ever to take the first step by registering online,” said Alex Robertson, Director of Communications at the Electoral Commission. “That’s why we are urging UK nationals who are now living abroad to take five minutes to visit our website and make sure they will be able to have their say at the General Election in May.” To register to vote, UK citizens

should visit https://www.gov.uk/ register-to-vote The deadline for registration is Monday 20th April. Overseas voters can choose one of three ways to vote after they are registered: by sending their votes through the post, by proxy, or in person if they are certain they will be in their constituency on polling day. If they decide to vote by post or by proxy, a separate application form also needs to be completed, printed, signed and sent to the relevant electoral registration office. The form is emailed to the citizen’s address provided upon their registration. ■

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

rance has a reputation around the world for having a relatively relaxed attitude to sex, which is why there were global headlines in February when the highly anticipated adaptation of E. L. James' erotic novel Fifty Shades of Grey opened here. It was not the raunchy nature of the film, or the sadomasochism featured heavily throughout, that gained attention, but rather the fact that it was given a 12 rating. “It isn’t a film that can shock a lot of people,” said Jean-François Mary, president of France's Board of Film Classification, before describing the film as a “schmaltzy romance”. This despite the film receiving an R rating in the US for its “graphic nudity” and “unusual behaviour” and an 18 rating in the UK for “strong sex and nudity, along with the portrayal of erotic role play based on domination, submission and sadomasochistic practices”. France has four ratings for films: U, 12, 16 and 18, but has a history of leniency with regards to sexual content. In the past, the board has issued a U certificate to American Beauty, where Kevin Spacey's character has an affair with his teenage

daughter's best friend, and Eyes Wide Shut, which features a famous sex scene between Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. Although it has received the highest rating in countries such as the UK and America, many have been disappointed with the “tame” nature of the sex scenes in the film. The film's director, Sam TaylorJohnson, has herself admitted that although the film is true to the best-selling book, it may not be as explicit as people might be hoping for. “The thing that was most difficult was how and where to pepper the sex, and to not make it feel like it was gratuitous,” she said in an interview with The Guardian. “So it had to be a really strong part of the story, and I had to give characterisation to each sex scene, to make them different. I didn't want it to be graphically explicit, and I know that's going to be disappointing to some people.” With the film receiving a mixed reception at best from reviewers, it remains to be seen whether, even though they legally can, 12-year-olds will actually want to watch the film when a Transformers movie is probably showing on the screen next door. ■

Last-ditch WFP bid fails

ast-ditch attempts to reverse the decision to remove the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) from British expats in France has failed after a motion tabled by Conservative MP Roger Gale was not taken up for debate by the government. The new legislation is now due to come into force on 21st September - in time to block payments to expats for the 2015/16 winter. Sir Roger Gale, who had the backing of 19 other MPs, says that he believes the WFP should be means-tested, but accepts that the government has deemed this to be too complicated to implement and will push ahead with its “temperature test”, under which expats in France will lose the WFP. Whilst many would agree that those living in tropical climates should possibly not receive the WFP at the British taxpayer's expense, those of us living in France may question whether it really is that “hot” here in winter. In fact, as details of the chancellor's tempera-

ture test were revealed, it emerged that French expats had reason to be upset. Under the test, the WFP is being withdrawn from pensioners living in countries where the average winter temperature is considered higher than the warmest area of the UK - the south-west of England. An examination of the raw data used by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), which was provided by the University of East Anglia, shows clearly that the average winter temperature of France and Corsica is 5.08°C, while the south-west of England is 5.6°C. When pressed, the DWP later admitted that it had included France’s overseas departments (départements d'outre-mer - DOMs). These far-flung places, inhabited by roughly 30 UK pensioners, include tropical islands such as Guadeloupe, Martinique and La Réunion as well as French Guyana in South America, where average annual temperatures are in the mid-20s. By adding these

locations, the average temperature of “France” nudges just above that of Cornwall. The government defended its use of the data on the grounds that the DOMs are considered part of France - and therefore the EU - and that British pensioners living there can claim the WFP. “The French state defines itself as the mainland and its overseas departments. It is not for the UK government to redefine the territory of another EEA member state,” a spokesman said. “I don’t think including the overseas departments is a fair way of assessing the situation,” said Sir Roger Gale following the defeat of his motion. “We all know that there are people in France who do need it, because they are not rich and sitting on yachts drinking G&T, which is the impression that some politicians try to give.” More than 95,000 British pensioners living in France, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Malta, Gibraltar and Cyprus will now lose the annual £100-£300 payment. ■

Fifty Shades is fine for World's favourite selfie spots unveiled French 12 year olds

s smartphones have become more sophisticated and the world has become more connected, the word “selfie” has entered the lexicon of many countries. As people publish more and more details of their daily lives a UK-based ticket booking site, Attraction Tix, has compiled a list of the most popular selfie locations around the world. The research was based on millions of Instagram posts containing the word “selfie” and also mentioning a location or attraction. The most popular location in the world to take a photo of yourself is... the Eiffel Tower! The iconic Parisian landmark just edged Disney World in Florida into second place with the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, making up the top three. France featured elsewhere in the top 10, with Disneyland Paris found to be the 7th most popular spot for a self-portrait. The UK also featured prominently: Big Ben came fourth in the list and London Bridge rounded out the top 10. Buckingham Palace and the London Eye just missed out, coming in at 11 and 12 respectively. ■

World's top selfie spots 1. Eiffel Tower, Paris (10,700) 2. Disney World, Florida (9,870) 3. Burj Khalifa, Dubai (8,860) 4. Big Ben, London (8,780) 5. Empire State Building, New York (8,430) 6. Sagrada Familia, Barcelona (4,970) 7. Disneyland Paris (4,740) 8. Colosseum, Rome (4,670) 9. Top of the Rock, New York (4,290) 10. London Bridge, London (3,820)

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 13

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ne of the country's top bakers has sparked a debate over France's labour laws after being told he is working too hard and must close his bakery at least one day a week. Stéphane Cazenave, who runs a bakery in Saint-Paul-lès-Dax, southwestern France, and last year won “best baguette” at the national Fête du Pain competition, has been told he is in violation of a 1999 decree that states all bakeries must be closed for at least 24 hours each week. “I am angry because in France, people are being prevented from working,” Mr Cazenave said. “We are companies. All we are asking to do is do business, create wealth, and in France, we are blocked by absurd laws and decrees. This means a net loss of €250,000 of revenue per year... I’m going to have to lay off one or two employees.”

Mr Cazenave currently employs 22 staff, all of whom have two days off a week and satisfy all labour laws in terms of working hours and conditions. It is the bakery itself that is at fault under the 1999 decree. The story has been met with reactions that vary from frustration to outrage in a country suffering record levels of unemployment and a stagnant economy. “That work can be seen as a crime in our country and the passion of a craftsman bridled in such a way should be a wake up call for us to the absurdity of our system,” wrote François Fillon, a former prime minister with the centre-right UMP party. François Bayrou, head of the country’s centrist MoDem party and a three-time presidential candidate, agreed with Fillon’s comments: “There’s the impression that the desire to create, to generate new jobs

is poorly viewed in France and sanctioned.” Others have argued that Cazenave’s situation is not about punishing those who want to work more, but rather about safeguarding a specific market. “We are very attached to these decrees,” Jean-Pierre Crouzet, president of the national baker’s confederation, told AFP. “It’s not to prevent people from working but to find a balance and promote product quality.” Crouzet believes that the rule is necessary to promote competition and allow everyone a share of the market, arguing that if every bakery were allowed to remain open seven days a week, then there would be too much supply for the demand. Supporters believe that forcing businesses to close at least once a week encourages competition by allowing customers to shop elsewhere when their usual bakery is shut. ■

Top baker in trouble for working too hard

Freegans guilty of I pity the fool!! stealing old food

hree people found themselves in court recently over a theft that has once again shone a light on the practice of throwing away perfectly edible food. The three “dumpster divers” stood accused of stealing food from a bin outside a supermarket - the food was past its sell-by date and was in the process of being thrown away. For their part, the trio claimed to be “freegans” trying to live outside of a consumerist society. In May last year they were caught red-handed in the courtyard of a supermarket in Frontignan, southern France, with seven 100-litre bags full of perished food. Their illgotten gains included delicacies such as foie gras, which they had scavenged in preparation for a long trip, when a police patrol intercepted them, Le Figaro reported. The defendants argued that they stole the food out of necessity as they would not otherwise have had anything to eat. The French criminal code has a provision that states that acting to protect yourself from imminent danger - death from starvation in this case - cannot be treated as a crime. The judge disagreed and found the trio guilty, but ordered a penalty waiver since their crime didn't involve any public disturbance or damage. They could have faced up to seven years imprisonment and a €100,000 fine. A representative of the supermarket attended the trial as a witness, but the

company didn't press any civil claims. The fact that French supermarkets throw out perfectly edible food has proved a cause for concern in the past, with some reports even claiming that stores had resorted to spraying their perishables with bleach to prevent others from eating them. The law could soon be changing, however, and French supermarkets may be forced to give away their unsold food to charities after draft legislation was tabled recently by a cross party group of MPs. If accepted, the bill would make it compulsory for supermarkets with more than 1,000 m² of floor space to give their “unsold but still consumable food products to at least one food charity”. This would follow a similar move taken by Belgium, which recently

became the first EU country to introduce such legislation. France has been looking at ways to reduce food waste in recent years and figures show that a typical French supermarket throws away some 200 tonnes of food annually. The general public are also surprisingly wasteful, with the average household throwing away between 20-30 kg of food each year, worth €400; an estimated one third of this food has never even been opened! The EU is already looking into changes to “best before” and “use by” dates on certain products in a bid to cut down on food wastage. Many foods, such as dried pasta for example, carry best before dates when they are perfectly safe to eat long after this date has expired. ■

French schoolboy dressed as Mr T sparked a major anti-terror alert in Nice recently when reports came in of a man wielding an assault rifle in public. After receiving several calls, police wasted no time in dispatching units to locate him, scouring CCTV footage in efforts to prevent another feared terror attack. Authorities finally tracked down the culprit, discovering instead a 17-year-old student on his way to a party. Local police later tweeted a picture of the cult 80s character, adding that the student “didn't think of the consequences” of dressing as B. A. Baracus (known as Barracuda in France), and would have to rejoin the party without his plastic gun. Mr T rose to fame in the 1980s playing the musclebound, mohawk-haired, gold chain wearing former mercenary B. A. Baracus in the hit TV show The A-Team. Besides his role on The A-Team, Mr T starred in a number of other films and most notably as the villain Clubber Lang opposite Sylvester Stallone in the 1983 film Rocky III, where he coined the phrase “I pity the fool!” ■

14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

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In the garden - jobs for March by Michelle Pierce

Now is the time to plant your dahlias

hat a pleasure it is to say “Here we go again!” with the gardening year really lying in front of us. Now the days are so much longer than they were a few months ago (oh, the joy of seeing your garden when you get home from work!) and the light levels much brighter, things can really get going again. Of course, the dangers of that last minute cold snap are still with us, and the weather in March can be pretty variable, but getting things sown now is really ideal for a lot of veg. Keep some fleece handy, if needed, and remember not to sow all your seed in one go, just in case things don't work out and you want to redo it. Things that weren't done in February should be done now – sow peas and broad beans at the start of the month, plant your onion sets, and your garlic. Many types of leaf vegetable can be sown now - spinach, mustards, land cress, lamb's lettuce, mizuna, celery mustard, radishes and early carrots. You'll be needing your greenhouse or polytunnel now. The spring and autumn really are when they come into their own in our region and are such useful things, so make sure they're good to

go, as weed free as possible, and with the old pots, plants, etc. of last year disposed of usefully, and some fresh compost or manure put down on the beds. But leave the pots of early flowering hyacinths and narcissi in a corner, so the bulbs can profit to the max from the food their leaves are generating. If you want to have them as forced early plants next year, replant them in roomy pots that you can lift and sink these out in the ground when you can, marking the spot with a label. Then you can lift them in the autumn. Otherwise, plant them into corners of beds. Watching bees bumbling around my hyacinth flowers on a sunny day in February, I realised they are an important first source of early food for them, so have decided to plant lots for next year. After the long dry winter, give all the soil of the beds in the greenhouse a good watering, too, to rehydrate it enough that when it starts to warm up in there, the growing conditions are ideal. Out in the garden things are shooting up well, so you can pry off some offsets from clumping things like rhubarb, sorrel, artichokes, cardoons and replant elsewhere. And don't forget to gather your young strawberry runners , if you haven't already done so.

The third week of February saw the shops inundated with begonia tubers, dahlias, gladioli corms, etc. Don't resist temptation or in 6 months' time you'll be envying your neighbour's glorious coloured blooms and saying to yourself “If only I'd bought some”... but be prudent about when and where to plant them if they are cold weather sensitive. Starting many things off in pots is a good solution; they'll make good growth in frost free conditions or a little warmer, and then can be planted out into the ground when all danger of cold has passed. If this isn't what you want to do, delay planting until there is a good spell of weather, and mulch heavily. Young dahlia growth can be treated as cuttings, to give you extra plants for free. The shops also saw trays of tender young lettuce plants, all so lovely and fresh and green. Too early!! If you succumb to temptation, you'll be obliged to put them under cover in a cloche for a while, or a greenhouse. Prune off the summer flowering shrubs like buddleia, and the things that were of winter interest like the coloured stems of the cornus family. Tidy up ragged looking climbers and roses. As you go round your garden, you'll see from the new

growth which shrubs or trees will end up crowding other things later in the year, so a light prune now can be advantageous and help the sunlight and air circulate better. Keep up the fight against the new crop of weeds, especially things like docks, thistles and nettles (whilst remembering to leave a patch for the wildlife). A propos nettles, the young leaves at this time of year are packed with goodness, and are ideal for nettle tea (purin d'ortie) or for picking and drying. Stop any new bramble tips arching over and forming new plants – if you don't have time to dig them out, then cut them back with secateurs to gain a little time. They do regrow quickly, however! And have a look at your boundary hedges. It's getting rather late to do much hedging because the birds will start nesting reasonably soon, but if you have to trim them back, try to do it in the early part of the month. It's pretty much past the time for planting any bare root trees and shrubs. The first of the flowers have bloomed in the garden - the spring bulbs like snowdrops, narcissi, muscari and hyacinth, as well as hellebores, etc. Admire them, pick a few, and remember some will set seed if you don't tidy

them after flowering. This month sees a lot of activity out in the garden – all the old boys can be found tinkering with their rotavators and tractors now, clearing off their veggie patches. However you do yours, aim to start with reasonably weed free soil, but that said, don't leave it bare for long. Clean it and plant it up, or spread something over it (textile, cardboard, etc.) until you're ready. Check your old pea and bean sticks, and if they're too fragile, cut them up for kindling and get fresh ones. Count your tomato stakes and replace broken ones. That will give you the number of plants you'll need to grow or buy. Your seed orders have probably arrived by now, or you've splashed out in the shops. Before you sow them, make a rough plan to see where you will plant the final plants, both the flowers and the veg. This can help clarify how much of anything you're likely to need, helps with staggering sowings, and, really usefully, aids companion planting to increase plant health and productivity. So, get on out there whenever you can. So, good gardening! ■

PRACTICAL ♦ 15

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

How to deal with the problem of cluster flies

here are 2 types of reader of this particular article, those that have experienced the regular nightmare of cluster flies and those who haven’t a clue why I’m writing about a few flies. Picture this: your rural idyll, but just as you begin to enjoy the warmer days, your house is covered inside and out in flies... thousands of them flying around your loft or bedroom window. Cluster Flies. While annoying to distraction, they are not an indication of poor hygiene. The flies themselves offer little health risk, but when left as a black carpet of dead flies, they emit a sweet smell which can be attractive to rodents looking for an easy source of protein. The life cycle is very dependent on weather conditions. Usually there are two generations per year - March-April and September-October - although during particularly hot summers, up to four generations are possible. The adult female lays

eggs on and around damp soil and after about a week the larvae hatch. They actively seek earthworms to which they cling before boring through their body wall, where maggots then develop inside. At or near to the death of the earthworm, the larva bores its way back out and pupates in the soil. They seek shelter in nooks and crannies in houses, forming vast clustering masses around windows, roof spaces and lofts. Often the same house, or building in a row of similar buildings, will be chosen year after year. Control methods for the cluster flies are very difficult; treating the soil is impractical and not ecological. There is little or no point treating external walls, as the first rainfall will wash any product away. Repointing holes in walls, placing membrane under the roof tiles, silicone around windows, fly grills or traps will all reduce the possibility of the flies entering your house. Once inside, aerosols

and fumigators usually have an excellent rapid knock-down effect but they have no residual effect. Electronic devices to treat cluster flies are generally impractical as they will fill up and clog within a couple of days. Insecticides which have a residual effect are your best bet; usually found as an emulsion or powder, they can be sprayed or dusted around the

windows and frames or where you think they are entering. These products naturally degrade over several weeks and will need to be retreated, but are the only effective method. Caution. Bats, which are a protected animal in France, may be living in areas used by cluster flies. Care must be taken for signs of bats before any insecticidal or other

treatments are applied. Always read and respect the instructions, they have been written for a reason. DIY products are not professional products and their efficacy might not be the same. For more information on this topic or anything else to do with pest control, please contact Robert Moon from Applicateur 3D:

02 48 60 83 72 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com

French Residence Tax and Healthcare

I have recently retired and would like to make my French house my primary residence as I will be spending more time there than in England. How do you do this? And what are the tax and health care implications?

If you are planning to spend the majority of the year in France, you have to consider the implications of becoming a French tax resident. You are automatically considered French tax resident if your main home (or foyer fiscal) is in France. Alternatively, you would also be considered resident if you spend more than 183 days in France in any calendar year. The main difference between the UK and the French tax system is that you are taxed on a household rather than on an individual basis. This means that if you are married, your tax liability is based on the combined income of both spouses. This can work in your favour, especially if one spouse has a higher income, since you get to utilise the other spouse’s lower rate bands in full. French income tax rates are progressive up to 45%. In addition to income tax, social charges are levied on most types of income (7.4% on pension income and 15.5% on investment income). Under the terms of the UK/France double tax treaty, pension income is only taxable in your country of residence with the exception of government service pensions (e.g. civil service, army or police) which remain taxable only in the UK. Government service pensions are not directly taxable in France but the income is reported on the French tax return and then

a credit equal to the French tax and social charges is applied. If you become French resident at the beginning of 2015, for example, your first obligation to the French authorities will be to complete a tax return in May 2016 for your income for the calendar year 2015. At the same time you would normally complete Inland Revenue form ‘France Individual’ informing the UK of your departure. In the meantime, you should inform the Mairie of your new home and of your decision to stay permanently. If you are in receipt of your UK state pension, you will be entitled to a Form S1 from the Department for Work & Pensions. The form has two significant benefits: firstly, it exempts any UK source pension income from social charges and secondly provides household healthcare cover in France. If you do not qualify for Form S1, you will have to arrange private healthcare cover for at least the first five years of residence unless you enter the social security system by taking up employment or self-employment in France. You also have to consider the implications on any other types of income such as investment income. It is important to note that what is tax-efficient in the UK (such as ISAs) is not tax-efficient if you become French resident. Therefore, leaving the UK and becoming French resident is an ideal time to look at your overall investments. ■ David Hardy is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers, special-

ised in tax, inheritance, pension and investment planning for the British community in France since 1996. Telephone 05 56 34 75 51 Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net Web: www.siddalls.fr

16 ♦ BILINGUAL

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

FRENCH LESSONS WITH A NATIVE FRENCH SPEAKER Individual/Group lessons, all levels - Skype lessons via the INTERNET also available

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Lessons in La Souterraine & Dun-le-Palestel (23) OTHER SERVICES: Accompanying and interpreting - house purchase, arranging new utilities, car registration, healthcare, liaison with French administration, etc... I am always looking for new students in the English Library in La Souterraine! Sophie Arsac -

05 55 89 15 74 - scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Les Cuisses de grenouille

he British have associated the French with frogs’ legs (or cuisses de grenouille) for hundreds of years. We have been using the term “frog” to taunt our European cousins (in a friendly manner!) since at least the 16th century – in much the same way as the French refer to the British as “les rosbifs”. Records show that frogs' legs were eaten regularly in southern China as early as the first century AD. The Aztecs, too, are known to have enjoyed them. But no further mention of eating frogs’ legs can be found until they appeared in European Catholic church records in the 12th century in… France!

es Britanniques associent les Français aux cuisses de grenouille depuis des centaines d’années. Depuis le 16 siècle, nous taquinons nos cousins européens en les surnommant «grenouilles» (en toute amitié !), au même titre qu’ils nous appellent «les rosbifs». Les archives rapportent que les cuisses de grenouille étaient déjà consommées régulièrement dans le sud de la Chine au premier siècle apr. J.-C. On sait que les Aztèques les appréciaient

The church records show that a group of monks successfully had frogs reclassified as a type of fish. A law created by the Pope had banned people from eating meat on certain days of the year, but fish was allowed, so the monks could continue to eat their favourite food all year round! Frogs’ legs did enjoy a brief moment of culinary fame in Britain when the famous French chef Auguste Escoffier cooked them for the Prince of Wales in 1908. The love affair, however, was short lived. Today, the French consume more than 4,000 tonnes of frogs’ legs every year, but only a small percentage of these originate from France (around

également. Mais il n’en est plus fait mention nulle part jusqu’au 12ème siècle où leur consommation est à nouveau évoquée dans les archives de l’Eglise catholique européenne en … France ! Selon les archives de l’église, un groupe de moines avait réussi à faire reclasser les grenouilles dans la famille des poissons. Le Pape avait interdit à ses fidèles de manger de la viande certains jours de l’année mais le poisson restait autorisé: les moines pouvaient ainsi consommer

70 tonnes). With the loss of natural habitat, pollution and disease, the majority are now imported from countries such as Indonesia and Vietnam. Since 1980, commercial frog farming has been banned in France. Frogs’ legs eaters still claim it is possible to maintain a steady local source of the delicacy, but with fines of up to €10,000 and confiscation of all equipment, the penalties for being caught are serious. These days, a few regional authorities in France still allow the capture of limited numbers of frogs, strictly for personal consumption and provided they are boiled, fried or barbecued and then consumed on the spot. ■

leur nourriture préférée tout au long de l’année ! Les cuisses de grenouille connurent une brève heure de gloire culinaire en Grande-Bretagne lorsque le fameux chef cuisinier français Auguste Escoffier les cuisina pour le Prince de Galles en 1908. Mais l’histoire d’amour fut courte. Aujourd’hui les Français consomment plus de 4 000 tonnes de grenouilles par an. Du fait de la perte de leur habitat naturel ainsi que de la pollution et des maladies, seul un petit pourcentage de grenouilles est issu de France

The Bugle thanks French teacher, Sophie Arsac, for the translation of this month's bilingual article on a topical aspect of FrancoBritish culture.

Bilingual Crossword Clues in English - answers in French

Across:

Down:

5. cockerel(3) 6. garbage(7)

1. cheeks(5) 2. meadow(3)

8. meal(5) 9. keys(5) 11. divorced(7) 14. dresses(5) 15. pen(5) 17. jobs(7) 18. friend(3)

3. advertising(9) 4. eggs(5) 7. chickenpox(9) 10. floor(3) 12. apple(5) 13. lead(5) 16. lily(3)

Bilingual crossword solution can be found on page 29 (environ 70 tonnes) et leur vaste majorité est importée de pays comme l’Indonésie ou le Vietnam. Depuis 1980, l’élevage à vocation commerciale des grenouilles est interdit en France. Selon les mangeurs de grenouilles, il existe toujours une source d’approvisionnement stable de ce mets délicat mais les pénalités sont lourdes pour qui se fait «coincer»,

avec des amendes pouvant atteindre 10 000 € et la confiscation de tous les équipements. Aujourd’hui, certaines préfectures françaises autorisent la capture d’un nombre limité de grenouilles, pour une consommation strictement personnelle. Les amphibiens doivent être bouillis, frits ou cuits au barbecue et doivent être consommés sur le champ. ■

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ♦ 17

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Letters to

The Editor

Angered by WFP changes Alan Springett By Email Dear Steve,

received The Bugle by post today, 8th January 2015 and started to peruse the pages, stopping, shocked, at the headline on page 9. Reading between the lines of the Editor's skilful negotiation of a delicate subject, I find it incredulous that the UK government, once again, abandons the indigenous population who have paid their taxes and stamps for most, or all, of their lives in the hope they would be assisted in their retirement, whatever their geographical location. It would appear that its conclusion to terminate the WFP is based on a mean average temperature between the Cornish Riviera and the entire country of France and with the astonishing inclusion of Her colonies. I noted that certain equatorial/ sub tropical areas were included in the calculations. It would appear that Britain's colonies, namely the Falkland Islands, seem to have been omitted - a land where snow flurries are regular throughout the year, lows of -11 deg C are recorded and, notably, temperatures of

-1 deg C have been suffered in July. The 'statisticians' who compiled their report must have breathed a sigh of relief that a British Overseas Territory, namely Antarctica, sporadically -89 deg C, was prohibited from contributing. How fortunate that Réunion Island (a French department, though France will not declare a census on how many French nationals actually inhabit the island) was actually included in the calculations. In April 1982, the British government launched a multi-million pound military campaign to protect 3,000 inhabitants of the Falkland Islands; with the incredible sacrifice and courage of the personnel involved the conflict was a success. I hope that none of those who served, nor any relative of those brave souls, live in France in winter although, according to Osborne, it's hot here. He's obviously never spent a winter in the Berry with no central heating. As the UK government chose the SouthWest instead of, say, the Highlands or the Cambrian mountains, it leaves me with one last comment (and I admit plagiarism): 'There are lies, damn lies and statistics'. Kind regards

Alan Springett

Expat voting rights petition Alan Thomas By Email Dear Editor I have created an e-petition to the UK government website which you may feel is worth publishing to your British readers, particularly those in the EU who have been out of the UK for more than 15 years – the

time limit to still be able to register to vote in UK elections. It is to be found at : h t t p : / / e p e t i t i o n s . d i r e c t . g o v. u k / petitions/74848 Kind regards

Alan Thomas

Calling all table tennis players Mike Sibley By Email Hi Steve,

y dad was a great table tennis player and so, as soon as I was tall enough to see over the dining room table, he was teaching me how to play. When I was 10 years old he took me to coaching classes and by the time I was 13 I was ready to play competitively in the local league. I am now 66 and I have played continuously in various leagues in Kent, South Wales, Buckinghamshire and Lancashire. So, when we decided to retire early and make the move to France, one of my concerns was to find a local table tennis club. We live in Pageas, Haute-Vienne and I found a club in nearby Aixe-sur-Vienne which played in the Limousin league and was friendly with lots of “entente cordiale”. My French has improved, of course, including some flowery language that is not normally taught or found in dictionaries; I have also

found that my colleagues now speak much better English than before. Playing league games in France is different to England, especially the “après match”. In England, matches are played throughout the week, start at 7.30 pm and finish at 11 pm at the latest. Then we all go home. In France, matches are played on Friday only, start at 9 pm and finish about 1 am. Then we all sit around a big table and consume cheese, pâté, ham, bread, gateau, beer, wine and soft drinks. With a bit of luck I get home at 2 am, but it has been as late as 3.30 am. Table tennis is a great sport to play and fairly easy to take up. It is played indoors, normally between September and April. It is the fastest “non-contact” sport in the world and can be played by people from 8 to 80! There are 20 clubs in Haute-Vienne, 18 in Corrèze and 3 in Creuse: to find a club go to the Fédération Française de Tennis de Table website at fftt.com or contact me on 05 55 78 48 99. Best regards

Mike Sibley

Readers beware of this scam Mary Collings By Email Hi Steve,

am writing to inform you and your readers of a scam that my husband and I nearly got caught in. We advertised our van for sale for 800e on a well-known site and got an email reply from a chap called Matt. He said he was buying it for his son and was just what he wanted and said his associate would send us a cheque. We thought it odd that he didn't want to view it, but as we had other things on our minds we dismissed it. A cheque for 2000e arrived two days later, followed by an email from him telling us to pay it in and then asking if we could pay for the transportation out of it. We thought he meant give the driver a

1,200 cheque. Every day we had mail from him asking if the cheque had cleared and when our bank confirmed that it had, we wrote to him thinking he would be arranging a pickup. But no, he wanted us to send 1,200e in cash, via a thing called CPS vouchers, which he said we could get from the tabac. He even sent us a list of those in our area!! He said the transport chap would not accept a cheque. We said we would not do that, but would pay a cheque when the transport arrived. He then kept going on about these vouchers and that's when alarm bells started ringing. We rang our bank to see if this cheque was real and they advised us to wait another 7 days before using the money (something to do with French banking laws). Meanwhile, the emails

kept coming, asking us to send cash via La Poste. He even sent us an address to send it to. We were not at all happy and spoke to a lady at the post office who told us not to do it if we were not sure who it was going to. Now the bells were really loud, so we wrote to him and said we would not do that and asked him to send us an address so that we could send the cheque back and that if he didn't, we would find it out from our bank. No reply, he has since vanished and our bank informed us this morning that the cheque was bad. We had a lucky escape, we could have lost money, hopefully no one else will get caught. Regards

Mary Collings

SEARCHWORDOKU © - by Anthony Parson Complete the alphabetical Sudoku grid to the left using only the letters already shown, then use the result wordsearch grid to find: An English Monarch

How does it work...? Complete the Sudoku grid in the usual manner, using only the 9 letters already shown. Once complete, you will be left with a 9x9 wordsearch grid, in which to find the final piece of the puzzle. See the completed example to the right, the clue for which is "An English county". Be careful not to jump to conclusions, as with the letters available, the answer could be SURREY, SUSSEX, ESSEX, or as it turns out in this case... SOMERSET.

Solution on page 29

18 ♦ CLASSIFIEDS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

The Bugle CLASSIFIEDS are brought to you in association with WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM ANIMALS & PETS

Female kitten, 4 months old and clean, is looking for a new home Tel: 06 08 33 79

piglets born November and available immediately, reared in outdoor pens. Rare breed Berkshire crossed with Gloucestershire Old Spot; excellent meat. Tagged with documents. Mum & dad are here to be seen. Weight around 25kg, price 60 euros each. To be collected - postcode 23240. 06.87.92.83.63 Email: hannahlwatson@yahoo. co.uk FOR SALE: Pet Stock Over 380 items Are you looking for a new business venture? Do you have an existing shop, online store, cattery or kennels?

BUILDING MATERIALS FOR SALE: Massive half price sale of tools Most items very light or no use. Items include:- Norauto Premium 200 Trailer, Ryobi Drill 75 euros, Black & Decker sander 35 euros, Ryobi Angle Grinder 75 euros, Car Jack 40 euros, compressors from 10 euros, Karcher window cleaner 25 euros, all general hand tools screwdrivers etc from 3 euros. Many more items available. For further information and to arrange a viewing please email. Area 23320. Email: lulufrance23@yahoo.com

FURNITURE FOR SALE: HEADBOARD (pine) for double bed In excellent condition. €15.00 Tel: 05 55 78 79 02 FOR SALE: 3 piece suite Brown floral pattern on beige background, 2 chairs and matching 2-seater bed settee. Good condition. €40.00 Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 FOR SALE: Oak Table Seats six. €45.00 Tel: 05 55 03 15 82 FOR SALE: 4 Beech Carver Chairs Strong well made chairs, but the finish needs

www.ohmycod.net E:- kenvesty@gmail.com

Tel:- 05 55 80 34 26

St-Sébastien (pl. du Champ de Foire) Wed 04-Mar Bourganeuf (Esp. Martin Nadaud) Thu 05-Mar Châtelus-Malvaleix (Auberge de Voyageurs) Fri 06-Mar Sardent-Masmangeas (Auberge du Lac) Sat 07-Mar Bonnat (Bar des Sports) Thu 12-Mar Marsac (Chez Jacques) Fri 13-Mar St-Germain-Beaupré (Maison Durran) Wed 18-Mar Bourganeuf (Esp. Martin Nadaud) Thu 19-Mar Cheniers (Auberge du Chaumiers) Fri 20-Mar Boussac (pl. de l’hôtel de ville) Sat 21-Mar Bussière-Dunoise (Auberge du Tilleul) Wed 25-Mar La Châtre (Au Jardin d’Eté) Fri 27-Mar Peyrat-le-Château (in square by PMU bar) Sat 28-Mar St-Sébastien (pl. du Champ de Foire) Wed 01-Apr Bourganeuf (Esp. Martin Nadaud) Thu 02-Apr Châtelus-Malvaleix (Auberge de Voyageurs) Fri 03-Apr Sardent-Masmangeas (Auberge du Lac) Sat 04-Apr Please try to email your order in advance stating your time of arrival Please consult our website for any updates.

Princess Chair. €90.00 Tel: 02 54 62 01 87 Email: Mike.crevant@hotmail.com FOR SALE: Sofa Classic

style. 3 to 4 seater. Feather interiors on seats/back solid. Surplus to requirement. Aigurande area 23. €40.00 Tel: 05 55 80 33 12 FOR SALE: Various Furniture Pine headboard - 4ft 6in - medium stain - 20€; Ikea pine effect kitchen doors, drawer fronts, side panels, etc.

How to place a Classified Advert To place a classified advert, please email:

notices@thebugle.eu

BY THE 20th with the details you would like include. Your advert will appear online and in the next print edition of The Bugle. Classified adverts are currently free for all small items (less than €500). For more expensive items and photos a small fee applies: ● Items more than €500 are charged at €5 per month ● Photos are charged at €2.50 per month looking. Very little used. Cost €970,00 with original invoice. €300.00 Tel: 05 53 28 79 32 FOR SALE: Leather sofa 3-seater, brown, with three loose beige fluffy cushions. Good condition. €100.00 Tel: 05 55 80 40 44 FOR SALE: Large rattan & cane arm chair With upholstered cushions, made to order for us in Bali, Indonesia. Style is called

Reasonable offers. Text 06 41 99 57 40 (St Yrieix la Perche) FOR SALE: Dining Furniture DUCAL PINE DINING TABLE, MATCHING SIDEBOARD and 8 DINING CHAIRS (including 2 CARVERS). Also nest of 3 TABLES and a WINE TABLE. (Table 168 x 103cm, extending to 213 x 103cm, sideboard 173 x 44cm with height 87cm).

FOR SALE - VARIOUS Contact: tonybigglesworth@hotmail.co.uk (Near St-Laurent-sur-Gorre) OAK PARQUET - still shop-wrapped, 70mm wide x 23mm thick - 18 packs @ 1.12 metres squared - per pack – 35 Euros LIMOUSIN OX-CART - huge and magnificent example - probably always kept under cover wheels 1m62 diameter - body 3m x 1m plus 2m70 shaft - 8 pointed staves to support hay extant, each 1m40 – 195 Euros SOLID OLD GATELEG BENCH with vice - 2m25 x 42cm x 80cm high – 55 Euros HOME GYM POWERSTACK 200LB BENCH PRESS - good condition – 185 Euros WASHING MACHINE - scarcely used - PRO-LINE from DARTY - Economy Level A, washing efficiency level B - 99 Euros BOTTLE GAS COOKER - 4 burners, compartment for bottle - 80cm x 51cm x 84cm high brown - looks good - 65 Euros SMALL FRIDGE - fits under worktop - PRO-LINE A CLASS - 48cm x 60cm x 84cm high freezer compartment - 70 Euros BROYEUR to chip garden branches - 55 Euros LARGE CHEST FREEZER - Zanussi CFC-free - 0.86cu m - 1m43 x 70cm x 86cm high 45 Euros CARAVAN TOILET - PORTA POTTI ELEGANCE - top of the range - little used - 49 Euros GARDEN BENCH - metal ends - 5 wooden slats, solid Far Eastern hardwood - metal back in wood frame – 1m14 - 27 Euros OLD 2-WHEEL CART - useful in the garden or for fun with the children or grandchildren wheels 60cm diameter, body 63cm x 90cm x 36cm deep - shafts almost 1metre - priceless historic gem - a snip - 50 Euros ROUTER BLACK AND DECKER - 710W - scarcely used - 20 Euros CORRUGATED PLASTIC TRANSLUCENT SHEETING - 2m00 x 66cm - 9 pieces @ 10 Euros each or the lot for - 75 Euros 3 x ENGLISH 6 PANEL COLONIAL KNOTTY PINE DOORS (without frames) 78 in x 30in – 35 Euros ea. or all three for - 85 Euros 1930's (?) OAK DRAW-LEAF DINING TABLE, ENGLISH with diagonal cross-members 91cm x 91cm, extending to maximum 91cm x 1m50 - as solid as Nelson's 'Victory' - 60 Euros FRENCH DINING TABLE - chestnut? - 1.03m x 1.25m - very solid - rounded corners - much admired by visitors - 70 Euros Contact: tonybigglesworth@hotmail.co.uk (Near St-Laurent-sur-Gorre)

€325.00 Text or tel 06 41 99 57 40. (St-Yrieix-laPerche)

GARDEN FOR SALE: YARDMAN Ride on Mower 12.5 Briggs and Stratton engine. Starts first time. Good Condition. For Sale in St Marien nr Boussac. €400.00ono Tel: 09 62 16 87 35 and ask for Ken Email: jeanie3@ wanadoo.fr

GENERAL FOR SALE: Massive half price sale of household and

garden items Very light or no use. Items include:Franco Belge wood burner, electrolux coffee maker 25 euros, garden tools [brooms, shovels etc] from 5 euros, fondue sets from 35 euros, deep fat fryer 45 euros, raclette 50 euros, Crockpot slow cooker 35 euros, barbecue 40 euros, car vacuum 25 euros, hand held garden tools from 3 euros, assorted plastic planters from 1 euro, bird bath 3 euros. Many more items available. For further information and to arrange a viewing please email. Area 23320. Email: lulufrance23@yahoo.com

SIREN: 520 807 660

15 or 05 55 63 30 94 FOR SALE: Massive half price sale of equestrian items Including: large ratelier 500 euros, assorted bridles from 30 euros, horse medicines, fly sprays and tack cleaners at assorted prices, fly masks and saddle pads from 8 euros, buckets and feeders from 10 euros, bridles covers and cross ties from 5 euros, stall door storage racks 15 euros, 5 beautiful carriages for sale. Many more items available. For further information and to arrange a viewing please email. Area 23320. Email: lulufrance23@yahoo.com FOR SALE: Piglets 6

All good quality products. Open to offers. Any offer considered. Please email me (Vanessa) for a stock list & photos. Location: Near Le Grand Bourg, viewing welcome. Email: vanessa. fugler@orange.fr

some attention. €60.00 Tel: 05 55 03 15 82 FOR SALE: Good quality dining room suite Comprising oval table (59 x 36 inches [194 x 90 cm], extending to 76 x 36 inches [194 x 90cm]), 4 chairs plus “carver” chair and sideboard on castors (length 48 inches, width 17 inches and height 31 inches [L 122cm, W 43cm H 79cm]) with 2 cupboards and 3 central drawers. Excellent condition. Tel/email for more more details/photos. €190.00 Tel: Angus on 05 55 71 76 36 Email: gubrath44@gmail.com FOR SALE: Soft brown leather electric rise and fall armchair Modern

EVOLUTION 23 Par RN 145, sortie 48 rue Johannes Gutenberg, 23000 GUERET

Tél : 05 55 52 82 15 Mail: teamgueret@orange.fr GPS: 46.1831, 1 .8800

CLASSIFIEDS ♦ 19

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The Bugle CLASSIFIEDS are brought to you in association with WWW.HOUSESONINTERNET.COM FOR SALE: Computer accessories Phillips 18.5 inch computer screen. Hardly used and in excellent condition - €45. Logitech camera and software excellent condition €15. Acer french keyboard excellent condition €10. Tel: 05 55 64 22 25 Email: geeinfrance@gmail.com FOR SALE: Various Children's Large quantity of boys clothes 0-13 years all in good condition, some toys. Offers (will not split). 2 booster seats from Halfords as new. Child's desk, wood with lifting desk, wipe clean lid and chair. Good condition 20 euros. Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 FOR SALE: SOLAVOX PR25 Speakers SOLAVOX

PR25 speakers (2). 25w. RMS. Teak finish. 4cm x 37cm. Good working order. 25 euros the pair. €25.00 Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: Large antique cast iron standing Paris street lamp Ornate vine patterns, glass lantern top. Embossed with “Marquise”. Height: 3.36m. €400.00 Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 FOR SALE: Tetro Space Heater Cost €110. Hardly used. As New. For Sale in St Marien nr Boussac. €50.00 Tel: 09 62 16 87 35 and ask for Ken Email: jeanie3@ wanadoo.fr FOR SALE: OLD FRENCH JIGSAW PUZZLE CUBES IN ORIGINAL WOODEN BOX (4 different pictures).

Stored in barn for years and some wear and tear to picture on outer side lid of the box, and cubes, as would be expected. The box is in good condition, as is the picture on inside of box - complete. €20.00 Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: PVC white shutters Used for 6 months, various sizes with brand new hinges. They were made to measure.Quatre de 1350mm de haut X 1380mm de large( 2 vantaux).Un de 2160mm de haut X 1380mm de large

(2 vantaux).Un de 1200mm de haut X 580 mm de large (1 vantail).Un de 1200mm de haut X 1200mm de large (2 vantaux).Un de 1150mm de haut X 890 mm de large (2 vantaux).Available for collection from Lubersac. €495.00 Tel: 0044 7747 851 971 Email: lutmarsa@ hotmail.com FOR SALE: Sony PS2 With 2 Controllers, PS2. Plus 'Ferrari' Steering wheel/pedals. Included are Games - 'Grand Turismo 4', 'Robotech' and 'Ace Combat'. Little used. In excellent condition. All for 50 euros. €50.00 Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: LG LED flatscreen TV 119cm (47 inches) As new, full working order. €300.00 Tel: 06 52 23 44 19 (nr La Souterraine) FOR SALE: Books Approx 140/150, good condition, popular authors: Jeffrey Deaver, Michael Connelly, Sue Grafton, Lee Child, Susan Lewis, Clive Cussler, Phillippa Gregory, etc. Proceeds to Charity. €70.00 Tel: 05 55 03 15 82 FOR SALE: Rug A large rug that measures approx 3x4 metres, in good condition with little wear, small cut to one end to fit found furniture but nice red floral Axminster. €120.00 Tel Mr Kenna on Pensol 05 55 43 26 01 FOR SALE: LCD TV 20”

TFT LCD TV (Firstline). Overall size: 24” (61cm) wide X 18.5” (47cm) height on removable base. Multiple inputs including SCART, S-Video and PC. Not HD. Full working order and in good condition. Complete with remote control, power supply and manual in English. €55.00 Tel: 05 55 78 79 02 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: Folding dog cage 75x53x46 wide. Little used. €20.00 Tel: 05 53 28 79 32 FOR SALE: Skiwear Girls ImpiDimpi ski suit (mustard colour) size 140cm €20. Boys Nevica ski jacket size 164 cm (UK 32Y) €20. Tel: 05 55 57 20 57 (nr Rochechouart) FOR SALE: Arabic silk carpet 224cm x 335cm Lovely pattern and colours

and in good condition, please ask for photos. €150.00 Tel: 05 55 63 43 69 Email: robert.pratt@ orange.fr FOR SALE: 3 Storage heaters Low-cost as they

charge at night and give heat all day long. All 3 for €380: 1 Noirot 60cm X 29cm X 69cm - €150; 1 Noirot 60cm X 20cm X 69cm - €120; 1 Creda Automatic 60cm X 16cm X 69cm - €100. Based near Cheronnac. €380.00 Tel: 05 55 75 33 29 (9-10 am only) Email: maria_carraro@ hotmail.com FOR SALE: SKYTEC speakers (2). Ideal PA/ DISCO/KARAOKE.

150watt. 8 ohm. 44x26x28 cm. Good working order. Bargain 30 euros! €30.00 Tel: 0555 787902 (near Rochechouart) FOR SALE: Commercial Kitchen Equipment E500 Commercial Dishwasher 600€ ono; 900 x 300cm Falcon Grill with Shelving and S/S Splashback Plate 400€ ono; Large Hot Counter (approx 1,5 mtr. in length) 4 hot plates and hot cupboard underneath 600€ ono; 22" Firstline Colour TV with remote control 120€ ono; Convection Oven (needs attention) - offers; 12 x 1.5kg Catering Moules Bowls with lids (like new) 75€; 50 wine glasses, 14 x 25cl carafes and 8 x coffee liqueur glasses 50€; 6 x 8" and 6 x 7" Creme Brulee Dishes 25€; Job lot of crockery to include 3 x 16" Giant Serving Plates, 8 x 12" Large Dinner Plates, 25 x 8" Dessert Plates, 19 x 6" Side Plates, Tea & Coffee Cups, Espresso cups, variety of saucers, 2 Large & 3 Small Teapots, 3 small Milk jugs and 1 Large Milk jug, 8 Pepper pots and 1 salt pot, also 4 x 145ml s/s sauce boats and 2 x 275ml sauce boats and 6 glass vinegar bottles 150€;

12 x Wicker breadbaskets with detachable covers 8€. Contact Mrs M Taylor 05 55 48 92 84 or 06 04 09 03 10 Tektronix 453 dual trace 50meg 'scope FREE Needs some attention to the power supply, trace dead. But for spares, etc. a good item. Don't really want to throw it away. Will not ship, collection only. Tel: 04 70 06 37 99 FOR SALE: Why take Victorian? 1 sink left like on

photo from French chateau, 1920s, brand Porcher. Good condition, no cracks. With pedestal and original soap holder. Buyer collects (10 min from airport, Bellegarde 87). €50.00 Tel: 06 66 24 85 49 FOR SALE: Various Super Kingsize duvet, unused. 10€. Also John Lewis duvet cover and matching sheet, unused. Pale blue. 15€. Mirror 80 x 65 cm. Painted wood - yellow with small decoration. Matching wall lights, toilet roll holder, shelf and soap dish holder. 40€. Ice cream maker Philips. Little used. 20€. Text 06 41 99 57 40 (St Yrieix la Perche)

VEHICLES / PARTS FOR SALE: 2009 MINI One Hatch with Pepper Pack and other extras Lightning Blue

Vienne. No timewasters please. Tel: 05 55 50 19 16 Email: carrie.ward@ btconnect.com FOR SALE: Caravan Rare opportunity to own a 2006, Compass Rallye 634, twin axle caravan. 4-berth, fixed double bed. End bathroom/ dressing room with: wardrobe, airing cupboard, separate shower cubicle, electric flush toilet.All-round fly screen and insulating blinds. Roof extractor fan and Heki roof lights. Three-energy fridge freezer (separate compartments). Microwave oven, full gas oven and hob. Ten litre water heater using gas , 230v electricity or both for more rapid heating. On-board, 50 litre water tank. Radio with 6 CD changer. Fitted motor mover with remotecontrol. Crockery, cutlery and cooking utensils. 50 litre fresh water carrier and waste water carrier. Fully approved and registered for use in France. (We still have the UK rear light clusters should you wish to keep the caravan in UK.) Ideal to live in while building or renovating. Only one owner (non-smoking couple) from new with no pets or smoking allowed in caravan. Photographs available if required. Also available under separate negotiation: One full awning, one summer awning, winter cover. €9,000.00ono Tel: 06 82 86 59 36 Email: synandglue@orange.fr FOR SALE: Citroen C4 Grand Picasso 7 seats,

Trailer with roller shutter door Very good condition. Email for more details. €900.00 Email: rofesteven@ yahoo.co.uk FOR SALE: Caravan coachman golden VIP 535/4 Year 2008. Comes with the following: Fixed bed, full cooker, solar panels, mover, full awning, hitch and wheel lock, phantom tracker, gas alarm, 2 light-weight gas bottles, microwave and TV (never been used, still in their boxes) and many extras. Very good condition. €11,000 or £9,000. €11,000.00 Call Mal on 05 55 65 78 65 FOR SALE: Towbars Towbar for Citroen Xsara Picasso complete. 60 euros. Towbar for Peugeot 406 complete. 40 euros. Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 FOR SALE: Boat and trailer French Registered

Falcon 18, 115hp, morse hydraulic steering, electric tilt and trim, stainless steel propeller, 2 anchors and usual equipment. €5,000.00 Tel: 05 55 60 64 03 FOR SALE: Land Rover Left Hand Drive Headlights A pair of left hand drive headlights for a 300 TDI or early pre facelift TD5. Approx 2 years old and in near perfect condition. Cost almost £100.00, for sale at €60.00. Can post but prefer collection because of the delicate nature. For more info/images please phone. €60.00 Tel: 04 70 06 37 99

WANTED Metallic, Petrol 1.4, Manual, RHD French Registered, FSH last serviced December 2014/CT Due January 2017, Chrome Line Exterior, Body Coloured Mirror Caps, 15’’ Alloys, 6 Speed Gearbox, Cosmos Black Cloth Interior, Height Adjustable Drivers Seat & Steering Column, Leather Steering Wheel, Air-Con, ABS, Auto Stop/ Start energy saving function, Dynamic Stability Control, Computer, ISOFIX, Luggage Pack including many other extras. 97,000KMS. Ex dealer demonstrator and one very careful owner from new. Extremely reluctant sale, much loved car. £5700 ONO or equivalent in Euros. Nr Chalus 87230, Haute

1.6 VTR+, Petrol, RHD, Dec 2009, Blue, French Registered, CT July 2016, Only 28000 kilometres, Excellent condition. €6,250.00 T: 05 55 60 26 90 FOR SALE: Hymer Camper 2003 On LHD

Fiat Ducato 2.8idTD, CT 5/16, 170,000kms, good condition, recent tyres, sleeps 5, shower/WC, heater, stand-alone awning. €11,000.00ono Tel: 05 55 58 98 81 FOR SALE: Tow a Van Box

WANTED: Digger or Excavator Any age or condition. Any other plant or machinery considered. Prompt cash buyer. Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 WANTED: Slate bed pub style 7' pool table Any condition. Tel: 05 87 77 20 82 (ask for Mike phone evenings) WANTED: Trailer - any age or condition Tel: 02 48 56 74 73 WANTED: OLD MOTOR CYCLES Barn clearance, garage clearance. Pre 1966 motor cycles hidden away in barns and garages wanted for cash, any condition, even the rusty ones and non runners. Everything considered. Friendly buyer will call round. Pls tel Martin on 05 55 89 12 96

20 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Animals & Pets Auto Services Building Services Architectural Services Carpenters/Joiners Electricians Fosses Septiques General Groundworks Painters/Decorators

Plasterers Plumbers Roofing Sandblasting >> pg 20 Chimney Sweeps >> pg 20 >> pg 20-21 Computers/Satellites Food & Drink >> pg 21 >> pg 21 -22 Garden Services Gifts & Crafts >> pg 23 Handholding Services >> pg 23 >> pg 20 >> pg 20

FARRIER Animals & Pets REGISTERED MARECHAL FERRANT NOW TAKING ON NEW CLIENTS

The Orchard Kennels & Cattery (Farges, nr. Aubusson)

Small & friendly, English run. Viewings welcome. Certificat de capacité. Also available: Pet foods, treats & accessories.

Mon - Sat: 9.00 - 7.00

Contact Dave Grant: 05 55 67 58 87

www.the-orchard.eu siret: 504 584 228 00010

Animal communication Gentle healing for people and pets. Complementing conventional treatments by easing the side effects. Helping to identify the causes of allergic reactions and behavioural problems. More information at:

www.ame-et-corps.com Tel: 06.66.24.85.49 English, French, German - and Animal spoken! Katharina Maiss

CHRIS SELWYN Dip WCF REGISTERED FARRIER ▪ OVER 20 YEARS EXPERIENCE ▪ ALL DISCIPLINES AND REMEDIAL WORK UNDERTAKEN ▪ RELIABLE, HONEST SERVICE ▪ CONTACT TO DISCUSS YOUR REQUIREMENTS AND AREA ▪ BASED IN 87 BUT WILL TRAVEL ▪ REFERENCES AVAILABLE

TEL: 06 30 96 02 02

E: info@englishfarrierinfrance.com W: www.englishfarrierinfrance.com siret: 799 169 479 00018

ZE DOG (& CAT) HOUSE

Family, cage-free boarding for dogs and cats. Positive dog training and counseling. We make sure that “Ze Dog (& Cat) House” is a real home from home for your companions so that they, as well as you, spend a great time on holiday! June Altman, Le Puytren, 87800 Meilhac

Tel: 05 55 58 87 94 / Mob: 06 61 01 12 21 Email: zdh@ze-dog-house.fr Certificat de capacité n° 87-203 RCS Limoges 750 912 057

Auto Services

Champlong Chatterie

champlongchatterie@me.com www.champlongchatterie.com SIRET: 520 896 671 00010

Registered Car Mechanic

05.55.81.31.85

See Display Ad pg 22

Building Services

LCS 23 Autos

Car and Van Sales European Transport

06 23 29 24 70 - see pg 19

Health & Beauty House Clearance Insurance & Finance Language Services Pest Control Property Sales Retail & Commerce Transport/Removals /Storage General

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions. Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

FR: 0033 (0)6 05 56 42 81 UK: 0044 (0)7448 466 662

Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com Siret: 498 843 051 00018

Architectural Services Plans, Permissions & Photo-Realisations Comprehensive CAD drafting & design service for your planning application. Dossiers compiled and submitted, including all local & departmental liaison.

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

web: www.masterplans.eu email: info@masterplans.eu

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Building Services

>> pg 26 >> pg 26 >> pg 26 >> pg 26 >> pg 26 >> pg 26 >> pg 26-27 >> pg 27 >> pg 27

Le Charme De Chêne Handmade solid oak joinery and furniture Our joinery expertise includes barn doors, barn door frame openings, staircases, kitchens, windows & doors. We also make handmade furniture. Every item is bespoke and made to measure. Please visit our website for recent installations and references.

www.lecharmedechene.com contactus@lecharmedechene.com

02 54 25 65 08 06 16 91 64 67 SIRET: 510 156 763 00011

Building Services Electricians

siret: 790 016 984 00011

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE New build?

JUNCT 22 off A20, Arnac la Poste

Tel: 05 55 60 27 83

RING BILL!

Renovating your French property?

Caring, quiet accommodation just for cats Alison & Ray

>> pg 23 >> pg 23-24 >> pg 24 >> pg 24 >> pg 24 >> pg 24 >> pg 24-25 >> pg 25 >> pg 25 >> pg 26

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Carpenters/ Joiners WOODWORK MADE TO MEASURE

DOORS, WINDOWS, SHUTTERS, STAIRCASES, OAK FRAMES... FROM LOCAL HARD AND SOFT WOODS. SHUTTERS FROM 35 EUROS. Please explore our website for more information:

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

www.scrollart.co.uk scrollartfrance@gmail.com

SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

Oradour Sur Vayres (87150) - siren: 752 051 482

lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr

05 55 14 12 43

SALAMANDRE

électricité Keith SLOPER

Tel: 05 55 64 94 20 Mob: 07 86 38 09 61 * Qualified electrician * All types of electrical works carried out * Free estimates * Fault finding * Consuel certification arranged * Temporary and permanent EDF supplies arranged * Departments 23 and 87 No Siret: 494 916 760 00015

DIRECTORY ♦ 21

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

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

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

Lumiere Service et Energie Steven Rofe 20+ Years experience

• NICEIC approved Electrician for 8 years in the UK • Wiring of new installations (including liaising with EDF) • Rewiring existing houses/barns • External & garden lighting • All aspects of electrical works • Fully insured - (10 year Decennale) • Departments covered 19,23 & 87 05.55.69.75.67 / 06.89.47.69.71 email: rofesteven@yahoo.co.uk Siret No. 501.792.386.00010

INSTALLATION23

- Electricity - Plumbing - Air conditioning and heat pump - Small renovations (bathrooms, kitchens, etc.) Dutch and English spoken Creuse / Puy-de-Dôme E-mail: installation23@gmail.com

Mob. 06 40 56 96 12 Tel. 05 55 67 57 64

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

Pink Electrique Ruth & Geoff Kowalczyk All electrical work, home automation & security. Project management. See our website for more information. French qualified and insured. 30+ years worldwide experience. Departments covered: 23, 36, 87.

Tel: 05 55 63 10 68 Mob: 06 64 59 48 64

Email: info@pink-electrique.fr www.pink-electrique.fr SIRET: 788 709 871 00016

the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €630 TTC

Fosse Septique Specialist

SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

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

Experienced and fully registered artisan, offering a high quality finish and service

20+ years experience All aspects covered: Paperwork and permissions arranged Installations (full/part) Upgrades (to current regs) Inspections

• 10yr Décennale Assurance • Full house/barn renovation • Plasterboarding walls and ceilings • Tape and Jointing • Kitchen Installation • Roofing works • Carpentry • Patios/Decking

Digger and dumper hire

sales@thebugle.eu

Building & Renovation services Free devis and site visit

05.55.64.11.73

We guarantee to beat any like for like quote ! siret: 514 556 208 00015

Your advert here

05 55 41 17 76

Building Services

Siret: 753 054 030 00014

BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ

Paul Jones Renovation

Steve Johns

Groundworks, foundations, driveways, etc.

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

Fosses Septiques

General

LES VIDANGES LIMOUSINES

CHRIS STONE SERVICES

▪ Emptying septic tanks ▪ Unblocking pipes ▪ Cleaning wells ▪ Group rates available between neighbours Call David - 24/24 7/7

06 49 66 44 25 87800 Jourgnac Siret N° 750 725 780 00019

SOLARVENTI - Available in the Limousin From Harlequin Developments Tel: 05 55 68 67 56 Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97

Tel: 05 55 69 28 12 Mob: 06 73 18 63 47 Email: pauljones@orange.fr www.pauljonesrenovation.com siret no: 495 067 829 00020

La Coterie Entreprise Approved septic tank installer

05.55.80.83.30

www.lce23.com See our main ad - pg 24

INSTALLATIONS AND REPAIRS TEL: 05.55.06.05.69 MOB: 06.04.44.26.36 Rochechouart SIRET: 520 275 504 00022

sales@thebugle.eu

& Property Services

Established, Professional and Personal Building Services. Fully registered with décennale insurance covering all works.

●Renovations ●New builds ●Roofing ●Stonework ●Carpentry ●Ground works

Large or small projects undertaken - please view our website. Contact: Paul or Joanne Rands

05.55.66.44.06 www.lanoneix.com Paul.rands@orange.fr SIRET: 501 144 596 00019

Your advert here

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

05 55 41 17 76

Creuse Property & Lake Services

Paul Goldsmith Interior Renovations

- General maintenance including grounds - Change overs - Meet and Greets - On call / Emergency help - Key holding - Handyman Building projects also undertaken For full details visit

www.creusepropertyservices.eu or call 06 02 67 72 19 Siret No: 804 568 020 00015

PLUMBING/ELECTRICITY

La Noneix

Construction

Interior & Exterior building work

• House renovations • roofing • de-mossing • pointing • masonry • ground works • etc. Honest price and efficient service Please call to discuss:

02 54 24 29 76 or e-mail:

happydayshereweare@gmail.com

Registered for 8 years in France

High quality work, excellent references available • Kitchens • Bathrooms • Tiling • Wood flooring • Loft conversions • Pointing • Windows • Plasterboarding Covering Creuse and Indre

e: lasout@live.com

t: 09 66 03 52 89 SIRET 494 123 847 00019

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

05.55.41.17.76

22 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Entreprise Hines Building Services All Internal & External Works, completed to a high standard.

We also supply KWIKSTAGE scaffold for hire - either DIY or full scaffold service provided. siret: 503 169 237 00016

See website for more info - www.entreprisehines.com - 05 55 89 69 46 - robert.hines@orange.fr

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

Harlequin Developments are a Distributor and Installer for Solarventi, solar dehumidifying and water heating products, as well as a range of other renewable energies

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

Davis & Davis

30 years' Experience in Construction, Renovation & Project Management Quality Workmanship Guaranteed Internal/ External Developments Barn conversions, loft conversions, new-build, drylining, plastering, rendering, spray rendering, tiling, installation of kitchens/ bathrooms, painting, carpentry, replacement doors & windows, velux installation, groundworks, landscaping, decking & much more...

No job too big (or small). Give us a call for a free competitive quote.

05 55 60 29 50 / 06 04 13 30 57 email: davis-davis@sfr.fr

Based Arnac-la-Poste - Covering depts 87, 23 & 19 Siret: 498 203 652 00017

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

05 55 41 17 76

RSW Entreprises

Fosse Septique Specialist

05.55.80.00.57

See our Display Ad - pg 12

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Max Huggett

Experienced and fully registered builder with 10 year Décennale Insurance Offering a broad selection of building services in depts. 87, 19 & 23. From one off installations to complete renovations, construction, landscaping and ground works. E: info@maxhuggett.com

T: 05 55 69 37 64 M: 06 80 92 23 82

www.maxhuggett.com

English & French spoken - Siret: 518 511 340 00011

R & B Construction ALL ASPECTS OF RENOVATION & CONSTRUCTION • House & barn renovations • Garage/loft conversions • Bathroom/shower rooms • Doors/windows • Roofing • Patios/decking • Plumbing & Electrical • 10 year Guarantee Insurance

See our website: www.rb-first-construction.com Tel: 05 55 37 74 06 (Dave) Tel: 05 55 69 75 67 (Steve) (Depts 23, 87 & 19) siret: 501 792 386 00010

Scaffolding Hire

Large stock Rapid response Good rates for long & short term hire Erected or self-erect Delivery or collection All areas covered Call Dave:

06 42 73 83 37 siret: 795 207 067 00013

French Lily

Kitchens & Interiors 05 55 80 92 91 - see pg 7 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts Steve Johns Assainissement

fosse-septique23.com

05.55.64.11.73 - see pg 4

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 KWIKSTAGE Scaffold Hire DIY or Full Scaffold Service See our website or phone for details

05 55 89 69 46

www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

Double D

Renovations & Home Improvements 05 55 65 00 29 - pg 8 Monte Sarginson

House Renovations Inside & Out

Experience in Roofing, Tiling Floors & Walls, Plumbing, Fitting Kitchens & Bathrooms, Stonework & Rendering, Painting & Decorating

Tel: 05 55 63 88 70 Mob: 06 21 34 18 20 Siret no 507 516 748 00013

Entreprise Hines Building & Renovation ● Roofing - New & Repairs ● Masonry ● Plastering ● Dry Lining ● Sand Blasting ● Equestrian Buildings ● Digger/Scaffold Hire ● ... and much, much more

28 years qualified experience

05.55.89.69.46 www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

Dave Cardwell - Builder

05 55 98 24 12

See our Display Ad - pg 10

T J Renovations

30 years experience in building trade

Full refurbishments undertaken • Stone/Brickwork • Patios • Repointing • Studwork • General Repairs & Maintenance All areas in the Limousin covered Contact Tim

05 55 61 08 02 / 06 52 23 89 54 web: www.builderinthecreuse.co.uk

Email: tjrenovations96@yahoo.fr Siret: 750 068 116 00011

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES

• house/barn/garden clearances • dechetterie runs • rubbish removal • cash paid for scrap • general labouring service • mini digger - with/without driver • Vehicle with 1.5 tonne crane

J. S. Long Building Services www.jslbuilders.com

09 67 30 71 46 / 06 42 06 52 20 see main ad - pg 3

Masonry & More

General building Renovation & maintenance Reliable, good quality work 30 years exp Based central 23 - will travel Martin Sprague

05 55 61 93 07

martin_sprague_1@ hotmail.com SIRET: 531 768 182 00010

Old Style Creativity Rural Renovations Multi-skilled Professional Workmanship for every aspect of your build Please see our portfolio at : www.oldstylecreativity.weebly.com Contact Kristian Woodgate on:

kristianwoodgate@icloud.com

05-55-62-24-27 / 06-48-77-79-19 siret: 511 277 527 00012

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

05 55 37 45 35 06 74 21 47 71 siret 532 981 198 00015

05 55 41 17 76

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

RING BILL!

NEUVIALLE MENUISERIE no job too small

Registered Car Mechanic

30 Years’ Experience Joiner Kitchens, Bedrooms & Bathrooms Flooring & General 2nd Fix Finishing, Joinery & Decking Emergency Lock Services

05 55 81 31 85

Siret: 802 265 728

Mike Christie 05 55 64 35 11 (Home) 07 87 38 58 88 (Mobile) mgchristie2013@gmail.com

GODSON

Travaux Publics www.pilgrim23.com 05.55.62.61.12 - pg 3

■ Services ■ Brakes ■ MOT Prep

(contrôle technique)

SIRET: 494 617 798 00017

■ ... much more Dept. 23 & surrounding areas

DIRECTORY ♦ 23

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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 €11.20/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 25,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

€84

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€14/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€18.75/month)

€134.40

(€11.20/month)

€112.50 €126

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€21/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€28/month)

€168

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

€180

(€15/month)

€201.60

(€16.80/month)

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

30 words max

€268.80

(€22.40/month)

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

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76 sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Building Services

Building Services Painters/ Decorators

Groundworks Mini-Digger with driver

05.55.78.62.29

john.bonella@gmail.com See Main Ad Below

CALL KATH Painting and Decorating Interior and Exterior Colour Consultations Room Re-designs

Chris

Qualified craftsman with over 25 years UK

A genuine plasterer French and English spoken Traditional Plastering Rendering, Stud partition dry lining Lime mortar stone pointing

Rick Fife

Plumbing &

Painter & Decorator the Plasterer Heating Engineer All aspects of Plumbing and

experience, now based in Haute-Vienne. 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

CALL FOR A FREE QUOTATION

05 55 63 53 06 06 23 29 48 19 christopher.willis@orange.fr Le Bourg, 23360 Nouzerolles

siret: 792.130.932.00017

SIRET: 504 612 441 00015

Building Services

Heating work undertaken.

SPREAD THE COST OF A NEW GAS/OIL BOILER OVER 3 MONTHS 23 Years Qualified (Previously UK CORGI registered – Oil / Natural Gas / LPG) Established and registered in France for 8 years. Areas Covered: North Creuse (23) & South Indre (36)

Tel:(temporary 02 number 54 during 06relocation) 94 74

Email: amanda.rick@tiscali.co.uk

Please give us a call to discuss your requirements. If you get the answer machine we WILL return your call the same day. siret: 494 380 264 00015

Benjamin Jourdan

Plumber/Electrician

Kathleen Willis

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

05 55 41 17 76

05 55 63 53 06

kathleen.willis@orange.fr

Plasterers

Plumbers

Your advert here

GLEN VINEY

H20 CREUSE

Plasterboarding, Partitioning, Skiming, Solid Plastering, Floor Screeding,Rendering: Mono Couche/Coloured Render Waterproofing Render Systems

05 55 41 17 76

(18 Years Experience) Email: glenviney1@btinternet.com

siret 802 262 35200015

Mini Digger

with Driver for Hire

Landscaping, ditching, land clearance etc. Also general Garden Maintenance John Bonella

87440 Marval

05 55 78 62 29

siret no. 523 183 580 00019

Simon Carter

john.bonella@gmail.com

PLASTERER

Heating & Plumbing engineer

Quality Plasterwork, Internal & External

Tel: 06 45 18 86 10 Siret: 527 736 326 00010

Installation, servicing & maintenance of all types of boiler: wood, gas, fuel, pellet... Solar panels installed and maintained. Underfloor heating, bathrooms, kitchens, etc... General electric works up to full house rewire. Will travel.

www.helplomberie.com e: benjaminjourdan@hotmail.com

05 55 63 89 23

m: 06 42 65 83 44 t: 05 55 60 84 69

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

see pg 14

siret: 517 848 826 00023

50,000 sq ft of covered showrooms & 2 large external display areas - All reclamation bought & sold - Demolition undertaken - Specialists in oak beams - Metalwork & stonework - Indian stone flooring - Plywood, all in 8x4 sheets: internal, external and marine grade Open Mon-Sat 8.30am to 6pm - www.reclamation-yard.com Only 1km from Confolens on the D952 Ansac-sur-Vienne road

24 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Septic tanks

systems designed with permissions & paperwork included and independent approval with certiﬁcation.

Concrete

concrete ﬂoors, concrete terraces, concrete retaining walls, openings, underﬂoor heating, insulation, steps.

Renovation

bathrooms & kitchens from design to completion, ceilings, partition walls, drylining.

trading 6 years

see our portfolio at www.LCE23.com

05.55.80.83.30

Building Services

registered and insured for all work we do

A. Robins Construction Roofing Specialist www.robinsbuilders.com 05 45 61 40 15 - see pg 3

Chimney Sweeps

Martin Walters

Plumber

Caught out last winter? Don't worry! We can now offer winter checks, drain downs, caretaking, general DIY, key holding, as well as our usual friendly plumbing services.

Tel 02 54 24 84 62 Siret 522 804 723 00016

Building Services

Mob: 06 42 38 54 22 Tel: 02 54 30 11 20 Email: philip.andrews@orange.fr siret: 509 180 410 00011

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Building Services

Approved Supplier

Chimney Sweeping • Flue ways cleared • Birds nests, vermin & debris removed • Smoke evacuation & gas tightness tests • Official certificates of cleaning issued (Certificat de Ramonage)

www.stovesellers.com

05 55 63 78 72 Siren: 502 409 949

TOUTE SWEEP Chimney Sweep Service

* All types of chimneys cleaned * Brush & Vacuum * Smoke Tested * Fully Insured * HETAS Approved and member of NACS * Official certificates of cleaning issued (Certificat de Ramonage) * Clean, tidy, professional & friendly service

Tel: 05 55 66 14 11 Mob: 06 31 59 81 08

Sandblasting

MUMFORD TOITURE

Sand and Blast

25+ years roofing experience All aspects of roofing, large or small 15+ years experience plastering/boarding  Fully registered and insured Trading in France since 2007  Call Mark for a free quotation

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:

mumford.toiture@orange.fr

steve@sandandblast.com

Roofing & Plastering/ Plasterboarding Service

We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

www.sandandblast.com

05 55 71 49 13 - 06 78 60 96 16

05 67 77 83 05

Siret No. 493 159 412 00011

SIRET: 534 759 337 00015

PMC BATIMENT Roofing Specialists

www.pmcbatiment.fr see main ad - pg 9

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

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

UK & French Satellite TV

Food & Drink

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

Contact Barry Manning

Roofing

Formerly Electrosat

TOOWAY BROADBAND

ROOFING SPECIALISTS All types of roofing External insulation Carpentry work Dormer windows Velux windows Zinc guttering Chimney repoints Lead flashing, etc. Contact Phil Andrews:

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

Eurl Réno-Gén

Plumbers

sales@LCE23.com

barry@toutesweep.com

REMEMBER - BLOCKED FLUES AND CHIMNEY FIRES CAN BE FATAL... DON'T TAKE THAT RISK! SIRET: 534 351 754 00013

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76 Computers & Satellites

05 55 09 15 73

We only use our own qualified staff No call out charge Free quotations All areas covered Quality work from qualified Staff 5 Place de la Republique Sauviat-sur-Vige 87400 siret no 798 364 600 00014

Creusetec

Satellite Systems 05 55 66 60 21

"Tooway" High speed internet via satellite TV Satellite Sales, Service & Installations. TV Receiver & Electronic Repairs. Dish alignments. Sky/Freesat/TNT/FTA. Most of depts 23,03,63,87,36 covered.

martin@creusetec.com http://www.creusetec.com SIRET: 510 117 328 00011

For all your TV and satellite installations and repairs (Sky TV, Internet etc.) Call Patrice:

06.79.07.91.56

libre.antenne87@gmail.com Fast dependable service Based Séreilhac (87) siret: 353 613 227 00035

GOODWIN SATELLITE

SALES & INSTALLATION OF ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS & AERIALS. FAULT FINDING. Dept 23 & surrounding areas

Tel: 05 55 62 05 61 Mob: 06 23 40 18 64 Email: garygoodwin@wanadoo.fr siret: 453 067 910 00019

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

sales@thebugle.eu

Big Dish Satellite

Your advert here

05 55 41 17 76

05 55 78 72 98

05 55 41 17 76

www.bigdishsat.com see main ad - pg 15

sales@thebugle.eu

Robert and Sue Manning

FARM TO FORK

Farm-raised Limousin Beef, Lamb and Poultry All the meat we sell is bred, fed and finished here on the farm Beef available as 1/16 or 1/8 side at just €10.90/kg Duck/Chicken available all year round Lamb available from 2015 EARL Les Fromentaux 10 Route de Vilenne, 36200 Celon

Tel: 02 54 25 34 73

RIVE DROITE 8 rue Ledru-Rollin 36200 Argenton-sur-Creuse

02 54 24 01 06

Restaurant - Pizzeria ● Italian Specialities ● Traditional Cuisine ● Home-made Desserts Moules de bouchot AOC available from July to December High Quality Food, a Warm Welcome and a Friendly Atmosphere await Closed Sundays & Mondays

JJ’s Cafe Bar

Some customer quotes: ‘...more than just a bar’ ‘....a bit like Allo Allo and Cheers!’

Come and see for yourself - Open all week.

See our Notice Board events listings 39 Place du Champ de Foire 36140, Aigurande

02 54 06 30 77

www.frenchweb.eu/jjscafebar/ cafebarjj@yahoo.co.uk SIRET: 508 754 314 00013

Oh My Cod Fish and Chips www.ohmycod.fr

05 55 80 34 26 - see pg 18 Restaurant AUX CEPES LA veytiZoU, 87130

Tel: 05 55 69 33 38 see main ad - pg 8

05.55.41.17.76

DIRECTORY ♦ 25

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Advertising with The Bugle Poor or no Broadband? Then

the Satellite solution is for you!

ith 5 years’ experience delivering print advertising to an expat market, The Bugle represents one of the most cost-effective ways to let English speakers know about your business. An advert with The Bugle starts from just €11.20 HT per month – that’s less than 37 cents a day to put your business in front of 30,000 people each month. In the Limousin we have more than 300 distribution points across the region and surrounding areas where readers can pick up a copy for free. We also distribute 3,500 copies through Limoges Airport, which means that we are in the perfect position to target not only residents and secondhome owners, but also tourists and those new to the region. The Bugle is the only English language newspaper dedicated to the Limousin - in fact, today, The Bugle is the only free English language newspaper in France and we are growing all the time. If you would like to discuss any of our advertising options further, why not give us a call today to find out more about the ways that we can help you grow your business.

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

here are two main providers in Europe. Rent or buy, the choice is yours. DIY or we can install it for you, again the choice is yours. The equipment is delivered to your door. TOOWAY offers speeds of up to 22M down and 6M up and the monthly rental (dependent on package) starts from €19.95. SES offers speeds of up to 20M down and 2M up and the monthly rental (dependent on package) starts from €10.95. Is UK TV reception a problem? We have many years' experience in the satellite world and Mike G is here to help you. Call him on 05 55 09 15 73 or on his mobile 06 38 16 01 61.

CCTV - four cameras and a DVR fitted from €800.00 and you can view it from a laptop anywhere. Ideal for checking if the gardner, cleaner, etc. has come, or for just projecting

the view from your window in France on to the wall to impress your friends in the UK. Limited Wi-Fi Coverage, don’t suffer we have the solution. ■

SAT-ELEC - where knowledge and experience provide the complete solution. The two Mikes are happy to prepare a custom package for you on all or any of the above. Call Mike G: 05 55 09 15 73 - 06 38 16 01 61 or Mike T: 03 66 88 06 29 or email: info@sat-elec.co.uk

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76 For more information on advertising in the Bugle Business Directory, give us a call or send us an email: sales@thebugle.eu

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76 BAR, RESTAURANT, TERRASSE 23140 PIONNAT

05 55 80 37 70 - see pg 9

Le Pub

58, rue d'Orjon, Argenton-sur-Creuse

5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99 Visit: www.petticoatlaneshop.com E-mail: sales@petticoatlaneshop.com English groceries, Fresh British Beef & Steaks (to order only), Gammon Steak, Bacon, Sausage & Cheddar Cheese. Wide range of frozen items including vegetarian. Traditional English beers, Sherries & Wine. Cards for all occasions. Opening hours: Mon - Sat 10am – 6pm Visit us and compare our prices

Le Creusois Bar/Restaurant

Les Genêts, Azerables

High quality British & French food at reasonable prices. Menu du Jour €12, Traditional Pub Food, Vegetarian dishes, Childrens & Snack menus also available

05.55.63.90.79

www.lecreusoisbistro.com SIREN: 483 988 853

Try Something Different

Chez Jacques Marsac (23)

• Cosy atmosphere • Speciality Crêpes • Large burger menu • Over 20 whiskeys • Book corner, pool table • Fish & chip night (2nd Fri each month) • Curry nights (by reservation)

05 87 40 02 83

Order online and visits by appointment welcome See website for details

www.penstemonsandherbs.com Siret No. 490 041 183 00016

T.A.D. 23 (Travaux d'Accès Difficiles) All aspects of garden maintenance

Your advert here

• Tree Surgery • Garden Clearance • Strimming • Pruning

T: 05 55 81 14 51 M: 06 85 78 81 32 siret: 788 438 562 00019

Home Decor & Gifts

Tea, coffee & home-made scones / cakes Official Stockist & Workshop for Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan & Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic

Open Tue-Fri 10h00 -17h00

www.monchiccottage.com info@monchiccottage.com

see main ad below

English speaking nursery

Mon Chic Cottage

05 87 77 95 59

for all your tree requirements beverley.pawson@yahoo.co.uk 05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44

Penstemons and Herbs in France

LE DORAT (Pl. Charles de Gaulle)

Contact Jay:

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

closed Wednesdays

05 55 41 17 76

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Gifts & Crafts

Le Moulin du Breuil

05 55 41 17 76 02.54.60.02.14 - see pg 6

Petticoat Lane

Garden Services

'ROUSSIS MAID' (formerly Cartes de Christine)

The Exchange

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

SECOND HAND BOOK SHOP. GREAT SELECTION OF GIFTS, CARDS, CANDLES AND HAND-CRAFTED PRODUCTS 500+ DVD's now in stock

APRONS HAND-CRAFTED CARDS FOR ALL OCCASIONS

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

Rochechouart

Tue 2.30pm - 5pm Thu, Fri 9:15-12 & 2:30-5pm Sat 9 - 12

05 55 78 19 24

www.theexchangerochechouart.com

Tel: 06siret86 89 81 02 528 539 448

9 rue Dr Charles Poitevin

Ivan Petley

Your advert here

3D Puzzle Maker Handmade, fully interlocking, multi-layered 3D puzzles from just €9. Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas. Customisation and personalisation possible. Come and visit the workshop by appointment.

SIRET 484 479 480 00010

Tel: 05.55.80.29.88

05 55 41 17 76

Très Jolie

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

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

Ladies fashion accessories 05 55 78 62 29 / 06 04 08 29 53 see main ad pg 9

Cross Cut Tree Surgeons

for all your tree requirements 27 years experience Free quotes and advice We will not be beaten on price or standard of work Reliability guaranteed Fully qualified arborist - Fully insured Covering depts: 87, 23, 86, 36, 19 & 16

beverley.pawson@yahoo.co.uk

05.55.60.62.14 / 06.78.38.42.44

siret: 530 840 958 00017

26 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Would you like to advertise your business to over 30,000 people each month? sales@thebugle.eu - 05 55 41 17 76 Prices starting from €11.20 HT / month Handholding Services

OSTEOPATHY & ACUPUNCTURE lindabodimeade@eircom.net paulbodimeade@eircom.net

05 87 41 07 93 - see pg 10

AMMARA Call Alex, your English nail technician now

A HELPING HAND Translation/interpretation Dealing with utilities/banks Permis de construire Sourcing/supervising artisans 1-2-1 conversation classes

05 55 62 50 38 Jonathan Critchley jcritch.7@gmail.com

Gel nails starting from €40 a set

Tel: 06 22 93 14 57

HiFX

Insurance & Finance

FREE FRENCH LESSONS

06 75 56 99 06 – 05 87 77 90 39 easyfrench87@orange.fr www.easyfrench.fr

Ecole de Langue 86, Rue Nationale, 36400 La Châtre

06.66.24.85.49

Siddalls

Financial Solutions & Expert Advice

05.56.34.75.51

See our Display Ad - pg 15

see main ad - pg 7

Central France Pest Control

Email: info@applicateur3d.com

Training institution in partnership with the State. Lessons in either of our premises or at your home. 12 rue Thiers, 87300 Bellac ... or 11 ave Cruveilhier, 87130 Châteauneuf-la-Forêt

All your language needs under one roof!

02 54 31 12 55

www.ecole-de-langue.net

05.55.65.12.19

Bilingual Estate Agency www.ieafrance.com

www.applicateur3d.com

Easyfrench

www.housesoninternet.com

Agence Marche Limousin

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38

www.ferraille87.com see main ad - pg 8

Houses on Internet See our Display Ad - pg 3

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

debarrasser87

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Pest Control

www.hifx.co.uk

House Clearance Specialists

Property Sales

05 55 41 17 76

International money transfer

Language Services

05.55.89.15.74 - pg 16

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Email: tony.farrell@spectrum-ifa.com

House Clearance

French lessons & handholding services

Meditation class in Limoges for beginners and advanced participants Each Tue at 7pm at 1, rue des Frères Bonneff, 87100 Limoges First session free of charge, then 4 evenings at a total fee of €35. Working in small groups in a beautiful space. NEW- Class in St-Junien 2nd Mon of every month www.ame-et-corps.com or call Katharina Maiss on:

Tel: 05 55 89 57 94 Mob: 06 15 28 54 82 TSG Insurance Services S.A.R.L. Siège Social: 34 Bd des Italiens, 75009 PARIS "Société de Courtage d'assurances" R.C.S. Paris B 447 609 108 (2003B04384) Numéro d'immatriculation 07 025 332 - www.orias.fr SIRET No.: 500 064 183 00014

siret: en cours

Sophie Arsac

Learning to meditate

The Spectrum IFA Group with over 20 years' experience advising expatriates throughout Europe on all aspects of financial planning. Represented in Creuse by Tony Farrell:

ammara.onglerie@gmail.com

siret: 792 285 025 00013

Health & Beauty

TONY FARRELL INDEPENDENT FINANCIAL ADVISOR

Your advert here

Curative and preventative rats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

Cendrillon - Bourganeuf Bilingual Estate Agent in Creuse

www.limousin-bilingual.com

05 55 54 95 85 - see pg 8

Leggett Immobilier www.leggettfrance.com

05 53 56 62 54 see main ad - pg 4

Retail & Commerce

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

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

French Lily

Kitchens & Interiors 05 55 80 92 91 - see pg 7

sales@thebugle.eu

Eco Entrepot

05 55 41 17 76

87230 Bussière-Poitevine

Get down The Shed

05.55.68.74.73 - see pg 4

DIRECTORY ♦ 27

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Chez Amanda Depot Vente des Vêtements Dress agency and gallery, specialising in designer and high quality pre-owned clothes for women and children, together with accessories, footwear, jewellery, gift items, and hand made furniture. 8 rue Principale, St Mathieu, 87440

Email: soieetbois@gmail.com Web: www.soiebois.net Tel: 05.55 48.28.89 SIRET: 510 995 681 00010

Moulin de Tintin Furniture, interiors & gifts

www.moulin-de-tintin.com 05.55.79.57.60 - see pg 3

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Your advert here

• Man with a van service • Friendly, Mature Service, Ex-Police • Living in Limousin, specialising in moves between UK and France • Competitive Rates • Fully Insured

www.fabricadesign.com - see pg 10

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

Please call Mick for further info

UK: 0871 218 6425 FR: 05 55 71 73 87

sales@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Alongside the amazing "Rotospa" spa range, we are now able to supply the "Durasport" & "Strong Spas" ranges of quality spas.

All our spas are manufactured to the highest standards & have full manufacturers warranty. These spas have relatively low power requirements & are very economical. Prices start from €3,750. Models seat 2 to 7 people. For more information on our range check out our website:

+44 (0)1274 724 545

info@dsdremovalsltd.com

www.dsdremovalsltd.com facebook.com/DSDRemovals

MAN + VAN Peugeot Boxer

Buggs Car Hire www.buggscarhire.com see pg 9

LCS 23 Autos

Help at home

05 55 83 02 77 \ 06 30 90 58 90

European Vehicle Transport Visit: www.lcs23.com or see our ad - pg 19

We can help look after your house, garden and animals and even clean your house.

www.themanwithavan.info vanrouge@mail.com

(+33) 07.61.21.85.15 Siret : 532 526 001 00013

part or full loads

www.transitionremovals.com

UK - France - UK, or local removals. Maximum 46m3 capacity. Specialist horse / pet transport available. We offer a professional, reliable and competitive service.

Tel: Carl 05 55 81 39 74 or Colin 09 83 04 57 36

Email: Camionremovals23@gmail.com Siret: 533 893 327 00015

sales@thebugle.eu SUDOKU - EASY

One off or regular service. For more information, call Angela:

07 81 31 45 47

Cash paid for scrap All Limousin covered Anything considered Any quantity

Tel: 05 55 37 45 35 Mob: 06 74 21 47 71 siret 532 981 198 00015

Dedicated transport service -

Transition Removals see main ad - pg 10

General

Camion Removals

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

(+33) 05 55 34 19 46

05 55 41 17 76

sales@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

05 55 33 21 59 Siret 530 213 644 00012

Bergerac & Limoges Airports

Your advert here

Affordable Moves Europewide 18m3 Van / 4.5m load length 29m3 available on request Full loads/ part loads/ single items Regular UK runs.

French Spoken

To raise funds for the SPA dog rescue centre in Guéret. High chair, buggy, travel cot (plus mattress/bedding), changing mat, etc. Each item will incur a hire charge of 10 euros, plus a refundable 10 euros deposit. For more INFO or to HIRE Call Vanessa: 05 55 64 32 08 or email: eq6763@gmail.com

"Official Transporter of The Bugle"

Siret No : 523 955 151 00015

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

BABY/INFANT EQUIPMENT FOR HIRE

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

jonathanpiddock@orange.fr

Man & Van Transport

www.frenchvanman.eu

See our Display Ad - pg 7

• All risk insurance cover • Part loads & dedicated lorries • Professional staff & modern vehicles • Every vehicle from a Luton van to a full removals lorry

The Man With A Van

Numéro Siret: 752 157 610 00011

05.55.63.78.72

France ↔ UK

W: www.milenlighthaulage.co.uk E: info@milenlighthaulage.co.uk

Collections \ Deliveries \ Brico Runs Transport and Small Removals France - UK - Spain - NL Based Nr Aubusson, Dept. 23

Transport, Removals & Storage

www.limousin-spas.com or telephone: 05 55 63 26 20

Stove Sellers www.stovesellers.com

The Removal Experts

with 13.5 m3 Load capacity

05 55 41 17 76 Limousin Spas

DSD Removals & Storage

FABRICA

Everhot stoves supplied & installed across France

Carrefour du Bois Limousin

www.chauffagebois-limousin.com 05 55 63 72 45 - see pg 3

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

05.55.41.17.76

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 29

SUDOKU - HARD

28 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

CLUBS, CHARITIES & ASSOCIATIONS Charities Phoenix Association Phoenix Association is a registered charity that has existed since 2001 to deal with the sad plight of the everincreasing number of abused and abandoned animals in France. Phoenix does not have a 'rescue centre' as such. Sadly, many of the animals it saves have only ever known confinement and isolation, so instead, the animals are placed in foster homes all over South-West France while they wait for their loving and permanent forever homes. This gives Phoenix a better chance of assessing the animal in the normality and comfort of a home which leads to the virtually 100% successful adoption rate. Phoenix is not state funded and so relies on fund-raising and donations to cover the very high re-homing and veterinary costs. Phoenix is formed of a committed but fun and positive team of volunteers, and is always on the lookout for more, so if you are interested in adopting an animal, foster caring or becoming a Member, please visit the Contact page of the website at www.phoenixasso. com and www.facebook.com/ PhoenixAssociationFrance Church Notices

Anglican Holy Communion services are now being conducted by Rev Robert Leone at 2:30 pm on the 1st Sunday of each month at the French Protestant Church, Place du Temple, Thiat (87) near Le Dorat (87) and Montmorillon (86) until the Anglican church is ready for use. For more information email: revrobertleone@gmail.com Monthly Worship in English If your journey of life has brought you here to France, why neglect your journey of faith? We look forward to giving a warm welcome to everyone from whatever Christian tradition (or none) on the 3rd SUNDAY of the MONTH at 3pm. Where? At the Temple in Thiat (in the north of the Haute-Vienne) – we are part of the Parish of the Basse-Marche of the Eglise Protestante Unie de France. The Temple is on the main road close to the Mairie. After worship there is tea/coffee and cake – and a chance to chat. If you want to know more contact Rev Derek Lawson on 05 55 68 53 03 or Rev Stephen Sawyer on 05 49 84 33 86. English-speaking church services Guéret Come as you are... This is an invitation to join us at our CHURCH SERVICE IN ENGLISH. Whether you have a faith or would just like to attend a church service you are welcome at 3pm on the 2nd Sunday of each month at the Eglise Evangélique, 9b Place Bonnyaud, Guéret, 23000. We welcome all who want to join a group of English-speaking Christians for a time of worship and learning together. Children are very welcome. For more details contact Jim & Pat Scott on 05 55 67 54 78 / email scott.james@neuf.fr or Ian & Becky Jefferies on 05 55 61 10 23 / email mail@otiumsanctus.com Christians together in Limousin La Souterraine Area We hold a time of fellowship and Bible study every Tuesday afternoon. Barbara and Cedric look forward to welcoming you. Tel: 05 55 71 09 04 The International Free Church in Creuse The church presently meets at 10, La Chaudronnière, a small hamlet midway between Crozant and Eguzon. Sunday worship meetings are held

on the first and third Sundays of the month at 10.30am. Fellowship meetings, for mid-week prayer, bible study and discussion are at the same venue every Thursday at 7.30pm. For further information contact Eric Sutton tel 05 55 89 26 62 Fitness & Fun Keepfit (Bonjour La Forme) Held at Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs in the Salle Polyvalente: Mon evening at 19.45-20.45 for cardiac and muscle exercises; Thurs afternoon at 15.00-16.00 for gentle exersises. All are welcome to join us. Contact Jeanette 09 62 58 49 03 (Eng) or Catherine 05 55 66 67 30 (Fr) for more info. PENSOL Indoor Carpet Bowls We meet on Wednesdays at 2.30pm-5.00pm. Come along for a fun afternoon, a warm welcome in a warm hall, refreshments and equipment provided. Ladies and Gents welcome. The venue is the salle polyvalente at PENSOL - 87440 on the D67 between Marval and Dournazac, clearly indicated from the village, or from Piégut-Pluviers take the D91. Come and have a free trial, with our slightly smaller Bowls and 33` carpet. NO heavy lifting. Established club and club Leader. Registered and insured. Please phone Hilary for any enquiries on 09 72 23 13 20 or r.h.brayshaw@gmx.com Tai Chi, Pakua & Qigong Tai Chi, Pakua & Qigong classes organised by the ACAMIES (association culturelle d'arts martiaux internes et d'exercices de santé). Wed: Jarnages, 18h30-20h, Salle Polyvalente. Thu: Bétête, 19h-20h30, Domaine de Tournessac. OPEN DAY Sun 6th Oct at the salle de la mairie, Jarnages from 9h-12h. Individual classes, courses, massage & treatments also available. Contact: 06 48 00 02 07 http://acamies.e-monsite.com Keep Fit Amazing abs, breathtaking buttocks! Come and join our group at the CAPE in Pontarion. We are all ages, all sizes, men & women, but are serious about keeping fit. Our “monitrice” is English and will happily provide bilingual instructions. We meet every Thursday at 8p.m. in Pontarion Town Hall, for a one-hour workout. Come for a free trial, or call 05 55 64 98 87 or 06 32 42 95 68 for more details. Indoor Bowling at Oradour-surVayres If you already play or have never tried indoor bowling then come along to a meeting. It's great fun and easy to play. If you have never played it before we will show you how. We meet every Monday evening starting at 18.30 hrs at La Chapelle, avenue des Chapelles, 87150 Oradour-surVayres. Come and try it - it's free. If you require further information or directions to our venue please contact me - Email: Oradour-Bowling@ gmx.com or telephone: 05 55 08 41 75 Zumba! Regular zumba classes across depts 36, 18 & northern 23. For more info tel 06 58 37 17 04 - email evezumba36@gmail.com and for details of classes visit www. zumbazumba.fr Indoor Short-mat Bowling at Cussac 87150....and now Outdoor too! As the premier bowls club in the Haute-Vienne, we are going from strength to strength with members seeking us out and travelling great distances to continue their love of bowls or simply to 'try us out'. Our reputation as a "very friendly and welcoming club" goes before us. If you've never tried the game, just come along and take a look; there is

far more to it than first appears! We are a formally registered association within the French system and benefit from assistance from our local commune by use of a wonderful indoor venue. AND NOW...the use of a synthetic outdoor court where Flat-green, Crown and Short-mat can be played. Just imagine the summer evenings with a drink in your hand, watching fellow bowlers enjoying the quiet of village, interrupted only by the 'click' or 'tunk' of bowl against bowl! Our regular sessions indoors are Wednesday evening at 8pm and Thursday Mornings at 10am. Outdoor sessions will be arranged as the spring arrives so keep in touch. Serious bowlers and beginners are welcome - club bowls are available for use. For further information contact cussac-bowls-club@live.co.uk or telephone 05 55 50 40 89. Association Equilibre, le mouvement du corps Yoga for all levels: Tue 18:30 Aubusson, Pied au plancher (Espace Philips); Wed 18:30 Vallière, salle polyvalante. Pregnancy/Post Natal: Tue 17:00 Aubusson, Pied au Plancher (Espace Philips) For further information tel 06 83 24 62 72 or visit www.spaequilibre. yolasite.com Chinese Gym & Karate Mondays & Thursdays 19h30-21h at the DOJO, Allée Jean-Marie Couturier, Aubusson. Warm and friendly atmosphere. For more info tel 06 08 92 30 53 Tai Chi at Boussac and La Châtre Tai Chi classes in Boussac (Tue 18.15 - 19.45) and La Châtre (Thu 18.15 - 19.45). The first two lessons are free, the subscriptions are 36 euros per month and members can go to both venues having paid this fee. The style is that of Yang. All ages and abilities welcome, but folk must bear in mind that they will be on their feet, doing the equivalent of what one might classify as light exercise, for about an hour and a half. For more information contact 05 55 65 08 20. Gym Bien-être Would you like to be more supple? Come to our gym class on Thursday mornings from 10.30am to 11.30am, where we do gentle exercises to help all our muscles and joints. The classes are held in Rochechouart in the Capitole building, upstairs. Our group is part of a National Federation of Gymnastics. For information contact Pauline at pauline.maskell@ sfr.fr Learn to Meditate Learn to meditate and meet other like-minded people. Simple mindfulness technique. Dechen Choling, Le Mas Marvent, St-Yrieixsous-Aixe, 87700. Also, ongoing regular group meetings and events. Contact tel Christina 05 55 03 82 01 www.dechencholing.org Gardening Les petits jardiniers du Limousin http://jardiniers-du-limousin. webs.com Do you have a love of gardening and a desire to learn more about growing plants, flowers, fruit, vegetables and trees in this region? If you do, then come and join our friendly group to meet like-minded people. With a different topic or visit each month there's something for everyone. We meet on the third Thursday of each month (excluding February) in the Mairie at St-Amandle-Petit (between Eymoutiers and Peyrat-le-Château). Meetings start at 2.30pm and everyone is made very welcome. For more information contact Carolyn at carolyn@cnlees. eu or Gerda at g_hoogenboom@ yahoo.ca Agenda for 2015:

19 Mar Summer bulbs, corms and tubers; 16 Apr Hanging baskets: what and how to plant, with demonstrations; 21 May Pruning: the how, what, when and why; 18 Jun Talk by Andrew Williams on permaculture; 13 Jul (MON) Picnic and visit to commercial bio-vegetable grower, including companion planting; 20 Aug Summer lunch at the home of Carolyn Lees; 6 Sep (SUN) 3rd Annual Show at St-Amand-le-Petit; 15 Oct AGM followed by 'Preparing the garden for winter'; 19 Nov Slide show presentation by Michel Peyrat; 17 Dec Gardeners' Question Time and Christmas Party. All meetings (unless stated otherwise) are held on the third Thursday of the month. Meetings start at 2.30pm and are held in the Mairie, St-Amand-le-Petit. Starting times and venues of visits tba. Club Liseron – Gardening Club Meets on the 2nd Mon evening of the month at 19.30 at the Salle des Fêtes in Massignac. We're a mixed bunch of English & French, who are united by a passion for gardens and gardening, sharing plants, seeds and information. More info from Sally on 05 45 21 30 20 or Craig on 05 45 89 33 50 or mccolville@orange.fr ** The Club has a new president, Véronique Granet, a very dynamic and enthusiastic person. ** Aux Plantes, etc. We are an association of independent, ethically-minded and passionate plant producers. Our aim is to encourage consumers to know more about the plants they buy, how they were produced and their needs, thereby avoiding the disappointments that so often come with mass produced plants. It’s not just about us selling you plants - we want them to thrive and do well for you! Current members include plantspeople specialising in unusual shrubs & trees, butterfly plants, heritage vegetables and flowers, irises, perennials and droughttolerant plants. For more info contact Michelle Pierce 05 45 89 36 54 or visit: www.auxplantesetc.jimdo.com Les Jardins de Sirius Based in Pressignac, Charente, we are a small association of people who are keen on gardening. As well as finding plants an endless source of interest, we believe that the simple fact of gardening has numerous positive benefits for health, stress, social interaction - in other words, our daily lives - and we’d like to encourage this aspect. We run flower workshops on the first Saturday afternoon of the month. If you’d like to get involved, have more info on the association or become a member, please contact Michelle Pierce on 05 45 89 36 54 or at unjardinenfrance@ gmail.com Integration International Apero Reseau We are a group of French and English people who meet each Saturday from 11.30am-1pm at Les Picards Restaurant (formerly Bailey’s), 5 rue de l’Abreuvoir, Aubusson. These meetings offer the opportunity to: exchange views - make new friends - share experiences - have fun together - help and advise one another - help intergrate newcomers. Discussions in English (all nationalities welcome). For more information please contact Catherine 06 86 17 80 88, Francois 07 86 29 97 98, Olivia 05 55 83 30 82 or jan.senior@yahoo.co.uk. English and French spoken. Learning Together – Apprenons Ensemble We are a friendly club based in Rochechouart and our aim is to

promote good relations amongst the local French-speaking and Englishspeaking community. We offer courses of tuition in English and French as well as organising social and cultural events including visits to places of interest. For further information please visit our website www.learningtogether. moonfruit.com, email us at learningtogether87@gmail.com or telephone our President Sue Ratcliffe on 05 45 31 50 86. We look forward to hearing from you. The Melting Pot Members of the Ambassador's Club of the Welcome en Limousin Association. We are a group of around 70 members, both French and British, who meet with the aim of sharing things and trying to integrate with the French community. We meet every week at the Ancienne Ecole in Darnac, on a Wednesday morning from 10am - 12noon, except for the first Wednesday, when we meet in the evening at 8pm. We hold information meetings, plant swaps, BBQ's, games nights, visits and have guest speakers about topics relevant to living in France. Contact: www.meltingpot-limousin. com Charente Limousine Exchange The Charente-Limousine-Exchange (CLE), founded in 2003, aims to improve the provision of French language courses and to share experiences and skills among members who live in Charente, Vienne and Haute-Vienne. CLE provides information to members living and/or working in France and works with local communities and organisations to tackle practical issues through forums and workshops, as well as organising a wide range of cultural and social events throughout the year. The recent launch of English lessons has been well attended by Confolentais. If you would like to know more about this group of volunteers, please look on our new website www.charentelimousine-exchange.com or contact the Chairman, Barry Leech, on 06 35 96 77 46. Libraries & Books Sale of Second-hand Books, La Croisille-sur-Briance On the 18th of every month, during the monthly market at La Croisillesur-Briance (87130), there is a sale of second-hand books (both English and French) from 9am to 12 noon, at the old garage in La Place - next door to the pharmacy. All proceeds towards the restoration of the church. La Souterraine English Library and Information Centre Located in the historic Porte de Puy Charraud, at 10 rue de Portail, La Souterraine, we are a lively, wellstocked English language library with almost 10,000 books and media available to borrow. We have an attractive cafe which serves tea, coffee and a range of home-made cakes. There is also a regularly changing display of works by local artists and an interesting brocante area on the ground floor. The Library offers classes in French for English speakers with a professional teacher and also organises Anglo-French conversation groups in association with the Municipal Library in La Souterraine. There are also a number of thriving special interest groups, such as the Gardening Group, Camera Club, Friendship Group, etc. We also provide support & assistance in bureaucratic and administrative matters for both existing British residents as well as newcomers to the area. Whatever your interests don’t hesitate to pay us a visit and you will be made most welcome. We are open from 09.30 until 12.30,

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MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Mon, Thu, Fri & Sat. For more info tel 05 55 89 57 62 during opening hours or visit www.englishlibrary.fr The English Library, Dun-le-Palestel The English Library, which has now been established for over 5 yrs, is situated in the Route des Rateries, beside the Bibliothèque Municipale, Parc Benjamin Bord. The library is a very welcoming meeting place, where you can come and enjoy a cup of tea, or coffee, whilst you browse through our collection of around 7,500 books, DVDs and talking books. Our opening hours are Thursdays, 10h00 – 16h00 and Saturdays 10h00 – 12h30. Also, on the first Tuesday of every month, 10h00 – 12h00, you are invited to join us for our Club Franglais, which welcomes people from all nationalities, to chat in French, English or any language you wish(!) whilst enjoying a cup of tea, and a piece of home-made cake. We host a range of other activities too, including the Café Philo, and Club Scrabble, More information can be found on the Entente Cordiale website at www. ententecordiale-creuse.org or email us at library.ententecordiale@yahoo.com

be possible if necessary. Contacts: French language Marie-France Martinie 05 55 30 76 23 / English language Alan Kerr 05 55 56 34 52 The Harmonics This is our 6th season of singing as a group. Our music is varied classical, madrigals, spiritual, songs from the shows etc and we sing in French, English, Swahili, Latin - whatever the music demands. Our concerts are in support of a variety of charities including the British Legion, L'Oregon at Civray and Retina and thus non profit making. We meet Wed 14h – 16h in the Salle d'Annexe behind the Mairie in Civray. Interested? We'd love to see you so contact: David Lee tel 05 49 87 53 93 email dave.lee@cegetel.net or Dolly Ait Boualou email sylvia.murray@ wanadoo.fr Support

Music

Music Club Boussac

The venue of the Club de Musique & Music in Boussac "open mic" night has changed. We welcome musicians of all levels and styles, spectators and all music lovers to join us for an evening of musical entertainment and fun at L'Origan restaurant, 34 rue Vincent, Boussac 23600 from 20h until midnight on the last Saturday of each month. The next event will be Feb 28th A PA system will be available. For only 8€ Christophe, the chef and proprietor, will be offering a special formule of Fish & Chips or a small pizza of choice from a Reine, Campagnarde, 4 fromages or Creusoise plus a drink. His normal extensive menu is also available. Food served until 22h. For more info please contact Dave and Bev gemsandcrystalsmail@gmail.com tel 05 55 65 19 24 OR Rosie and Mervyn mervynjw@aol.com. tel 05 55 65 70 06

Open Mic Night If you like music and have ever fancied getting up and having a go, why not come along to our Open Mic Night at “Le Loch Ness” in La Souterraine town centre every Friday around 8.30pm. L'Orchestre Philharmonique de La Souterraine If you or one of your family are interested in playing in an orchestra and think your standard might be adequate do get in contact with us. We meet weekly on Friday evenings in La Souterraine (apart from the summer holidays) to rehearse. Most of our concerts are around Xmas or May-July. Our members come from all over Limousin so lifts to and fro may

Alcoholics Anonymous If you or someone you know has a drinking problem, there are now English-speaking meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous at Limoges, Périgueux and the recently opened meeting at Civray. Alcoholics Anonymous is a Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop drinking. There are no dues or fees for A.A. membership and A.A. is not allied with any sect, denomination, politics, organization or institution. Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help other alcoholics to achieve sobriety. For details of the meetings or other information contact Roger 05 55 76 22 65 (Limoges), Ewen 05 53 05 76 62 (Périgueux) or Angela 05 49 87 79 09 (Civray). Other meetings in South-West France can be located on our web-site at aafrancesudouest.com English-speaking council surgery ...for residents of the commune of StLéger-Magnazeix. Every 2nd Weds in the month, an English-speaking council surgery with councillors Manuela Stroescu and Patrick Johnson will take place at the Mairie between 11am and 12pm. Cancer Support France, Charente Plus Offers free and confidential support to English speakers affected by cancer in

EASY

MEDIUM

We look forward to greeting you all at this new venue.

departments 16, 17 & 86. Our helpline number is 06 45 35 32 30. If you need any more information, please get in touch via csf.charenteplus@gmail.com Cancer Support France, Haute-Vienne (supporting Creuse, too) The AGM for Cancer Support France Haute-Vienne is being held at the Mairie in Videix (87600) on Wednesday 4 March at 2.30 pm. The doors will open at 2 pm. Everybody welcome. For further details please phone 05 55 00 31 15. Sue Ware President, CSF H-V We offer free and confidential support to English speakers affected by Cancer in the Haute-Vienne (87) and Creuse (23). Our helpline number is 06 04 43 39 87. If you would like more information or would like to become a member or help in any other way, please contact Sue Ware 05 55 00 31 15, csfhv@frangle.fr Elizabeth Finn Care Registered charity Elizabeth Finn Care is able to offer direct financial assistance to British and Irish nationals or residents who live overseas. We ensure that our help does not affect any means-tested payments. For more information contact: Mary Hughes - Case worker France, Elizabeth Finn Care - tel 04 68 23 43 79 or visit www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk and www. turn2us.org.uk L’Association France Alzheimer Dordogne Charitable organisation offering Englishspeaking support and guidance to anyone dealing with the day-to-day difficulties affecting those with dementia, their families and their carers and assistance with how to access the best provisions of care. English Helpline (available on Tuesday mornings between 10am and midday): 09 64 21 40 86. For more information email alzheimer. dordogne@orange.fr or visit www. francealzheimer-dordogne.org

We rely on you to help us keep these pages up to date, so please do inform us of any changes to clubs and associations that you run or are members of. Many thanks!!

HARD

SOS Selena looking for a foster family Selena is a mixed Labrador-Whippet. She is now 9 years old and is one of the dogs that doesn't cope well at the SPA, with all the stress and noise. She is calm, friendly, but tends to protect her family, so no tiny children please. It would be lovely to find her a foster home for her late years - it would be terrible for her to end her life at the SPA. She is still in good shape and will make a good guard dog. She copes with males and isn't too interested in females. Any questions, contact either the SPA on 05.55.48.06.75 or Katharina (volunteer) for information in English on 06.66.24.95.49. Thank you!

30 ♦ COMMUNITY RESTAURANT

AUX CEPES La Veytizou

On the main road (D979), Between Limoges & Eymoutiers ~~~~~~~~~ Sat 14th MAR - open mic/Music night Come along and join in, treat yourself to a lovely meal or just have a drink and enjoy the music. +++++++++++ Thu 19th MAR - Curry and Quiz Night For just €8.50 or for those a little hungrier, €10.50. +++++++++++ Sat 28th MAR - MUSIC BY JOHN MARTIN Spring's here so celebrate it with music by John Martin and one of Sue's all you can eat buffets - BOOK NOW! +++++++++++ SUN 5th APR - CRAFT FAIR With cream tea and cakes (hot food also available)

~~~~~~~~~ For more information on any of the above or reservations call Sue on 05 55 69 33 38 or email susan.dorrington87@orange.fr

Soie et Bois / Chez Amanda

After five wonderful years at number 4, we have moved to... number 8 rue Principale, St-Mathieu. It's bigger, brighter and warmer... Amanda and Louise look forward to welcoming you all to the new abode. It will be known more familiarly as Chez Amanda henceforth. We will be taking in more men's garments and also some for teenagers. We can't wait to show you around and, in the meantime, I want to thank you for your loyalty, custom, friendship and warmth over the past five years.

Tel: 05.55 48.28.89

Roussis Maid

(formerly Cartes de Christine) Find us at the following weekly markets: Piégut and Brantôme and at the following monthly markets: Chasseneuil, Aigre and Confolens. Still selling cards and aprons made by ourselves.

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Bugle Notice Board

JJ’s Café Bar Aigurande Music Club

Next event: 21st March - 8.30 pm Beef Rendang - €8 pp (by pre-order only) ** Please note: this month's Music Night is on the 3rd Sat. We will be back to our usual 2nd Sat slot next month. JJ's Music club is for musicians of all levels and genres entry is free, there is no membership and is open to everyone who loves music. The club starts from 8:30, but we are open for all those who want to come earlier. In fact we hardly ever shut !!!!

JJ's Cafe Bar, 39 Place du Champ de Foire, 36140 Aigurande

Tel: 02 54 06 30 77

Email: cafebarjj@yahoo.co.uk

Très Jolie

Mon Chic Cottage

Fashion Accessories Where to find me this month: Every Wednesday - Piegut Market

LE DORAT (Pl. Charles de Gaulle) Home Decor & Gifts Tea, coffee & home-made scones / cakes

Items arriving daily, please see my facebook page 'Tres Jolie Milhaguet' to see what's new.

Official Stockist & Workshop for Chalk Paint™ by Annie Sloan & Neal’s Yard Remedies Organic Decorative Paint Workshops To learn the basis of using Chalk Paint™ & ask questions, join us on a workshop. All materials included. To book contact Jay.

Mail order available, email for more details. Most items now stocked at the 'Coeur et Etoile', St-Mathieu

05 55 78 62 29 / 06 04 08 29 53 tres.jolie1@orange.fr

Le Moulin du Breuil

Opening hours: Tue-Fri, 10h00-17h00. Workshops on Mon by appointment only.

Restaurant, Bar, Terrasse

23140 PIONNAT

05 87 77 95 59

info@monchiccottage.com www.monchiccottage.com

Spring Quiz - Fri 27th March, 7pm We are 'kicking off' the season with our Spring Quiz and a meal - still great value at €10. Book ahead or come and make up a team on the night. Easter Sunday - 5th April We will be offering our very popular Easter Sunday lunchtime menu - €27.50 for 4 courses. Please ensure you book early to avoid disappointment. (We will also be open for lunch on Easter Monday) Advance Notice - April Soirée Sat April 25th - €19.50 Join us on facebook: www.facebook.com/lemoulindubreuil and follow us on twitter: @lmdb_pionnat

Petticoat Lane

We will be at Panazol Sunday market on 1st & 15th March Easter Cards & Easter Eggs are now in stock Also Mother's Day cards available (Mother's Day, UK - 15th March)

sales@petticoatlaneshop.com http://www.petticoatlaneshop.com/

Tel: 05 55 80 37 70 Mail: info@lemoulindubreuil.com Web: www.lemoulindubreuil.com

5 Rue Nationale – 16150 Chabanais

All enquires can be made via e-mail to: ellinghamroam764@yahoo.com

Tel: 05 45 29 03 99

Hacks/Trail rides Must be experienced in 3 gaits.

Les Trefles Traditional Irish Band

FFE licence recommended.

La Belardière - Fresselines

NE Creuse area (23140).

Pianist/ vocalist available for events/ gigs/ private parties etc... New Orleans old time jazz n blues n boogie... Call: 07.61.21.85.15

Wanted, experienced shopfitters Experienced shopfitters required for installs all across France. Joiners, electricians and labourers also required. Email: contact@reactive-resource.com

Limousin Dog Training We have new puppy training and beginners classes starting at Les Grands-Chézeaux & St-Barbant For more information, please contact Elaine on:

05 55 68 67 56 or 06 04 47 35 19

To find out more contact Karen on:

In concert Sat eve, 14th March

or email: holidays@la-coterie.com

Tel 06 84 13 17 94 for further information

05 55 80 83 30

5th Annual Fund-raiser in aid of the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Landouge, Limoges After the huge success last year's Annual Fund-raiser to raise money for the Guide Dogs for the Blind School in Landouge, a Fifth Fund-raiser will be held on Sunday 21st June from 1pm to 5pm. The venue once again will be in our large garden come rain or shine, at 17 avenue du 8 Mai 1945, 87150 Oradour-Sur-Vayres. For further information please contact Roger and Christine Thomas on 05 55 78 83 05.

WHAT’S ON ♦ 31

MARCH 2015 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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France, UK and Europe - €16 per year

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

http://www.la-megisserie.fr/

TUESDAY

Auzances Bénévant-l’Abbaye Bussière-Poitevine Champagnac-la-Rivière Genouillac Gouzon Laurière Limoges (Le Vigenal) Peyrat-le-Château Rochechouart Royère-de-Vassivière Saint-Sulpice-les-Feuilles

WEDNESDAY

Ahun Bourganeuf Chambon-sur-Voueize Cognac-la-Forêt Clugnat Isle Le Dorat Limoges (pont St Martial) Luchapt (5-7pm) Nantiat Séreilhac

THURSDAY

Boussac Coussac-Bonneval Dun-le-Palestel Guéret Limoges Bastide et Corgnac Magnac-Laval

Oradour-sur-Vayres (except 3rd Thu) Peyrat-le-Château Saint-Sulpice-les-Champs Saint-Victurnien La Souterraine

FRIDAY

Aigurande Aixe-sur-Vienne Ambazac Bessines-sur-Gartempe Bosmie l’Aiguille (16h - 19h30) Bujaleuf Châlus (except 2nd Fri) Châteauponsac Châtelus-Malvaleix Couzeix (16h30 - 19h30) Le Dorat Felletin Limoges (place des Bancs et Beaubreuil) Nexon Pierre-Buffière Rochechouart St-Etienne-de-Fursac Saint-Sulpice-Laurière Verneuil-sur-Vienne(15h18h30)

SATURDAY

Aixe-sur-Vienne Aubusson Bellac Bonnat Bussière-Poitevine

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: 13,000 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.

Châteauponsac Condat-sur-Vienne Eymoutiers Feytiat Flavignac Guéret La Châtre La Jonchère-St-Maurice La Souterraine Limoges (place des Bancs et place Marceau) Le Palais-sur-Vienne Mainsat (4th Sat only) Nantiat Peyrat-le-Château Rochechouart Saint-Junien St-Léonard-de-Noblat Saint-Mathieu Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche

SUNDAY

Bessines-sur-Gartempe Blond Crocq (1st and 3rd Sun) Jarnages Panazol Peyrat-le-Château Saint-Paul St-Sulpice-le-Guéretois (3rd Sun) Saint-Vaury (2nd Sun) Veyrac (2nd Sun)

BY DATE

Aixe-sur-Vienne: 1st Fri Ambazac: 1st Wed Auzances: 2nd Tue Bourganeuf: 1st & 3rd Wed Boussac: 1st & 3rd Thu Bujaleuf: Last Mona Châlus: 2nd Thu Châteauneuf-la-Forêt: 2nd Sun Cognac-la-Forêt: 1st Tue Cussac: 4th Sun Domps: 2nd Tue Dun-le-Palestel: 1st Thu Evaux-les-Bains: 1st Mon Eymoutiers: 1st & 3rd Thu Feytiat: 1st Sat La Souterraine 2nd & 4th Sat Magnac-Bourg: 2nd Sat Meuzac: 4th Mon Mézières-sur-Issoire: 2nd & 4th Mon Nexon: 3rd Fri Oradour-sur-Vayres: 3rd Thu Peyrat-le-Château: 3rd Mon Peyrilhac: 3rd Sun Pierre-Buffière: 1st Fri Royère-de-Vassivière: 2nd Tue Saint-Germain-les-Belles: last Sat Saint-Jouvent: 1st Sun Saint-Junien: 3rd Sat Saint-Léonard-de-Noblat: 1st Mon Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche: 2nd & 4th Fri Sauviat-sur-Vige: 2nd Mon Veyrac: 2nd Sun

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: 13,000 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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BY DAY

1: (prev day if public holiday): Bellac 3: Bellegarde-en-Marche 3: Châteauponsac 5: Bussière-Poitevine 5: Chénérailles 6: Bussière-Boffy 8: Compreignac 9: Saint-Sulpice-Laurière 11 (Sat if 11 is a Sun): Bessines-surGartempe 13 (Sat if 13 is a Sun): Le Dorat 15: Oradour-sur-Glane 17: Mortemart 18: La Croisille-sur-Briance; La JonchèreSaint-Maurice 20: Chénérailles 21: Ambazac; Saint-Sulpice-les-Feuilles 22 (Mon if 22 is a Sun): Magnac-Laval 23: Razès; St Laurent sur Gorre 24: Nantiat 25: Blond - St Paul 26: Nouic; Rochechouart 28: Cieux 29: Laurière

All Markets & Foires are in the morning unless stated otherwise. If your local market is not listed, please let us know - editor@thebugle.eu

st April From 1 school old e h Near t ite the Oppos field sports

05 55 41 17 76

MONDAY

Evaux-les-Bains

MONTHLY FOIRES

editor@thebugle.eu

WEEKLY MARKETS

32 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MARCH 2015

Wed 28th Jan to Fri 13th Mar AHUN Exhibition "Les Formis"

jazz, flamenco... there is something for everyone! Concerts take place in auberges and cafes across the region and take the form of an apero-tchatche (debate on something topical or related to the territory) before lunch and an afternoon concert. For full details and to download the programme visit http://www.payssage.net/ Sun 1st Mar BOUSSAC Dimanche du loisir créatif Creative hobbies fair at the Salle Polyvalente in Boussac: sale of wool, fabric, books, beads, haberdashery, embroidery, plus workshops and demonstrations. 9h-18h. Tel 06 09 39 10 46 or 06 50 66 77 48 for more information. Sun 1st Mar LIMOGES Carnival

Departs 15h from the Champ de Juillet. Fri 20th to Sun 22nd Mar LIMOGES Limoges Salsa Carnival The programme is composed of an opening night with shows on the Friday evening, two days of workshops, with the customary traditional costume party and concert on the Saturday evening. Centre Culturel Municipal John Lennon, rue de Feytiat, 87000 Limoges Tel: 05 55 06 24 83 For more info visit http://www.carnaval-salsa.com/ Sat 21st Mar BOURGANEUF Carnival Carnival on the streets of Bourganeuf. Afternoon of entertainment with face painting, magic, stilts and percussion to accompany the parade of carnival floats. RDV from 13h30 on the place du champ de foire.

Exhibition about the life of ants, anthills, their hierarchy & the organisation of the life of an anthill. Tourist Office - Mon-Sat 9h30-12h & 14h-18h. Free entry. Sat 10th Jan to Sun 15th Mar Les Bistrots d’Hiver 2015 The Bistrots d'Hiver are back to liven up winter Sundays in and around the Plateau de Millevaches. Organised by the association Pays'Sage this season sees a diverse programme including French song, blues, Celtic music,

Sat 21st Mar FELLETIN Choral concert Concert of choral music with the choirs Cantate en Fa & Diapason from Montaigut en Combraille. Espace Tibord du Chalard. 20h. Participation libre.

Get out your costumes! Since 1998, the city of Limoges has been organising its carnival on the first Sunday in March. A continuous effort has allowed the creation of unique floats, matched by top quality musical entertainment. The growing reputation of the Limoges Carnival has opened up the event to national and foreign musical troupes. A fantastic day out to enjoy with friends or family.

Sat 21st Mar GUÉRET Irish Celtic With its precise choreography, explosive tap, catchy music & colourful costumes, this show will transport you to the heart of Ireland. On stage, the talented dancers of the legendary Irish show Riverdance, Celtic Tiger and Lord of the Dance who have chosen to put their experience to a unique performance: Irish Celtic. Choreographed by Denise Flynn and Jim Murrihy & accompanied by the best Irish musicians - listen out for the sublime melodies heard in Titanic, Braveheart, The Last of the Mohicans and other traditional music. Espace André Lejeune. 15h & 20h30. Tickets €39 via Guéret tourist office (05 55 52 14 29) or online at www. fnac.com or www.ticketnet.fr or www.francebillet.com