The Bugle Dordogne - May 2016 by The Bugle

Dordogne author hits bestseller list

A local author has hit the bestseller list on

both sides of the Atlantic with her debut >> Page 4 novel “The Widow”.

Dordogne May 2016 - Issue #35

First NHS patients treated in France A hospital in Calais has become the first to treat patients from across the Channel under a groundbreaking deal that will see patients pay for their own transport to France, but have their care paid for by the NHS, slashing waiting times for many. signed agreements with South Kent Coast NHS whereby patients would travel at their own expense to France but the British health service would cover the cost of the surgery. The Centre Hospitalier de Calais has trained dozens of nurses and support staff in English, and an NHS sign now hangs at its entrance. “The Calais hospital is now affiliated to the NHS - it’s as if a British patient was in England,” said Thaddée Segard, a businessman who acted as the go-between for the hospital and the NHS. “It allows British people to reduce their waiting times, it allows France to demonstrate the quality of its hospitals, it helps the town of Calais to improve its tarnished image in the eyes of the English and it helps the hospital, which is able to absorb the costs through higher fees than

>> continued on page 8

NEWS - Stolen artwork could now be returned

Information in the Panama Papers could lead to a €25 million painting, looted in the war, being returned to its rightful owner in the Dordogne >> Page 5

NEWS - French chef wins pizza crown

A French chef has walked away with the top prize at the recent World Pizza Championships, days after Italy claimed it had the world's best wine >> Page 12

BILINGUAL - Cheese rolling - Only in the UK!

British patient has become the first person to be treated under the NHS in a French hospital. Timothy Brierley lives in the village of Lyminge, Kent, just a 15-minute drive from the Channel Tunnel, and said prior to his operation that travelling to France was no less convenient than going to his local hospital, but claimed the difference in waiting times was staggering. Rather than a potential delay of up to 10 months, his routine gall bladder removal was performed in France after a wait of just a few weeks. The procedure was performed at the Centre Hospitalier de Calais, one of two hospitals that last year won the rights to provide services for NHS patients. The hospitals

INSIDE > > >

We take a bilingual look at what makes men and women risk serious injury and throw themselves down a steep hill after a cheese >> Page 15

The Bugle Business Directory

Bergerac Airport has unveiled direct flights to London City with British Airways >> Page 5

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

3 pages of listings for local English-speaking businesses - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 17-19

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

am a big fan of France - despite the occasional run-in with its labyrinthine bureaucracy - to the extent where I am sometimes accused of painting too rosy a picture of life over here as an expat. It can be tough, of course, especially if you are trying to run a business! Every time the RSI sends me a bill, there are so many zeroes on it that I'm convinced it must still be in old French Francs! I do love France, but I am also someone that loves the country of my birth. I don't believe that the two are mutually exclusive, so I also shy away from pushing the line that “things are so much better

over here”. They are not, in most cases they are simply different. Health care is one area, however, where I do think that France is in a different league. Whilst our lead story may sadden some, it is an indication of how good the system in France is. I am a huge supporter of the NHS, particularly the idea behind it. Universal, free health care at the point of service is an amazing thing and those living in Britain are incredibly lucky to have it. The NHS does seem to be struggling, however, so whilst our lead story may cause some to cry “Broken Britain”, patients that take advantage of the scheme will be getting a very good deal! Yes, as

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all self-employed people will attest, you can pay an eye-watering amount in social charges in France, but on the few occasions I've made use of the health care system over here, it has felt worth every penny. I'm sure that some will have had less positive experiences of health care in France and maybe I have so far been “lucky”, but you can at least see where the money goes. My sister-in-law recently gave birth to her second child back in the UK and we happened to have some French friends over when we received a video call the day after the birth to introduce us to the new arrival. After the call our friends were very confused. “I thought you said the baby was born last night?” It was. “But she looks like she's at home?” She was. This began a long comparison of the two systems. To our friends it was bordering on barbaric that a mother should back home from hospital within two or three days, let alone less than 24 hours.

My wife was in hospital for 6 nights with our first and welled up in the foyer on the way home as she didn't want to leave, although that may say more about living with me than the quality of Guéret hospital! One article from the British press on the first NHS operation in France ended with the unanswered question of whether the food was better. Personally, I have never eaten in a UK hospital, but I can say that when my wife has been in French hospitals with our three children, I have on occasion considered taking a lump hammer to my own ankle and booking a stay. On one three-night sojourn she was served up duck, rabbit and veal on consecutive days, each as part of a four-course meal. It set a dangerous precedent that I struggled to match when she came home! That is not to say that the French have got it all right. The service is, in my experience, fantastic, but the way it is paid for

is sometimes baffling. To visit my doctor, I must write him a cheque for the consultation. This money then makes its way through at least 2 other organisations, before it is eventually refunded to me several weeks later, less €1 for everyone's trouble! That can't be right. I very much hope I do not become an expert on hospitals on either side of the Channel, but if in the future I find myself living in the south of England and needing surgery, there's a good chance I will be on the next ferry over! Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales24@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions24@thebugle.eu Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois

INSIDE this edition 3-6 Local News 7-12 National News 13 French Life 14 Practical 15 Bilingual 16 Games 17-19 Directory 20 Community 21-24 What’s On

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Ernest still remains a mystery by woodland and attractive rolling hills of pasture and fallow meadows. The principal produce of its 400 inhabitants nowadays is tourism. Alongside the horrific rumours go more serious 21st century examinations of the remains and the results of the most recent scientific study have just been released. This latest examination has been completed at the Gendarmerie nationale laboratories at Cergy-Pontoise, near Paris. Genealogical studies have revealed that the bones do not belong to Ernest Pagnon de Fontaubert, who died in the US in 1862. As for the skull trauma, the forensic scientists at Cergy-Pontoise found no evidence of injury. The damage has been assessed as natural deterioration over time. X-rays and chemical tests could not provide a date of life or death since the remains have become seriously contaminated by the soil in which they were found. Dental examination proved impossible as the teeth from the skull are missing, possibly taken by souvenir-hunters at some point during the past century. Genealogist Bernard Aumasson is convinced that the skeleton once rested in a long-gone cemetery in Montcigoux, well before the house was built and the cellar dug. Others hold to the theory that Ernest’s

A © Brian Hinchcliffe

ay back in 1913 at Montcigoux, in the tiny village of Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie in the north of the Dordogne, workmen digging out a cellar in the château were shocked and horrified to uncover a human skeleton in a shallow grave below floor level close to the fireplace and with a hole in its skull. The Gendarmerie investigated but no facts were uncovered about the identity of the remains. As time passed a legend grew that these bones belonged to none other than Ernest Pagnon de Fontaubert, a member of the family who once owned the château and who had emigrated to California. The legend was further embellished by a theory that the skull damage was the result of an axe blow. This hypothesis was enlarged to include the deceased’s brother as the putative axe-wielder. In the 1930s another angle added a rumour of incest to the rapidly thickening plot of murder and fratricide. As time slipped by the skeleton acquired a certain following locally and came to be known affectionately as “Ernest”. The commune of Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie has changed over the past hundred years. Once it was a busy, flourishing agricultural community in rich, working farmland. In 2016, the village is largely surrounded

Dordogne couple caught up in station bomb scare

death in America was faked and that the horror story is true! In any case, the mystery remains unsolved, meaning everyone is free to make up their own stories. Ernest is now back in his glass case in the manor tower. His toothless grin suggests he is well amused about the entire affair. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Dordogne couple returning from Florida recently got a taste of the ongoing state of emergency in France. Barbara and Jesse Carter were on the TGV from Paris CDG, after flying in from Tampa, when their trip was suddenly put on hold. As the 1.35 pm TGV to Angoulême neared their destination a message was transmitted that a suspect bomb had been discovered in the station and the train was halted. British expat Jenny Baker from St-Pardoux, waiting to collect her American neighbours at the station, stood in a crowd of subdued passengers 300 metres away as police municipale sealed off the approach roads and pavements and cleared the area around the station. The TGV stood on the tracks just north of Angoulême as Jenny watched the bomb squad arrive at the station. “They came racing in and at 3.15 pm there was a tremendous explosion when they blew up the package in the station. Everyone was very calm and patient, the roads and pathways were opened up straight away and things immediately went back to normal. I was able to go down to the station with the car and meet my friends as if nothing had happened.” The Americans were impressed by the cool and well-organised police action. “There is obviously a clear security plan and it works well. It’s very reassuring,” said Barbara. An SNCF spokesman confirmed that the package destroyed was abandoned luggage. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Dordogne town in bi-annual lunacy

A credit: Brian Hinchcliffe

obody knows what it is, or why it happens or where it came from but in mid-April it came again, as it does every other year! Yes, indeed, it was a “Soufflaculs” year in Nontron. For those whose colloquial French is less than perfect Soufflacul roughly (very roughly) translates as “Bellows Bums”. In reality it means an entire weekend of good-humoured bad behaviour across the north Dordogne town. On the Sunday of every Soufflacul weekend the dancing, wining and dining of Friday and Saturday turn into an enormous crazy parade around this hill-top bourg where two opposing elements come together… bellows and bottoms! Dressed mainly in white nightshirts and caps, armed with bellows and confetti, plus bunches of smelly herrings on a stick, hundreds of Nontronnais of all ages make up a riotous cortège from the top to the bottom of the town, led by a bibulous king and his tatterdemalion courtiers. The two central themes of the parade are bellows to blow up skirts and ladders to climb into houses. If it sounds like utter nonsense, well, it is! There is a tradition reaching back be-

Dordogne writer’s bestseller

fore the Middle Ages, where local labourers were granted a certain licence towards their betters. The same tradition still exists in parts of the UK with Mischief Nights on Mayday or the night before Bonfire Night, and Scottish guising. It is thought that in Nontron the bellows would be associated with the iron and steel industry; Nontron’s fame as a centre for fine steel and quality blades lives on today. Craft cutlery is a speciality and the annual Fête du Couteau draws thousands of visitors from across the world. There seems to be an anti-clerical element, too. Characters in the parade dress up as comic monks, who illustrate another theme, that of wine drinking. This links to the ladder squads who roam the town to beg drink from first storey house windows. However chaotic it sounds it is essentially a very social affair where the spectators are equal partners in the mayhem, and is an event that brings the Nontronnais together. Nontron’s Soufflaculs means a weekend of rumbustious, irreverent ribaldry and enormous fun. As a plus, this being France, even bad behaviour is a civilised business. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

British resident in the Dordogne has hit the bestseller lists with her first book. The novel is “The Widow” by Fiona Barton, who lives in Abjat-sur-Bandiat in the north of the Dordogne. Originally from near Cambridge, the 58-yearold writer moved to France 4 years ago with her husband, Gary. After graduating in French at Warwick University and spending a year as an au pair in Versailles, Fiona made her life-long ambition come true by following her father in becoming a full-time journalist. She worked on a number of UK papers, ranging from the East Grinstead Observer to the Mail on Sunday, and after attaining the post of chief reporter at the Daily Mail, Fiona went on to become news editor of the Telegraph. At the 2001 British Press Awards, Fiona was named Reporter of the Year. Following a career travelling worldwide, reporting on all kinds of events and meeting the royal family on various occasions, Fiona and Gary took a deep breath and volunteered to work with the international aid agency, VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas). They were sent to Sri Lanka where Fiona trained Tamil journalists, a difficult and dangerous job at a time where reporters and newspapers were constantly suppressed by a hostile government. “I had spent my working life reporting almost as a spectator, at the edge of stories,” Fiona told The Bugle. “The work in Sri Lanka placed me right at the sharp end of journalism. These Tamil reporters I was training were in fear for their lives for telling the truth. They were doing what journalism is all about, revealing what powerful people want to keep hidden.” It was during this risky period that Fiona’s ideas for a novel finally took shape and form and it was through a TV spin-off that the novel became a reality. Fiona was persuaded to enter Richard and Judy’s Search for a Bestseller competition for new novelists. Fiona had at that point written 10 chapters and an ending whilst in Sri Lanka.

“The deadline set by the competition was what I needed,” says Fiona. “It made me concentrate and just get on with it. I didn’t win the competition, but at least I had a finished novel.” Her novel, “The Widow”, is drawn from her experiences in a life spent reporting on the things that people do, their triumphs, catastrophes, passions and their dark crimes. It tells the story of a recent widow who comes to suspect that the husband she had once loved could be guilty of a dreadful crime. The book looks at the events from the point of view of the people who become involved on the sidelines of the crime, including a detective, a reporter, the victim’s mother and the widow herself. Once she had a completed novel, Fiona engaged a literary agent who negotiated contracts with the Penguin Random House group for worldwide publication. “The Widow” very quickly took off; it was released in the US in February 2016 and reached the New York Times Bestseller List with over 85,000 copies sold to date. Since its January UK release and appearance on The Sunday Times Bestseller List, it has sold 35,000 copies in the UK, with additional launches ongoing across Europe, Canada and worldwide. “No one was more surprised and delighted than I was,” Fiona told us. Thoughts of lounging around her lakeside home, peacefully enjoying her literary triumph in the Dordogne sunshine have gone out of the window, however. Fiona has just completed a UK promotional tour and the publishers are planning a French tour very soon, under the catchy title of “Festilit” at a variety of venues across the Hexagon. When not travelling and signing copies, Fiona is also working on a second novel for her publisher, with the contract calling for a third soon after. Find our more about “The Widow” (Penguin Random House ISBN: 9780593076217) on the author’s website: www.fionabartonauthor.com ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Panama Papers reveal the London City flights unveiled owners of Nazi-looted painting

he Dordogne’s main airport has unveiled a new route with international airline British Airways. Bergerac-Roumanière Airport threw a special evening event on Thursday 14th April to promote its new prestigious route and to celebrate the partnerships that enable this innovation. British Airways is seen as a très British institution, so the party at Bergerac-DordognePérigord Airport was given a James Bond 007 theme. The majority of the many international guests had responded to the fancy dress theme by coming as Bond himself or as one of his many lady companions. The ambiance inside the airport buildings was definitely Casino Royale, with roulette, British nibbles, cocktails, a music combo and waiting staff in evening dress. The formal speeches expressed the delight and optimism for this new route which flies direct to London City Airport. Speakers warmly welcomed the airline’s confidence in the airport, the city of Bergerac, the Dordogne department and the region as a whole. The first flight was scheduled for Sunday 1st May, using a British Airways-owned Embraer; as the route develops a BA leased Saab 700 aircraft

will come into service. Oneway tickets cost from €73 and there are 3 scheduled flight a week. London City Airport managers highlighted a brand new venture enabling businessclass flyers to get to New York JFK with BA from Bergerac via a direct NYC link at London City Airport, which is situated beside Canary Wharf. The airline, the airport and its partners all look forward to increased, valuable traffic for the benefit of all. Guest of Honour, Martin Walker, award-winning British novelist from Le Bugue, echoed the sentiments of optimism in his warmly received, entertaining speech. Martin had chosen to wear a Scottish tartan kilt, more as his preferred formal attire than as fancy dress. Whilst the roulette tables were not the real thing for legal reasons, roulette chips were used for a multi-prize raffle donated by airport partners and associates. The first prize was won by ticket number 24. As the Dordogne’s number came up number one on this special occasion, some people might say this is a great omen! The organisers, the airline, airport, and local guests and businesses clearly have reason to hope so. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

farmer in the Périgord has been fighting for years to establish his claim of ownership of a priceless painting stolen by the Nazis in 1941. Accusations have been made that an art collector and dealer has improperly handled and retained the painting, which was allegedly stolen from the farmer’s grandfather during the Nazi occupation. Now, information contained within the recently revealed “Panama Papers” may lend credence to local farmer Philippe Maestracci’s version of events and help bring a priceless work of art back to the Dordogne. Over 11.5 million documents were recently leaked in Panama revealing where and how the rich and powerful of the planet conceal their assets from public scrutiny - and the taxman - but have also unveiled some intriguing facts about this work of art. The work in question is a portrait of a man sitting on a chair, hence the painting’s title, “Seated man with a cane”. It was painted in 1918 by Amedeo Modigliani and is one of a series of paintings by the artist of people sitting on chairs. Modigliani was Jewish Italian but lived in Paris from 1906 until he died, aged just 36. His paintings and sculptures had little acclaim or worth until after his death in 1920. The artist’s distinctive style is today well known and enjoyed by millions in posters and reproductions across the globe. The current story begins before

the war, when Parisian art dealer Oscar Stettiner - Philippe Maestracci’s grandfather - bought the Modigliani portrait on its completion in 1918. When the Nazis invaded France in 1940, Stettiner, like many thousands of Jewish French citizens, fled the country, leaving his gallery and collection behind. In 1941 many of his works of art were looted by the Nazis and forcibly put up for auction. “Seated man” was finally sold by them for about €3,400 in 1944, the year his grandson, Philippe, was born. After the war, Oscar Stettiner began a legal challenge to have his paintings returned to him, but he died just two years later with the matter left unresolved. The picture changed hands a number of times over the years until 1996 when it was bought by the International Arts Center for $3.2 million. It came to the fore once again in 2009 when Mondex Corp, a Canadian company that specialises in recovering looted art, traced the painting through archive documents and proved that it belonged to Oscar Stettiner. The Canadian company contacted his grandson, Philippe Maestracci and suggested he start legal proceedings. It was believed that the offshore shell company International Arts Center (IAC) was a ghost company owned by the famous Nahmad family, multi-billionaires who have amassed a staggering number of artworks over the years. The Nahmad family strenuously denied that they had anything to

do with IAC and in 2015 a New York court rejected Maestracci’s case. The freshly discovered Panama Papers tell a different story, however. Among the leaked documents are a number that show how IAC operated and that the company was indeed owned by the Nahmad family; this new information is part of a fresh legal challenge being mounted in New York by the 71-year-old farmer from La Force, near Bergerac. With an estimated $35 million at stake, this has been, and continues to be, a complex case and an imminent decision is not expected. The “Seated Man” in the painting must patiently keep his seat until the courts declare if he is a true Périgourdin! ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Stars of television, radio and Test cricket coming to the Dordogne in May

oin Chris Tarrant, Nicholas Parsons, Mike Gatting, Jonnie Irwin, Andy Caddick and other celebrities for an eventful weekend. The young people’s charity Lord’s Taverners are hosting a weekend of events on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th May and you are invited to join the stars in Golf, Cricket and fine dining.

GOLF. Saturday 14th May at Château des Vigiers. An open eighteen hole individual Stableford competition for a number of prizes. Tee off in threes and fours from 9.15am. Inclusive entry fee 60 euros. Book on 05 53 61 50 33. CRICKET. Sunday 15th May at Eymet Cricket Ground. Captain Mike Gatting and the Lord’s Taverners Celebrity XI will play a 30 over match against South-West France. A number of Test players will take on some of the best cricketers in the South-West. Enjoy lunch with the players and celebrities. From 10.30am, entry free. CELEBRITY AWARDS DINNER. Monday 16th May the Lords Taverners are hosting a Gourmand Awards Dinner at Château des Vigiers at 7.30pm. Winners of the Golf and Cricket will receive their prizes. 60 euros for the threecourse Gourmand Charity Dinner. To book call 05 53 61 50 00. Proceeds will be in aid of the Lord’s Taverners charity, ‘Giving disadvantaged young people a sporting chance’. Photo opportunities available. www.lordstaverners.org

New expat radio station launches

new English-language radio station has hit the airwaves. Ex-patradio.fr is a brand new online internet radio station, which launched live on 21st March 2016, aimed at expats living in France. Offering up a diverse array of programming covering an eclectic taste in music, topics, interviews, competitions, news and politics, the station's goal is to present in styles that will provide a little bit of home, nostalgia and all-round radio entertainment. Expat Radio was founded by Dave Hailwood (right), a long-time performing DJ with over 28 years experience in the field as a private, corporate and 'on air' presenter. The station already has a large number of presenters and contributors, notably Andy Davies (below), who has been broadcasting in various guises for over 30 years and hosts the station's Eclectic Selection show weekdays from 3 pm. He initially worked as a phone answerer and sidekick to Chris Evans at BBC GLR,

produced and presented a number of TV shows for both the BBC and commercial stations, and was Jonathan Ross' producer/sidekick at BBC Radio 2 for 11 years where he programmed his music. As well as music and chat, the station also has shows covering sport, film and even French lessons! For more information, scheduling and to listen live, visit the station's website

www.ex-patradio.fr And to get in touch email contact@ex-patradio.com

Expat TV show looking for contributors

New Life in the Sun follows enterprising British people in both Spain and France as they head to Europe to set up new lives and businesses. The first series recently aired on Channel 4 and featured a number of local businesses and entre-

preneurs. The programme is a positive, aspirational show and showcases inspiring business people who, rather than going abroad to retire, are putting all their savings and energies into setting up new businesses and lives. The first series was very well received by the channel, viewers and best of all the contributors and following its success, production company True North have now been asked to make a second series and have begun the search for new contributors! Are you making the move over to Eu-

rope or have you recently moved over to set up a business? We feature people who are just entering their first season in the new business, searching for businesses or who may have been set up for some time but about to enter a new challenge. True North can honestly say that all our contributors gave great feedback following the filming after enjoying the experience AND now having booking diaries filling up fast. The producers can be contacted at: anewlifeinthesun@truenorth.tv

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

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Weymouth ferry launch delayed

A new passenger ferry service from Weymouth to Cherbourg will not now launch until 2017, its operator says. High Speed Ferries had originally hoped to have crossings up and running from this spring but the date has been pushed back after the local council said the firm needed “further financial backing”. Director Jonathan Packer says the firm now aims to launch the Western Channel Service in January or February. If all goes to plan, High Speed Ferries will start with a limited winter service before increasing to two round trips each day through the April to October 2017 summer season. The crossing, which is the company's first, is scheduled to take as little as 2 hours. ■

France retains tourist title

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Despite the continued economic downturn and a string of terrorists attacks, France has retained its title as the most visited country in the world. Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault unveiled the tourist figures which showed that 84.5 million visitors came to France last year, an increase of 0.9 per cent on 2014. Ayrault admitted that the attacks had “limited this growth, especially in the capital”; the overall positive figures were due to a “spectacular rise” of 22.7 per cent in the number of tourists from Asia. “The number of Chinese tourists passed the symbolic bar of two million for the first time, and reached 2.2 million,” the minister said. Tourism has always been key to the French economy and the government was keen to re-assert that their goal “remains to attract 100 million foreign tourists a year to France by 2020”. ■

Prostitution laws changed

draft law that makes paying for sex a crime has finally come into force after a raft of measures aimed at tackling prostitution were finally approved by MPs in the National Assembly. The plan to fine clients of prostitutes, rather than punish the sex workers themselves, has been on the table since December 2013 when it was first introduced to the French parliament. Under the new law, clients caught paying prostitutes for sex will be fined €1,500, a penalty that will rise to €3,750 for repeat offenders. The bill will also overturn a 2003 law that made it illegal for prostitutes to solicit for sex, meaning it is now the client who is the criminal for buying sex rather than the prostitute for selling it. The move makes France one of only a handful of European countries to follow the Nordic model of criminalising consumers rather than sex workers. Last year, Northern Ireland introduced legislation to make it the only part of the UK where people can be convicted of paying for sex. The Socialist MP Maud Olivier, who championed the bill in France, said the changes were “fundamental to reverse this balance of power” and would “reduce prostitution, protect prostitutes who want to leave it and change mentalities”. A crucial part of the new legislation will abolish the controversial

2003 law, introduced by Nicolas Sarkozy when he was interior minister, that banned passive soliciting on the street. This law had made it illegal to stand in a public place known for prostitution dressed in revealing clothes and had been widely criticised by charities and support groups. Central to the overall package of laws is the concept that the sex worker is a victim rather than a criminal. The law provides financial support for prostitutes who want to create new lives and will

permit foreign sex workers to remain legally in France, so long as they abandon prostitution. Opponents of the law warned that cracking down on clients could push sex workers further underground and into vulnerable situations with less protection. In France, prostitution itself receiving money for sex - is not a crime. But activities around it are. Laws prohibit pimping, human trafficking and buying sex from a minor. Brothels were outlawed in 1946. ■

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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First NHS patients treated in France >> continued from pg 1 can be charged for French patients.” Mr Brierley was first hospitalised in the UK last September and was told that he could expect to wait around 18 weeks for his operation, although he claims he was later informed that his surgery would not take place until July of this year - a delay of 10 months! After reading about the new contract with the French hospitals online, Brierley then went to discuss it with his GP. “He didn’t even know about it himself,” Brierley said. “The most surprising thing for me was how little information was out there that this was possible. Now I know about it, I wish I’d come here when I’d first been discharged in September; it’s just as easy to come here as go to my local hospital in Kent.” Brierley was first referred to the Calais hospital at the end of February, and was offered a consultation on 17th March. “It was all set up nicely for me,” the father-of-three said. “Someone met me in the reception straight away and took me up to see the surgeon, who told me there and then

he could do any subsequent Monday or Friday. I was on leave from work for two weeks so that was ideal, really. It was probably no more than five weeks from when I was first referred to actually having the operation.” Although this may sound unbelievable to those familiar with the NHS, his surgeon, Laurent Tartar, said that in France this delay was not normal: “For us that was a little too long, but it’s because he is the first one. The next patients will have a shorter wait, don’t worry about that!” Both Brierley and his wife speak some French, but the couple were keen to stress that the language barrier should not put off any future patients. The two hospitals that have signed agreements with the NHS have invested heavily in English training for their staff, all hospital signage has been translated into English, all consent forms are in English and all medical information will be shared with the patient’s GP, following identical confidentiality procedures as already exist in the UK. The day trip over for the initial consultation cost Mr Brierley £29, although the extended trip for the

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surgery was a little more expensive at £100 for a return ticket. The process appears relatively cheap and convenient, but Mr Brierley was adamant that there was no compromise made on the quality of care provided. “I’d say the facilities there were comparable to private treatment in the UK,” he said. “The place was spotless and the staff were excellent. I got my own room, complete with a fridge and a bathroom, as well as access to television and internet. My wife was also able to stay for just €8 a

night. I think all of the staff are well-trained in English too because they all seemed willing to make the effort. The whole experience was completely stress-free” British expats living in the north of France can also make use of the hospital’s services under NHS funding. With political uncertainty surrounding the upcoming referendum, the scheme’s backers were keen to stress that the contract will continue even if the UK opts to leave the EU after the June vote:

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“It’s a contract, that will remain in place, whatever happens. But it is a great example of European cooperation,” Segard said. Trade union Unison’s head of health, Christina McAnea, called the situation “a sorry state of affairs when we have to send patients to France for operations”. “Despite the prime minister promising to maintain health services, this shows that the NHS does not have enough money or capacity to provide a full range of treatment to the people of Kent,” she said. ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

€120m masterpiece found in attic

Huge Bond exhibition comes to France

f the last bill through your letter box was larger than expected, don't panic and have a quick look through your loft... you might just have something up there that's worth a few euros. Or if you're really lucky, you may find a lost Caravaggio worth €120 million! That's what happened to one lucky couple who were investigating a leak in the attic of their house near Toulouse when they stumbled across a dusty painting that art experts have now declared to be a lost masterpiece by the celebrated Italian Renaissance artist. The work depicts the Biblical heroine Judith beheading an Assyrian general and is thought to have gone missing about 100 years after it was painted by Caravaggio in the early 17th century. Another version of the painting, which was also thought to be lost before its rediscovery in 1950, hangs in Rome's National Gallery of Ancient Art. Experts believe the painting has probably lain forgotten in the attic for over 150 years and is in an excellent state, considering where it has been for so long. The owners of the house say their ancestors took over the property on the outskirts of Toulouse in the middle of the 19th century and they themselves had never previously ventured into that part of the attic. Although the provenance of the painting is being questioned by some, Parisian art expert Eric Turquin described the find as “the most beautiful moment in

Fans of James Bond will be delighted to hear that an exhibition of the franchise's most iconic props and accessories has come to France. The huge collection will be on display at the Grande Halle de la Villette in Paris until 4th September in the latest leg of a worldwide tour that has already taken in Toronto, Shanghai, Melbourne, Madrid and London. As well as costumes, props, gadgets, film sets and two Aston Martins driven by Daniel Craig in Spectre, other highlights include:

my career”. “The peculiar light, the energy that’s typical of Caravaggio, without corrections, from a steady hand, and the pictorial materials, mean this painting is authentic,” Turquin said after the painting's existence was finally revealed after 2 years of restoration and forensic investigation. “An average artist or someone copying the painting just couldn't do this.” French authorities are taking no chances and the ministry of culture has officially classed the

painting as a “National Treasure”. This allows a 30-month ban on it being exported while experts determine its authenticity. “The painting deserves to be retained on French territory as a very important landmark Caravaggio painting,” read a statement on the government's website. A spokeswoman for the Louvre said that gallery chiefs had seen the painting but that it could take months or years before they know whether or not it is Cara-

vaggio’s second version of Judith Beheading Holofernes. The represenative said: “The period of 30 months, during which the painting is held in the country, will give specialists the time to study the journey and the creator of this work.” If the Louvre or the French state decline to buy the painting, then it could be sold anywhere in the world. Either way, the lucky owners should have no problem finding the money to fix their leaky roof! ■

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10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2016

BlaBlaCar driver fired over ride sharing

s congestion on the country's roads increases, the cost of public transport creeps ever higher and a large proportion of cars on the road contain just one person, the idea of carpooling is a popular one. However, as one French worker recently discovered, not everyone is happy with the idea of making a few extra euros from the empty seats in your car.

The un-named man was fired when bosses at his consultancy firm discovered that he had been using the BlaBlaCar service to take paying passengers in his company car; he had apparently used the service on twenty journeys between Bordeaux and Nantes over a 3-year period. When it was pointed out to his employers that the man's contract did not forbid carpooling, the company's law-

Monoprix bans battery eggs

Retail chain Monoprix has become the first supermarket chain to ban the sale of “Category 3” battery eggs from its stores. The retailer had already stopped selling battery eggs under its own brand in 2013 and last year phased out the use of battery eggs from its own brand mayonnaise and other egg-based products.

It is estimated that 75% of eggs produced in France are Category 3 eggs, laid by chickens raised in small cages. There have been a number of controversies in recent years involving the mis-selling and false marketing of battery eggs as “free range”. All eggs in Europe are stamped with a code, made up of a number indicating the type of production, a 2-letter country code and then a number uniquely identifying the producer: 0 - organic; 1 – free-range; 2 - deep litter indoor housing; 3 - cage farming. So 0-FR-12345 would identify a French, organic egg and 3-UK-12345 would indicate a battery egg produced in the UK. ■

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yer responded: “But it's just obvious isn't it... neither does it not say anywhere that you can't hit your colleagues!” The man claims that he donated the €610 he received from the journeys to two charities and has now taken his former employers to court for unfair dismissal, seeking over €80,000 in damages and €250,000

in lost salary. “It's more logical to have three or four people on these journeys rather than just one,” the man told a local newspaper. His lawyers will argue that the man had been using BlaBlaCar for three years with a completely public profile that featured his full identity and it was not until he applied for

nder pressure from Germany and Switzerland, it was recently announced that France's oldest nuclear power station would be closed by the end of this year. The Fessenheim plant, close to the German and Swiss borders, is situated on a minor fault line and has concerned environmentalists for a number of years. The revelation that an incident at the plant in 2014 was more serious than first revealed has increased pressure on the government and led to the most recent announcement. “The timeline is one the president has repeated to me several times, it's 2016,” said Emmanuelle Cosse, an MP for the Green party, who was named in President François Hollande's cabinet following a recent reshuffle. France's Nuclear Safety Agency

said that safety at the plant was “overall satisfactory” and that there was “no need” to shut the plant from a nuclear safety point of view. Luxembourg have also now thrown their weight against the French government over the closure of another ageing nuclear power plant at Cattenom, close to the borders of the small duchy. During a press conference with his French counterpart, Manuel Valls, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel said a problem at the Cattenom plant could “wipe the duchy off the map” and even offered to help fund the closure. “The Cattenom site scares us, there's no point in hiding it,” he said of the facility that has been in operation since the mid-1980s. “Our greatest wish is that Cattenom should close.” He went on to say that Lux-

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a position on the staff representative board - a move which did not appear to go down well that he was fired virtually overnight. The car-sharing service BlaBlaCar is one of the country's biggest success stories of recent years. The Paris-based business allows motorists and passengers to meet and share a car

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embourg “would be prepared to make a financial commitment to a project at Cattenom, which would have to be cross-border, that is not nuclear in nature”. In 2014 the Luxembourg government handed out iodine pills to every one of its half a million citizens that were “only to be used in the event of a nuclear accident”. Taking large amounts of iodine in the aftermath of a nuclear accident is referred to as “blocking”. The measure is designed to prevent the thyroid gland storing additional radioactive contaminated iodine and the subsequent risk of thyroid cancer. France has promised to cut reliance on nuclear energy from more than 75 per cent to 50 per cent by shutting 24 reactors by 2025. It has also pledged to increase investment in renewable energy. ■

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MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

12 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2016

French chef wins world pizza crown

taly's Prime Minister Matteo Renzi recently stated that Italian wines are now better than French wines. It was a bold claim, presumably based on production numbers, and one that provoked President François Hollande to retort that while Italy may be outselling France, French wines are more expensive. As the argument rumbled on, France hit Italy where it really hurts when a Frenchman claimed top prize at the 25th edition of the Pizza World Championships in Parma. So what toppings did Ludovic Bicchierai, who works at the Pizzeria Le Gusto near Marseilles, use to impress the judges and stand out from the crowd? It probably won't appear on the menu at your local take-away, but the Frenchman's secret ingredient was fish soup. “This is the second time I've taken part in the competition, but this year I thought I'd

use the traditional French fish soup as my inspiration,” said the pizza chef. It may sound like a dog's dinner, but the bouillabaisse-inspired pizza - which featured tomatoes, bream carpaccio, mozzarella, courgette flowers, prawns and Tabasco sauce as its toppings - beat 650 others to be crowned the world's best. It was only the third time that a non-Italian has snaffled the top prize, but all was not lost for the Italians: Sicilians Alfio Russo and Nicolo Cusumano grabbed second and third place respectively. “Even though pizza is an Italian icon, it's always a pleasure for us to see foreigners walk away with the prize from time to time,” said event spokesperson Patrizio Carrer. Along with his trophy, the pizza chef returned home with 1,000 kg of pizza flour and French pride restored! ■

Panama back on French banking blacklist

n the wake of the so-called Panama Papers scandal, finance minister Michel Sapin has told parliament that France will put Panama back on their blacklist of tax havens. “France has decided to put Panama back on the list of uncooperative countries, with all the consequences that will have for those who have transactions with the central American state,” Sapin told MPs. France had removed Panama from the list of Uncooperative States and Territories (ETNC) in 2012 after the two countries reached a bilateral accord on fighting tax evasion and in February of this year, the country was removed from an international list of tax havens by passing reforms that curbed the extent of anonymity offered to offshore companies. “Panama wanted to have us believe that it could respect

major international principles,” Sapin said. “The problem is not that these offshore companies exist, but that they are used to hide money and Panama is complicit in this by refusing to supply the identities of those who are benefiting from them.” Its re-inclusion on the ETNC list means that France will now view all transactions with Panama with suspicion, presuming tax fraud unless there is evidence to the contrary. The small central American nation did not take the news lying down and immediately threatened that it would hit back. “In Panama, there is a law that sets out retaliation measures against countries that include Panama on 'grey lists',” said Álvaro Alemán, the country's minister for the presidency. “The government is going to have to analyse the situation and is

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inclined to take a series of steps that naturally could go towards adopting means of retaliation.” “I want to be very clear that the decision taken by France's government is a wrong and unnecessary step, even more so given the communication between both heads of state and the fact the world needs multilateral cooperation from all countries to tackle global problems,” Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela later told journalists. In April, 11.5 million documents held by the Panamabased law firm Mossack Fonseca were leaked to the international press. They revealed how the company has helped clients, including prominent politicians, business leaders and heads of state launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax. ■

Angry farmer pays fine in centimes

In December last year, a young farmer from Gaujac, near Marmande in the Lot-et-Garonne department, went to his local tax office to pay his bill in a very unconventional manner. In protest at the high taxes that he claimed were in danger of forcing him out of business, he tried to pay using what he claimed was the only asset he had left... his animals. And so it was that Mickaël Artamonoff sat in his local tax office with Lili, his jersey cow, Tao the llama and Caramel, Réglisse and Nougat, his three prized goats. It is safe to say that local officials were not impressed. They registered a complaint and had the travelling farm removed from the premises. The farmer was subsequently ordered to write a letter of apology and pay a €239.40 fine to cover the cost of cleaning up after his animals. Clearly a young man with an eye for a headline, Mr Artamonoff waited until the March 31st deadline before returning to the tax office to pay his fine with 23,000 one cent coins and a ten euro note! He had signed the accompanying letter of apology as instructed... but his cow, llama and goats had also added their “signatures”. “My centimes and my letter of apology were both refused,” the farmer explained to a local newspaper, before heading off back home. ■

Shy student runs naked through town centre

If you’re afraid of heights, jump out of a plane... if you’re afraid of snakes, ask for a behind the scenes tour of your local reptile house. Not everyone agrees, but many people believe that the only way to beat your fears and phobias is to confront them. So what should you do if you are shy and nervous? This was the situation faced by a 26-year-old masters student from Château-Thierry in northern France who recently went online for advice, only to be told that the best way to overcome his shyness was to take his clothes off and appear naked in public. And to everyone’s surprise, not least that of the residents of his local town, the young man did indeed take off his clothes and put on his trainers before going for a run through the streets. Unsurprisingly, several calls were soon put in to the Gendarmerie and the student’s jog was cut short when he was arrested, taken home to get dressed and then driven down to the local station for processing. It is not known if the stunt cured the young man of his phobias, but what is certain is that when he appears before magistrates in the near future he faces a maximum €15,000 fine and a year in prison! ■

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

In the garden - jobs for May

by Michelle Pierce

here is a wonderful, magical moment when everything changes, somehow both imperceptibly and very concretely. What is it down to? 'Simply' the appearance of the leaves on the trees in late April. Suddenly, landscapes and gardens change absolutely. Perspective and depth appears, with hidden corners, winding paths and field boundaries (when you are still lucky enough to have hedges and copses). Acid green is a spectacular accent colour - the new leaves of oak in particular contrasting strikingly with the lush long grass's deeper colour, and the mauve blue of the bluebells in the road verges. The flowers of the euphorbias look divine against other blocks of colour like tulips, or hazy things like forget-me-not. So make a mental note to include things in the garden for the colour of their first leaves: Ajuga reptans 'Burgundy Glow' is dramatic bronzepurple, or the larger leaved Catlin's Giant can be virtually black at one stage, and many of the grasses have really attractive new growth. Don't forget trees and bushes, too. My lime trees spring into electric green almost overnight; their dappled shade completely redefines the corner of the garden where they are, and heralds the promise of cool shade in hot afternoons. And the copper sheen of new amelanchier leaves is only matched by their lovely frothy white flowers. Gorgeous! Gardens start up quickly here in this part of France more so than in GB, where the run-up is a long-drawn-out affair. And in the rest of the garden, this frenzied burst is felt, too. Suddenly, the quiet of sunny afternoons is disturbed by people mowing and rotavating, strimming, planting and weeding their gardens. These appear also to be magically planted, almost overnight, since fewer and fewer people seem to ac-

tually sow seeds, and prefer to go out and buy their plants from garden centres or supermarkets. What a pity! If this is really the route you choose to go down, try and resist the temptation to buy very tender plants too early (the shops have had geraniums and tomatoes available since midApril), and harden plants off well before final planting out. Sowing seed is so much more satisfying, and so much more economic. Now is the time to go totally crazy and sow anything you fancy. France still has an excellent range of heritage veg varieties commonly available in the shops which are not too expensive, so try these out instead of the F1 hybrids. Then you can save your own seed for the next year without any problem. The earliest crops may soon be finishing - the winter mizuna and rocket sown last year has gone to seed in the tunnel and this is just about ready for collection for next year (or later this

year), thus leaving space for another sowing. Self-sown seedlings have sprung up everywhere - lettuces, chard, spinach, etc. where a few plants were left to go to seed in situ. Great, crops with no work or effort whatsoever, though not a good policy for those who crave order! Try and get on top of the weeds - compost as many as you can (but not pernicious things like convolvulus or couch grass, which would just propagate themselves through your compost heap), and try not to clip back hedges or shrubs now, to avoid disturbing nesting birds. Consider making a lasagna bed with alternate layers of green waste, manure and woody waste. With a final layer of earth on the top this will (all things being well) heat up quickly, and then create a good hot bed for sowing or planting the things you want to get a real head start with. Sow green manures on bare earth, or fast growing crops

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like radish, which will form a carpet around other plantings, and so suppress weeds. Mulch newly planted shrubs and trees, in advance of the summer dryness. Keep on top of the grass, but ideally leave some areas longer, to encourage wildflowers, insects and wildlife. There are now lots of images available showing how beautiful this contrast of manicured against shaggy grass can be, so get creative. It costs absolutely nothing. However, try and leave naturalised tulip, narcissus or daffodil foliage to dry off before you cut it down, so feeding the bulbs for a good show in forthcoming years. Put bedding plants, annuals and tender species outside after the risk of frost has gone - usually around the middle of the month. Sow more. Keep an eye on your fruit trees. Make sure there are no small branches growing in the wrong places - towards the centre of the tree. Cut or pull

these off when they are small, and you save yourself lots of pruning a few years later. If there is a very heavy crop of fruit forming, gird your loins and get rid of some. It goes against the grain but the quality of the rest will be the better for it. Prune off any dead wood. Give a handful of organic fertilizer to each tree (or bush, for currants, etc.) Use your nettles profitably by making nettle tea with them - just shove some in a bucket of water after scrunching up the stems and leave in a sunny place. When the bubbles stop you know fermentation has ended, and then you can filter and decant into a container. Use diluted 1:10. Start picking the first of this year's things - garlic planted in the autumn, spring onions, radishes, salads, spinach, leaves, chard, flowers, and just enjoy the real start of the pleasant gardening season. Good gardening! ■

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14 ♦ PRACTICAL

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2016

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UK Pensions in France - Blevins Franks

hether you are resident in the UK or France, if you are retired or approaching retirement you should review your pension holdings to establish how they can best be used for your personal circumstances. There are two key issues you need to consider and understand: how pensions are taxed in France and what the options are for your funds, especially following the UK pension reform. Taxation in France

UK state retirement and disability pensions, pensions derived from professional activities and private pensions are all taxable in France. They are taxed at the income scale rates of tax up to 45%. The tax rates currently range from 0% for income under €9,700 to 45% for income over €152,108. There is a 10% deduction (maximum €3,711) for private pensions. Also, in France you are taxed as a ‘household’, which benefits couples where one spouse receives a much higher income than the other. UK government service, civil and

military pensions remain taxable in the UK, unless you have transferred out before the pension commences (and usually before age 59). However, you still need to declare the income. It is included in the calculation of your taxable income and you are given a credit equal to the French income tax and social charges that would have been payable. Lump sums from UK pensions are taxed at a fixed 7.5%, provided there is no possibility of taking another lump sum in future. So if you take your entire UK pension at once as a lump sum, it will be taxable at 7.5%; otherwise it will be taxed as income. There are advantages for some in taking their pension as cash and reinvesting in a tax efficient Assurance Vie, but not for everyone. And there are differences between Assurance Vie providers and jurisdictions. So you need to sit down with your adviser to consider if this option is suitable for you. Besides the tax rates above, all pension income is subject to social charges at 7.4% each year. However, this is waived if you do not yet have access to the French health

system or have EU Form S1.

Receiving your pension without UK tax So that you do not pay tax twice, you need to arrange to receive your pension and annuity income gross. You need to file a form FRA/INDIVIDUAL (FD5) with your local French tax authority, who will stamp the English part to confirm that you are tax resident in France. UK pension reforms If you have a defined contribution scheme and are over 55, you can now make withdrawals of any amount whenever you need to, including the whole amount, with any balance remaining invested. You can also continue to take regular income through income drawdown, as before. For UK residents, pension income is taxed at the income tax rates of 20%, 40% or 45%. 25% of lump sums is tax-free, with the rest taxed as income. You still have the option to take a secure regular income through buying an annuity. From April 2016 the restrictions on buying and selling existing annuities will be removed. You will be able to take capital as a lump sum or place in drawdown to use the proceeds more gradually. The new freedoms do not apply to defined benefit (final salary) schemes. There is an option to transfer to a defined contribution scheme or Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS), but this would mean losing valuable benefits. Note that, under Financial Conduct Authority rules, you can only transfer with ad-

vice from a regulated specialist. If you already have a QROPS, you may not yet have the freedom to withdraw all the funds. The rule where 70% of the relevant transfer fund (broadly the transfer value) made to a QROPS must provide an income for life currently remains in place for non-EU QROPS. If you still plan to contribute to your pension and use the new flexi access, unless your pension is worth £10,000 or less your annual allowance will fall from £40,000 to £10,000. The 55% death tax on pensions has been abolished. If you die over age 75 your beneficiaries will still pay tax, but at their marginal rate on income or at 45% on lump sums (this will change to income tax rates from April 2016). This also applies to annuities, but not final salary schemes. For many people, their pension savings provide financial security and income for the rest of your life, so do not rush into any decisions. You must ensure you take the right route for your circumstances and objectives, and you need to examine all the options to establish what this is, always taking the French and UK tax implications into account. Pensions are a highly specialist and complex area, and so is French taxation, so professional guidance is essential. ■ Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices, which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Advertise your business to more than 25,000 readers from as little as €13.50 per month

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BILINGUAL ♦ 15

MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

SIRET 502 409 212 00011 – APE 8559B

LEARNING FRENCH VIA INTERNET

Perhaps you would like to learn French in comfort at home or from your office? You are not in France and you wish to communicate with a native French person for one hour per week? LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING is the answer. You only need internet access and a free Skype account. It can be a one-to-one lesson or you can share the lesson with a person of the same level.

TRANSLATION SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE

Please contact Sophie Arsac for further information – 05 55 89 15 74 - scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Cheese rolling - a truly British sport!

very year, thousands of people gather at the top of a hill in Gloucestershire and throw a 4 kg wheel of Double Gloucester cheese down the steep slope. Dozens of brave competitors then throw themselves after the cheese in an attempt to catch it before it reaches the bottom. The eccentric tradition has been taking place in May every year for hundreds of years. In reality, no one ever catches the cheese, but the first person to cross the finish line is crowned the winner. So what do the brave competitors win for risking their lives...? They get to keep the cheese! As the popularity of the event has grown each year, so have the safety concerns. Understandably, chasing a cheese travelling down a hill at

over 100 kph is not without danger and several 'runners' are injured each year. In the past, Cooper's Hill cheese rolling has been described as “twenty young men chasing a cheese off a cliff and tumbling 200 metres to the bottom, where they are scraped up by paramedics and packed off to hospital”. More recently, however, it has been the number of spectators that have caused problems for event organisers. In 2010, when as many as 15,000 spectators descended on the village of Brockworth and nearby Cooper's Hill, they caused traffic chaos - the site has a maximum capacity of around 5,000 people. Police cancelled the event and demanded that organisers install fencing and hire security staff. The following year, despite

no official organisation and no paramedics, 500 people still turned up and the race has continued unofficially ever since. “No-one is going to stop us doing it. They say it's not official but we are all Brockworth people and we're running the cheese today so it is official. We strongly believe in it,” said former winner Helen Thorpe in 2011. The origins of the cheese rolling are not known, although some believe that the tradition dates back to pagan times, when bundles of burning wood were rolled down the hill to represent the re-birth of the land after winter. Connected with this belief is the traditional scattering of buns, biscuits and sweets at the top of the hill as a fertility ritual to encourage a plentiful harvest. ■

The Bugle thanks local French teacher, Sophie Arsac, for the translation of this month's bilingual article on another topical aspect of Franco-British culture.

Bilingual Crossword Clues in English - answers in French

Across:

haque année, des milliers de personnes se réunissent au sommet d’une colline du Gloucestershire et lancent une meule de fromage de Double Gloucester d’un poids de 4 kg le long de la pente escarpée. Des douzaines de concurrents courageux se lancent à leur tour à sa poursuite pour tenter de l’attraper avant qu’elle n’atteigne le bas de la colline. Cette tradition excentrique se perpétue tous les ans en mai depuis des centaines d’années. En réalité, personne n’a jamais attrapé le fromage et le premier qui franchit la ligne d’arrivée est couronné vainqueur. Mais que gagnent ces valeureux compétiteurs pour avoir risqué leur vie … ? Ils peuvent garder le fromage ! La popularité de l’événement s’est accrue chaque année en même temps que les questions de sécurité. Comme on peut le comprendre, poursuivre un

fromage en dévalant une colline à plus de 100 km/h n’est pas sans danger et plusieurs “coureurs” sont blessés chaque année. Dans le passé, le lancer de fromage de la colline de Cooper a été décrit comme “vingt jeunes gens qui poursuivent un fromage depuis le haut d’une falaise et dégringolent 200 m plus bas, où ils sont ramassés par les services d’urgence et expédiés à l’hôpital”. Plus récemment, c’est le nombre de spectateurs qui a causé des problèmes aux organisateurs. En 2010, lorsque jusqu’à 15 000 spectateurs déferlèrent sur le village de Brockworth et dans les environs de la colline de Cooper, ils provoquèrent un embouteillage monstre, le site ne pouvant accueillir qu’environ 5 000 personnes. La police annula la manifestation et exigea que les organisateurs installent un périmètre de protection et fassent appel à un service de sécurité. L’année suivante, malgré l’absence

d’organisation officielle et de service médical d’urgence, 500 personnes sont arrivées pour concourir et depuis lors, la course continue de manière non officielle. “Personne ne va nous empêcher de le faire. Ils disent que ce n’est pas officiel mais c’est officiel puisque nous sommes tous des gens de Brockworth et que nous faisons rouler le fromage aujourd’hui. Nous y croyons fermement”, disait l’ancienne gagnante Helen Thorpe en 2011. Les origines du lancer de fromage ne sont pas connues, bien que certains pensent que la tradition remonte à l’époque païenne, lorsque des fagots de bois enflammés étaient lancés le long de la colline pour symboliser la renaissance de la terre après l’hiver. On peut relier cette croyance à la dispersion de petits pains, de biscuits et de sucreries au sommet de la colline, comme un rituel de fertilité pour encourager une récolte abondante. ■

5. old (5) 6. pasta (5) 8. bacon (5) 9. street (3) 12. tow trucks (11) 13. cape (3) 14. shin (5) 17. woman (5) 18. flower (5)

Down:

1. bed (3) 2. hurricane (7) 3. mast (3) 4. to refuse (7) 7. cash (7) 10. petals (7) 11. fuse (7) 15. friend (3) 16. juice (3)

Bilingual crossword solution can be found on page 23

Advertise your business here

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16 ♦ LANGUAGE & GAMES

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Keep your Community - Save your Auberge...

Letters to

The Editor

Pete Jones By Email

y Mum moved to Dontreix in the Limousin about 25 years ago, a brave thing to do as a single lady in her late 50s, buying a house that needed a lot of renovation in a country where she didn't speak the language! But that’s my mum, a strong woman who I always admire.

I remember going to the local 'Auberge du Rocher’ in Dontreix decades ago and noted how it was such a great place to socialise with local people, French and English. Back then, with fewer motorways, it took much longer to drive to central France from England so the area was quite remote and I recall that it was mostly the local French community in the Auberge. Now it's quite different I feel. It’s still mostly French and of course that's the way it should

be, but there many more English people who have moved into the region to enjoy the beautiful countryside and French culture. I’ve now inherited mum’s lovely house, and my partner Sarah and I were delighted to discover the Auberge was still there when we went to sign the paperwork. We go to Dontreix as often as we can (as we still live in England) and over the last few years the managers of the Auberge du Rocher - Laurence and Philippe - have become very dear friends, along with other wonderful French people. Laurence even cooks fabulous off-menu vegetarian meals for us - not something too common in rural France we have noted! But as we got to know our friends, we also learnt of the hardship of running an Auberge. All around we see signs on the roads in the area pointing to ‘Auberge 5km in this direction’ - only to find it's closed down.

This has become a common occurrence and it’s an extremely sad situation, not just for those trying to live their lives by running one, but for the local community as well. In my not for profit ethical work I have been doing in England for decades, I know that community is everything, it binds people together and creates a healthy positive atmosphere. Community should be nurtured and cared for because everyone benefits. If one looks at the wider picture, local businesses benefit from local trade, children benefit from local amenities, parents benefit from happier children (!), even the municipal organisations like the Mairie benefit from a happier, thriving community. The benefits from a feeling of community are far reaching and very real - and the local Auberge is a fantastic focal point. But they are closing at an alarming rate, we have to do

something. I don’t have all the answers but I think just airing the issue might be a good start. How can we support our local Auberge? Can we go for a meal more often? Can we suggest themed evenings or lunchtime gatherings based around meeting people or music? Could we start community introduction gatherings at our local Auberge? Maybe we can just go to our Auberge and ask! In the UK, Sarah and I are involved in a blossoming movement that encourages communities to look out for those who may need a bit more care or attention, maybe they are older or not so able to move around. We all, surely, would love to know that we have people around us that could help in times of trouble or concern… Let’s support those who are running the ideal place for us all to connect and keep the community connected. ■

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: A mode of transport

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 23

SUDOKU - EASY

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 23

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Animals & Pets DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS

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

06 31 98 92 07 Cats and Dogs Boarding Kennels

Purpose built kennels - dept 16. 45 years animal care experience. Fully insured and vet approved. Individual kennels plus family pens. Walking off lead 4 times a day. Michael and Wendy Aldrich

catsanddogs2009@hotmail.co.uk

05 45 66 14 62

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Architectural DRAWING SERVICE New build? Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

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

Auto Services

Agnac, 47800

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

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

Electricians

SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

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

CHARENTE

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

+44 (0)1377 255470 +44 (0)7830 170761 motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.com

Building Services

Siret: 499 234 615 00015

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Architectural Services CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys. Verbal & written reports. Structural calculations & drawings. Redevelopment ideas & solutions.

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

Building Services

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

sales24@thebugle.eu

Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Painters/ Decorators

Building Services

Simon Carter

Siret: 790 016 984 00011

Carpenters/ Joiners

General

Wood Work Plant Sales SHUTTERS/DOORS, STAIRCASES, etc. MADE TO MEASURE

FR: 0033 (0)6 05 56 42 81 UK: 0044 (0)7448 466 662 Siret: 498 843 051 00018

Oradour Sur Vayres (87150)- siren 752 051 482

Web: www.versineer.com Email: enquiries@versineer.com

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

IN SOFTWOODS OR LOCAL HARD WOODS SIMPLE ORDERING / 10 DAY TURNAROUND Please explore our website for more info: www.scrollart.co.uk

Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

Tel: 05 53 09 42 18

At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France. From initial feasibility to completed dossiers. We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure your application proceeds smoothly. We are equally at home working with clients here in France or those living abroad.

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

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

Harlequin BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ Developments

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

MOTOR PARTS

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

No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

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)

MinouCats

CHARKER DAVID

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

Renovating your French property?

Siret: 494 030 919 00018

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

Building Services

05 55 14 12 43

Mini diggers, backhoe loaders, site dumpers, etc. Groundworks, site clearance and gardening services Very competitive prices Delivered Call Ant: 05 55 05 09 60 Mob: 07 50 44 76 27 siret: en cours

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

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

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

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2016

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 25,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

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€216

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€243

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

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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.

Building Services

Computers & Satellites

AUBERGE AUX DELICES DE LA TREILLE 24350 MONTAGRIER

05 53 91 12 63 A La Carte or 2 Set Menus

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

M : 06 72 47 88 00 T: 05 53 20 64 02 E : wellers@orange.fr Registered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

Building Services

Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais Losing business due to poor Internet and WiFi?

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

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

Food & Drink

Lunchtimes (except Sun and bank hols) Soup+Starter+Main+Dessert - €15 Soup+Starter+Main - €11.90 Soup+Main+Dessert - €11.90 Soup+Main - €8.90 €24.90 Menu Soup+Starter+Main+Cheese+Dessert

Sand and Blast We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

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

www.sandandblast.com

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

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The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm 1st Monday: Le Champsac Tuesday: Tremolat Wednesday: Lauzun Thursday: Eymet 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Daglan See our website for full details:

www.thedordognechippy.com 05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62 siret: 444 925 630 00014

05 55 41 17 76 Garden Services

La Poutre

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

05 55 41 17 76

Health

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

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

05 53 80 29 54

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

Sandblasting

Your advert here

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

HOME & GARDEN maintenance For all your gardening, window/gutter cleaning & paintwork needs, etc... Call me for a professional, reliable and friendly service

Paul: 07 83 75 45 76

Free quote Bergerac and surroundings mansfield.gardening@gmail.com

Gifts & Crafts

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org

Ellen B. Sanchez

Gestalt Therapist Ivan Petley

Couple’s therapy Individual therapy English speaking

sales24@thebugle.eu

3D Puzzle Maker

05 55 41 17 76

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

Rue de La République, 24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda

Tel: 05.55.80.29.88

Tel: 06 21 95 24 42

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

www.existtherapy.com

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

MAY 2016 ○ 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 exceeded all expectations. In Southern Europe, Solar-

Your advert here

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

Pest Control

Central France Pest Control www.applicateur3d.com Email: info@applicateur3d.com Curative and preventative

Renovation consultation to finished interiors Kitchen and Bathroom Planning Traditional to Contemporary 25 years of property transformations mackenzyfr@gmail.com

05 53 58 65 11

Village of 18 chalets above a lake

24500 Razac d’Eymet, France contact@leschaletsdedordogne.com

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38

INTERIOR DESIGN

www.leschaletsdedordogne.com

00 33 (0)5 53 63 97 56

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

KATE MACKENZY

Units start from €630 TTC. Several ex-demonstration models available at reduced prices, call for details.

Heated pool. Family site 23 km south of Bergerac Airport Low cost daily flights from London Rent a chalet from €250-€550 / week (possibility to buy a chalet for €25,000)

05 55 41 17 76 Interior Design

- 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. ■

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

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

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

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

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Property Sales

Retail & Commerce

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

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

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SECONDHAND CLOTHING for the whole family

ABJAT-SUR-BANDIAT

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

Tel: 06 79 04 10 21

Eco Entrepot aka The Shed

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

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

Transport, Removals & Storage

Language Services

Do you need help with translating French correspondence and everyday dealings with French bureaucracy? If so contact: Fabienne MURPHY e: fabiennemurphy@yahoo.co.uk

t: +33 (0)5 53 24 21 88 m: +33 (0)6 87 99 78 12

05 55 41 17 76 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

MICHAELS MOVERS Removals

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

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

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

DSD Removals & Storage The Removal Experts

HOLIDAY HOMES IN THE UK TRANSLATION SERVICES

Your advert here

Are you looking for your perfect base in the UK? We have beautiful 2 and 3 bedroom models available in East Sussex. Relax in style in a modern holiday home and take advantage of fantastic facilities. Open for 11 ½ months a year. From

£9,995

CALL 0044 1424 853 764 www.ParkHolidays.com/beauportsales

bookstop

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

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

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Man & Van Transport

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

France ↔ UK

• All risk insurance cover • Full and Part load specialists • Professional staff & modern vehicles • Every vehicle from a Luton van to a full removals lorry • Prices from £3.63 per sq ft

+44 (0)1274 724 545

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

French Spoken

09 82 12 69 73

sales24@thebugle.eu

www.frenchvanman.eu

05 55 41 17 76

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres Siret 530 213 644 00012

20 ♦ COMMUNITY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2016

Monday

Market Days

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

Tuesday

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

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

Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

Thursday

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

Friday Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord Belvès Bergerac

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES MAY 2016

Since this CSF group got started only 5 years ago, they have raised over €34,000. This amazing sum has been directed to CSF’s Ribérac branch which liaises with Dordogne treatment centres. The cash is spent on equipment for the treatment and comfort of cancer patients at Francheville and Dirac hospitals, which treat the majority of Dordogne cancer patients.

Tuesday 10 May 11:30 Holy Communion – Envals

As well as supporting the medical centres, CSF aims to be a source of every kind of non-medical need that cancer patients and their families might have.

Wednesday 11 May 11:00 BCP Morning Prayer – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 15 MAY 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship - Dondas 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Praise and Communion – Monteton 11:00 Holy Communion – Sainte Nathalène 11:00 Holy Communion – Condom

Whilst mainly contributed by English speakers, CSF equipment in hospitals is for the benefit of all patients. Sarah Barette, organiser for the Javerlhac sale each year, said: “The team toiled long and hard to make this sale a success. We received some absolutely wonderful donations of quality clothing, bric-a-brac and eatables and we had hundreds of very satisfied customers. Nothing is wasted and every item donated has found a good home.”

Thursday 19 May 10:30 Holy Communion - Limeuil SUNDAY 22 MAY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton 10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes

Unsold stock was divided between CSF for future events, the Croix Rouge, and the Tri-Cycle charity shop in Piégut.

Thursday 26 May 11:00 Holy Communion – Condom

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

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

Cancer Support France have just published the results of their giant sale held at the beginning of April in Javerlhac. Profits for this one-day effort came to a whopping €1,400, even more than last year’s bonanza.

SUNDAY 08 MAY 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Morning Worship – Limeuil 10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes

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

Sunday

Super CSF sale

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

SUNDAY 29 MAY 10:30 Special Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Morning Worship – Bordeaux 10:30 Ecumenical Communion – Eymet Temple 15:00 Chaplaincy Day: Eucharist, Picnic, Festival of Praise – St Avit Sénieur Abbey, Dordogne

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

Harry

Harry is a 10-year-old Border Collie who was abandoned at the SPA when his owner moved house.

Unbelievably, Harry had been with him from when he was a puppy! At the SPA he was so miserable and being bullied, we couldn't leave him there. He was taken into foster care where he regained his joie de vivre and was soon adopted. However his new owners have, regretfully, decided that Harry does not suit their circumstances as their garden is not secure. He is a lively boy and, despite his age, loves and needs his daily walks! He would be great company for healthy and energetic owners who would be happy to engage his active mind and body. A fenced garden is a must as, true to his breed, Harry loves to spend lots of time outside! His thick coat will withstand all weathers but he will need regular grooming as well as the occasional bath. Harry is non-dominant and playful and would love the company of another dog and he is also 100% with cats. Harry is calm, quiet, gentle and sweet-natured. He loves cuddles, tummy tickles and giving his paw. He doesn't bark much and is not at all destructive so can be left alone in the house without any problems. Harry is perfect out on walks, always obedient and brilliant off lead and loves his food, he has a very healthy appetite! In other words, Harry is the perfect, all round family dog! So if you would like to meet him for a cuddle please contact his carer. Just to make him even more perfect Harry is chipped, neutered and vaccinated. Contact: Simonie tel 07 81 40 17 40 or email simonie.cp@hotmail.com www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

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

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

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

www.GRUMPYGRANNYGUIDE.com It’s FREE, quick & easy to use

Exhibition at the Château de Limeuil Exhibition organised by the association “RIVES D’ART” at the Château de Limeuil. Limeuil is one of the most beautiful villages of France and each year it welcomes many tourists from all over the world. The hall for exhibiting art is situated in the château’s panoramic garden. Visits to the exhibition are free (but there is an entrance fee to the garden). In May, the exhibition welcomes photographer Lamiel PENOT whose work, using traditional photographic techniques rather than digital, is a reflection on time, perseverance and a certain resistance to all modernism. Visitors to the exhibition will also be able to appreciate the work of Bill Carter. Bill was born in Nairobi, educated in England, and employed as a graphic designer until he moved to the Dordogne in 1998. In 2005 he began creating metal animal sculptures from garden tools and other found objects which are sourced mainly from vide-greniers nearby. His subjects range from tiny pieces that can make a centrepiece for a table through to life-size horses for the garden. Visit his blog for more information: villamblardsculptures.blogspot.com

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Brantôme Police Horses The Dordogne’s only retirement home for police horses has just started its spring programme with the launch of their Cream Tea season. Visitors start with an introduction to the work of mounted police and watch a fascinating presentation of the horses’ own life stories. There is a tour of the stables where visitors get to meet the horses, followed by BPH’s legendary, traditional English cream tea. Brantôme Police Horses was founded to rescue UK police horses at the end of their career from a certain death in the knacker’s yard. They are housed in a purpose-built stable complex in a rural setting at St-Pancrace, near Brantôme. There is a gift shop and a full summer programme. All proceeds from events go towards stabling, feed, and dental and vets’ expenditure. The Cream Tea Tour started on 27th April and is held every Wednesday at 3 pm. Adults €12 Children €8. Please book in advance via the contact page on the website (www.brantomepolicehorses.com) or telephone 05 53 05 86 80.

Les Floralies - Saint-Jean-de-Côle Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May “La poésie des fleurs”

The 8th edition of this Arts & Crafts Fair takes place on 5th, 6th, 7th & 8th May at the Château de Monbazillac 50 artists and craftsmen and women will be presenting their creations. Through demonstrations that will take place on Sat 7th and Sun 8th artisans invite you to discover their technique and expertise from 11 am - 12 noon. There will also be free workshops for children from 2 pm – 5 pm. Free entry. Opening hours : Thursday 5th from 2 pm - 7 pm Friday 6th from 10 am – 9:30 pm Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th from 10 am – 7 pm For more information & to see the programme visit www.artisandart-perigord.com or https://www.facebook.com/Reseau.Metiers.d.Art.PaysdeBergerac/

Annual flower festival which attracts over 10,000 visitors from all over the world. Over 100 exhibitors share their passion for flowers with a breathtaking array of plants and flowers, works of art, crafts, local products, new floral varieties, rare plants, garden decorations... You’ll see why Saint-Jean-de-Côle has a reputation as one of the most beautiful villages in France. A delight for both its sights and smells, Les Floralies is not to be missed!

Young Walter (left) invites all his friends and BPH members

BOOKING to join IS ESSENTIAL Roland & Alison for their

Annual Curry and Quiz Night 13th May 7pm Quizmaster Dave. Welcome fizz, prizes, 3-course curry feast, bar. Teams up to 8. Members €15. Non-members €17.

BRANTOME POLICE HORSES

La Grange, 24300 St-Pancrace 05 53 05 86 80

The 40th edition of the

Foire des Potiers

brings together renowned potters from all over France and Europe from 5th to 8th May. 24360 Bussière-Badil. 10h-19h. Free entry.

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MAY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Craft and Fine Art Expo Sunday 29th May from 2 pm

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

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

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

UPCOMING CONCERTS Alain MEUNIER and Anne LE BOZEC play Beethoven cello / piano sonatas

Saturday 11th June at 9pm SONATA Op 5 N° 2 VARIATIONS in Eb For years the village of St-Front-la-Rivière near St-Pardoux-la-Rivière has been presenting an art exhibition for local artists. 2016 takes the tradition to a new level with the second annual Park Art exhibition at la Vigerie. Set in the extensive gardens of a private house overlooking the Dronne valley, traditional crafts, ceramics, paintings, photography, textiles, sculpture and fine jewellery are on display with the internationally acclaimed creators on site to meet their public.

SONATA Op 69 Three other sonatas will be played at La Grange de Lanquais on Sunday 12th June at 5 pm.

Park Art, organised by the artists and their hosts, aims to create an open-air showcase for creators of high quality difficult-to-find items. Just for fun there is also a free tombola with distinctive, valuable prizes. Entrance and parking for this unusual expo are free.

Take the Milhac road, west from St-Front-la-Rivière. Park Art is in 1.5 km at the top of the hill at La Vigerie. In case of bad weather, Park Art will be postponed to a later date.

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Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France Monthly circulation: 12,000 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.

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Directeur: Steve Martindale Rédacteur-en-chef: Steve Martindale Siège Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Imprimé par: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France

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