The Bugle Dordogne - Nov 2016 by The Bugle

Top tips when picking wild mushrooms After a spate of recent poisonings, we give you our top tips on how to forage for mushrooms safely >> Page 10 November 2016 - Issue #85

Dordogne

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15-year rule to be scrapped in UK The rule that stopped many voting in the EU referendum is finally to be removed

he UK governm e n t has announced that the so-called “15-year rule”, which prevented many expats from voting in the recent EU referendum, will be scrapped in time for the 2020 general election. The move came as part of a policy statement released by the Conservative government under the title “Democracy that works for everyone”. Scrapping the 15-year rule has been on the cards for a while and was a Conservative manifesto pledge in the most recent general election. Many long-term expats living in Europe were

French ad aims to lure London workers - page 7

left angered, however, when it became clear the government would not push through the change before the crucial EU referendum. “We believe that overseas electors contribute to British society and should be given that democratic right to vote,” the constitution minister Chris Skidmore explained. “We intend to give those overseas electors the chance to register quickly, effectively and securely so they will be able to register to vote in time for the 2020 general election.” “Being British is about so much more than simply being resident in the UK,” Mr Skidmore said,

>> continued on page 6

INSIDE > > > Dordogne bowls club relocates - pg 3

Free InterRail passes for 18-year-olds - pg 6

French astronaut heads to space - pg 8

Ryanair check-in rule changes - pg 10

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

n a rare weekend off this month, we packed up the family car and went to the zoo! I hadn't been that excited about seeing some monkeys since I was 10 and we went on a school trip to London to see Guy the Gorilla and his friends. I have been to a few zoos in the last decade or so, most recently in 2013 when I took my daughters to a great one in Normandy. I am fascinated by nature and am always keen to impart my limited knowledge on my kids. My girls were 2 and 4 at the time and I couldn't wait to see the look on their faces when they saw their first giraffe. Unfortunately, young kids are not that easily impressed. Almost from day one, babies are bombarded with images of zebras, elephants and crocodiles. Sophie the giraffe is one of the most recognisable children's characters in France. So when they come face to face with one... bof as the French may say. Back in 2013, we were lucky to get within a few metres of a small

herd of giraffes being fed by a handler. “Look sweetheart... a real giraffe!” “Yeah, I know Daddy, I've got three in my room”. “But you've never seen a real one before... isn't he big?!” “Daddy, why does he smell so bad...?” The only time their eyes lit up that day was when they came across a bouncy castle next to an ice-cream cart. This time, we were heading for Beauval Zoo to the east of Tours. I'll come straight out and say it now, it was one of the best days out I've ever had (and I had a 20-month-old in tow!) ZooParc de Beauval is absolutely amazing and if you haven't been, I can not recommend it highly enough. Even better was that my girls are now that much older that they were genuinely awestruck by some of the animals, although they played it pretty cool when they were just feet away from a feeding panda. Finally, I was able to bore them with all my animal facts and stats... I do struggle with the moral quandary of caged animals.

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I understand that taking any animal out of its natural environment and putting it in front of the general public is, in essence, cruel. That said, I also buy in to the conservation argument (for certain species) and I do not doubt that the handlers genuinely care for their animals. I should also add that Beauval was one of the biggest zoos I've ever been to and there were very few occasions when it felt like the animals I was studying were in cramped conditions. What swings it for me is the educational benefit for children - and big children like me. My kids haven't stopped talking about their favourite animals since we got back and we have already done several 'projects' to find out more about some of them. Seeing the animals up close really engaged their interest and has made them interested in the natural world. That can only be a good thing. One story that interested me this month was the idea of giving free InterRail tickets to EU teenagers on their 18th birthday (see pg 6). As a university student, I managed to save up enough money to “go interrailing” one summer and it really opened up my eyes to the world. Until that point, the UK, holidays in France and a school trip to Italy were the extent of my worldly travels. It was 1997, long before low-cost airlines opened

up European travel, and many of the countries we visited still required visas. “Eastern Europe” was just one amorphous mass to me, but visiting cities like Budapest, Bucharest and Sofia made me see my continent in a very different way. It's never occurred to me before, but that month of night trains round Europe probably sowed the seed that would eventually see me move abroad and spend the vast majority of my adult life outside the UK. The project is insanely expensive (I think I saw €3 billion a year mentioned somewhere), but 18-yearolds are very quickly parents, voters and business leaders and if the EU wants to promote unity, getting people to experience each other's countries at a young age before their prejudices are crystallised - seems like a very fine idea to me.

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INSIDE this edition 3-5 Local News 6-10 National News 11-12 French Life

Until next month!

13-16 Directory

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17 Community 18-20 What’s On

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Homage to WWII Dordogne airdrop Dordogne bowls club relocates

massive security operation surrounded a Dordogne Resistance 75th anniversary at the end of October. Gendarmes, armed military and undercover security agents were involved in the event in woods near Bergerac. VIPs from the Ministry of Defence, regional and departmental leaders, local elected members plus over a hundred residents and Resistance families came together on Thursday 20th October to pay their respects for this unique commemoration at Beleymas. Seventy-five years ago on 10th October 1941, an RAF Whitley bomber made the first ever supply drop to the fledgling French Resistance. An imposing stone pillar marks the historic spot where the first parachutes landed and it was around this memorial that VIPs made speeches honouring visionary leader Colonel Maurice Buckmaster, members of his SOE (Special Operations Executive) and the local men and women who risked everything for their country. What marks this drop as special is that it included not only 2 containers of weaponry, but also 4 undercover

operatives. These were the individuals who were to help light the flame of Resistance that Churchill hoped would set France ablaze. Flanked by a guard of honour of armed soldiers of the 35th Airborne Artillery from Tarbes, the minister for defence and veterans paid respect to the part played by all for France. The minister laid flowers, together with other dignitaries. Four members of the RAFA represented the United Kingdom and laid a wreath of poppies. Present also was 97-year-old André Auberte who fought with the Resistance in the liberation of Bergerac, as well as with French forces in several battles including the bloody Royan Pocket. This final battle ended in April 1945, just a month before the Nazi surrender. After 2 minutes’ silence, the anthems of France, Great Britain and the Resistance - “Chant des partisans” - were played. Expat Bugle readers Peter and Sandy Hewlett had made the trip from Monclar, Lot-et-Garonne, to attend the event. A wartime evacuee, and ex-RAF serviceman, Peter is an admirer of Buckmaster and his leadership. Sandy told The Bugle: “It’s wonderful to see that events like this

Sqd Ldr Dave Ford, Terry & Beryl Dennet RAFA, Flt Sgt. John Reid RAFA at Beleymas

are so well commemorated. There is a strong sense of pride and respect. Men and women wear their medals and fly their flag with pride. It’s part of the charm of France.” The one disappointment of the event was that President Hollande, who had been expected to attend, was unable to join the commemoration due to time constraints. A wry echo of that night in 1941, when, due to confusion over local time and London time, the drop was almost missed! ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Dordogne bowls club formed ten years ago has just changed its venue. The Périgord Lawn Bowls Club, previously based at La Charrue has moved to nearby Mareuil-sur-Belle, more specifically to The Royal Oak pub. “It’s mainly to do with finance. To continue using the old green we would have had to raise our membership fees,” explained club president, Dave Preston. “With everybody’s pocket hit by the collapse of Sterling, now is not a good time to ask for more. Our members and the club will get a better deal here. The Royal Oak’s green is a good one, and we have use of a clubhouse. Members like the bar and restaurant and we have had a warm welcome from the management.” Pub owner John Bailey is delighted with the new arrangement. John explained his vision for a real old-fashioned English country pub in their lovely French town. “We have created the atmosphere of a pub’s lounge and snug that both Brits

Alan Biss, Martin Heyhow (marker) & Alan Carr (winner of Men’s Single Final)

and French enjoy. We do traditional pub food and curries and we have a couple of craft beers on draught that are going down well.” A vision of The Bull in Ambridge was called to mind on 20th October as the men’s bowls final, the first to take place at The Royal Oak and the last of the 2016 season, was played out in the sun on the green, watched by an appreciative crowd, sipping Pimms and pints of real ale. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Dordogne businesses support Cancer fund

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s the World Cancer Congress in Paris draws to a close at the start of November, the Dordogne activists of a France-wide cancer organisation are announcing a major fund-raising event. The Cancer Support France group, based around Saint-Pardoux-laRivière, has just released tickets for its bi-annual dinner dance on 18th November this year. Linda Kelly is the organiser of this team of hyperactive fund-raisers, who have set their sights on a Dordogne bonanza to support cancer sufferers in the department. “Our group raises cash which is used to supply specialist equipment directly to the three major cancer treatment centres in the Dordogne,” Linda explained to The Bugle. “We supply hardware for diagnosis and treatment, plus aids for cancer patients in hospital and are determined to exceed our targets for 2016. CSF specialises in English speakers but the equipment we donate helps all cancer patients in the region’s hospitals.” The gala evening is to be held in the Hôtel de France in Saint-Pardoux, thanks to the support of the Cibot hotelier family and music

Alison & Richard Haylock - CSF sponsors maestro, Chris Kern. Linda outlined details of the soirée: “As well as a fabulous dinner and dance we have two special items for this event. We will be auctioning a gourmet dinner for 6 with aperitifs, wines and digestifs - which raised €300 at the last gala night. There is also a massive raffle of food, drink, groceries, services, flowers, lunches, wines, chauffeuring, hairdos, charcuterie... all manner of items donated by individuals and a host of very generous local businesses. There is so much suffering around due to cancer, everybody wants to help. British and French businesses have been stunning with their donations.” Alison and Richard Hay-

lock are typical of local donors’ generosity. They run a cosy restaurant and teashop on the place du Marché in Mareuil, and have donated a 4-course lunch for 4 people. In October they held a tea, coffee and cake morning to sponsor a French neighbour participating in a cancer prevention run. “We like to do what we can,” said Alison. “It’s a wonderful cause. We have a friend with cancer who is being helped by CSF right now.” Tickets for this magnificent 5-course dinner and night out are €35. To find out more or book a table call Linda Kelly on 05 53 60 59 17 and to find out more about CSF visit www.cancersupportfrance.org/ ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

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Brantôme boatman to offer Périgueux cruises

well-known local man has come up with a plan for an exciting tourist attraction in the department’s capital. Jean-Luc Nicolas, a popular and familiar figure in Brantôme, is a renowned historian and also the town’s premier boatbuilder and river cruise operator on the river Dronne. Jean-Luc’s idea is to build a boat in the heart of Périgueux on the quayside and use it for trips up the Isle. Nicolas outlined his vision: “I am proposing a 25-seater vessel, built to conform with all the current regulations, with access for wheelchairs and powered by an electric motor. Building the boat on the river will be a spectacle in itself and take about 3 months. Once launched and commissioned, it will be used for cruises up river to Barnabé.” This maritime visionary took his idea to Périgueux city hall to a warm welcome from deputy mayor Bruno Dunoyer, head of business and events in Périgueux, who described the project as “an attractive idea, well worth investigation”. The quay where Jean-Luc is suggesting the build is already undergoing redevelopment as a tourist attraction, from its

current use as a car park. Additionally, the local authority is making a massive investment in Barnabé at the iconic Art Deco riverside site, due to reopen next year. If the plan goes ahead the Barnabé guinguette will get a jetty and landing stage similar to the 1930s original. Jean-Luc’s plan envisages a modern 12-metre-long flat-bottom boat costing around €120,000 as well as a landing stage below the city’s cathedral. He estimates that a cruise will cost about €8 per passenger. Jean-Luc has all the qualifications and experience necessary to build the craft and would be a first choice as operator. This part of the river Isle is a particularly handsome area, best appreciated from the south bank or from the river itself. The project will harmonise perfectly with the planned and approved floating restaurant at the nearby Saint Georges bridge, also due to open next year. As a river city, Périgueux is looking forward to making more of its lovely frontage for the benefit of local residents and tourists alike. ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

End of the road for monster tyre mountain

achapelle-Auzac is a small town near Souillac in the Lot, on the borders of the Dordogne. For its size, this rural commune is disproportionately famous in France for being the location of the country's largest tyre mountain. Although the massive pile of tyres is relatively hidden from public view, it is just off the Paris-Toulouse railway line and has caused many travellers' jaws to drop over the years as the rolling countryside suddenly gives way to a sea of black rubber. The 7-hectare site until recently contained an estimated 25,000 tonnes of rubber - or around 3.5 million tyres - abandoned since the site's owners went into administration over a decade ago. The exact number is hard to establish. “With time, thousands of tyres have been crushed by the weight of those on top, so estimations are difficult,” explained Christophe Dubois, who has inspected the site regularly over the past few years as part of his work with Recyvalor. Recyvalor was founded in 2008 with the aim of funding and organising the clean-up of the country's

used-tyre industry. It is funded by France's major tyre companies, which contribute €7 million each year to go with the €170,000 put forward by the State. Recyvalor was established, in part, in the wake of a huge fire that engulfed a tyre dump in Saône-et-Loire in 2002 that required the evacuation of local residents. Along with environmental concerns and the fact that tyre mountains are a massive draw for breeding mosquitoes, it is the fear of fire that has hung over the heads of locals for decades. With an estimated 61,000 tonnes to process at more than 60 locations across the country, residents were understandably delighted when Recyvalor finally got round to tackling the largest of them all last year. Despite their joy, local officials were keen to call for patience: “This tyre pile was built up over 40 years... it will not be gone in three days.” “Our goal was to remove 60 to 70,000 tonnes of used tyres from 61 locations across France,” Bénédicte Barbry, president of Recyvalor, said in 2015 when work began. “This site is the largest and also one of the last.”

The job is not an easy one, however... what do you do with a 150kg tractor tyre? Those removed are being be recycled for various uses, depending on their quality, in a project that is estimated will cost up to €4 million. In order to speed things up and reduce the volume being transported, an incinerator was installed on site to destroy those tyres not fit for recycling. “The tyres are crushed and shredded,” explained Christophe Dubois. “Rubber de-

bris will be recycled for processing, for example in children's playground flooring. Everything metallic is obviously taken for recycling elsewhere. The rest is burned and can be used for energy recovery.” With bulldozers able to shift around 70 tonnes per day, work has been moving at a fast pace and the end is finally in sight. Almost all car tyres have now been removed or recycled and the site now contains only lorry and trac-

tor tyres; around 3,000 tonnes of rubber. Unfortunately, these are not able to be incinerated on site and are slowly being moved to a facility in Saint-Louis-de-Montferrand, near Bordeaux, which has more specialist equipment. Those in charge of the project now hope that this blot on the landscape will finally be gone by early 2017, and the only rubber to be found at Lachapelle-Auzac will be on the feet of local trout fishermen. ■

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Government to scrap 15- Proposal for free InterRail year rule for expat voters tickets for EU 18-year-olds

>> continued from pg 1

writing in The Telegraph newspaper. “It doesn’t matter where they live, British citizens are still a part of British society, retaining strong cultural and social ties with their families at home and helping to build businesses abroad. The decisions that are made on British shores impact our citizens around the world and indeed many plan to return to live here in the future. That’s why this Government believes that British citizens living abroad should have their voices heard in our democracy and why we are committed to supporting them.” Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, an MP and parliamentary adviser to the Conservatives Abroad group, has campaigned for the changes for years. “British citizens abroad are some of the best unofficial ambassadors that we have. It is only right and fair after a lifetime of contributing to the UK that they in turn should be given the right to vote,” the MP said after the policy statement

was released. Many who had lived abroad for fewer than 15 years - and were therefore eligible to vote in the EU referendum - complained that postal votes took too long to arrive and therefore could not be returned to the UK in time for polling day. The government has said that this issue will also be addressed in the future and pointed to the recently introduced Individual Electoral Registration which means any British citizen, at home or abroad, can quickly and safely register to vote online. “During the last Parliament we also extended the electoral timetable for overseas voters to allow for postal ballots to be issued earlier. This means that overseas electors now have more time

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to receive, complete and return their postal votes than was previously the case,” Mr Skidmore explained. “As part of our manifesto commitment we will ensure that British citizens, no matter where they live, have the right to vote for life.” The government will now draw up a bill which must be given the green light by parliament, but following this policy statement, all British citizens living abroad should be able to cast a vote in the planned 2020 general election. Prior to 1985, British expats living overseas were not permitted to register to vote in UK elections. In 2000 the rule was amended to give expats fifteen years before losing their voting rights. ■

he EU has announced that is considering a radical proposal that will see all teenagers given a free InterRail ticket on their 18th birthday. The free InterRail initiative was first put forward by German campaigners two years ago, who see free travel as a way to help bring the European community closer together through fostering international relations and cultural exchange. Now, after the idea was again raised at a European Parliament session in Strasbourg recently, the current EU transport commissioner Violeta Bulc, a Slovenian politician who has served in the position since 2014, described it as an “excellent idea”. “We believe that a lot more young people should have the opportunity to travel Europe, to get to explore it, to become Europeans through experience rather than just by learning through text books,” said Vincent-Immanuel Herr, one of the German campaigners behind the idea. When asked who will pay for it, he said: “Our proposal is that it will be funded by the European Commission - for example by enlarging the Erasmus budget. We do believe it is a complementary programme that could easily add to existing EU programmes and would vastly enrich the cultural and social outreach of the programmes through the EU.” The campaigner said that he did not

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know if such a scheme might have had an impact on the Brexit vote, but added that he felt very sorry for young British and Northern Irish who might now miss out on the opportunity. “That would be highly unfortunate because the UK has traditionally been the country where a lot of InterRailers came from. The EU has real problems, we believe that the key to solving those problems is bringing people together and having them meet face to face because Europe is about diversity. If we enable all young people, independently of their socio-economic and national background, to travel and to have this experience, that would be a great improvement for Europe and strengthen European integration.” “I am convinced that the 18th birthday InterRail pass for Europe could become a true lighthouse project for the development of a common European identity in diversity,” Bavarian MEP Manfred Weber told Reuters. “This may not sound like much, but sometimes it only takes a spark to light a fire that burns forever. The nationalists are against this: they want neighbours not to be seen as friends.” An InterRail ticket currently costs up to €479 and allows for free, or heavily discounted travel across many European Union countries for up to one month. Currently, 300,000 InterRail cards are used every year. ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Victory for Laguiole in long-running name feud

he knives are out in a fight between the town of Laguiole, with a population of just 1,200, and Gilbert Szajner, the Paris-based businessman who “owns” the rights to the name Laguiole. The businessman bought the rights to the name in 1993 and now demands royalties for its use from the town famous for its distinctive knives. The town has drawn blood, however, after France's highest court partially overturned a previous ruling which had stated that the word Laguiole had entered common usage as a generic word for a knife and was not directly associated with the small town in Aveyron. Following a survey that revealed that 47% of people do directly link

the name Laguiole with knives and cheese, France's highest appeal court has concluded that there is a very real risk that consumers are being misled when they purchase a Laguiole product, believing it to be locally made. Laguiole is the country's best-known knife brand and has been a household name in France for more than a century; the corkscrew version is a firm favourite with wine waiters around the country. Laguiole knives are high-quality pocketknives with a locking blade, slim, elegant handle and a distinctive logo of a bee or horsefly and are still made in the town today. After registering the name Laguiole as a trademark, Szajner expanded the brand to include a number of other products, including table

linen, clothing and lighters, many of which opponents claim are being massproduced in China. Locals no longer have the right to use the name of their town in association with any product other than knives without paying royalties to Szajner. In tough economic times, many of the town's knife producers are keen to expand their ranges to include other items, and are furious that they are unable to do so. “The word Laguiole has been kidnapped. It has been stolen from us,” said Michel Bras previously, who runs a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the Aveyron village. “It is very easy to ride on the backs of people who made sacrifices, who made the most of what little they had, to establish the name of this area. These

people have been swindled by someone who does not know the place.” “Mr Szajner is riding the wave of the town’s fame,” said Carine Piccio, a lawyer for the mayor of Laguiole. “His products are systematically associated with the town via references to its history, its soil, its craftsmanship or its natural environment. The brand rights Gilbert Szajner has accumulated have allowed him to construct a veritable monopoly of the Laguiole name, which he uses against the town and its administration to stop their growth to his profit.” The fight has been ongoing for nearly 20 years now. In 1997, a Paris court convicted Mr Szajner of counterfeiting, but two years later an appeals court reversed the ruling, pointing out

that most Laguiole knives have long also been made in Thiers, in the Auvergne, more than two hours north of Laguiole. It ruled that the name was a “generic” term to describe a knife of a particular shape. The town already has the EU on its side; a European court annulled Szajner's trademark in 2014 and recognised the geographic origins of the Laguiole knife and the town is currently applying for indication géographique protégée (IGP) classification. If successful, then only products made in the towns of Laguiole and Thiers (Puyde-Dôme) would be able to carry the name Laguiole. The case will now return to the Paris appeals court which will issue a new decision based on the Cour de Cassation ruling. ■

uch has been made of the potential for businesses to move out of London following the UK's decision to leave the EU. Politicians in France have been at pains to say that any business looking to relocate would be welcomed in Paris with open arms. France is so keen to poach financial firms from London that authorities recently offered to fast-track applications - and handle files in English - if they decide to move to the French capital. “Large financial institutions make their decisions autonomously. But it’s not prohibited to help them reflect and give them information on the qualities of Paris as a financial centre,” said finance minister Michel Sapin. “We do it without any particular animosity against London.” In a recent interview, Sapin insisted that London could not remain as the main euro clearing centre once Brexit was completed: “After Brex-

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it, it will not be as before Brexit. They wanted a change... there will be a change.” A senior policymaker at the Bank of England has warned that the loss of high-paid banking jobs from the UK could knock a hole in the country’s budget and Morgan Stanley has warned that Brexit could restrict the talent pool available to UK employers. In the latest move in the ongoing battle, France's financial district La Défense is to run a series of billboard adverts in London's Square Mile, as well as at train stations and airports around the capital, aimed at luring fed-up workers to the City of Light. The tongue-in-cheek adverts

depict a frog sporting a tie with the colours of the French flag, asking “Tired of the fog? Try the frogs!” “Paris La Défense is a turn-key destination, with a flowering economic ecosystem in the heart of Europe that offers an unbeatable level of culture, quality of life and dynamism,” said Marie-Célie Guillaume, head of the Defacto firm which manages the business quarter. The high-rise business district to the west of the French capital, where rental prices are one third of those in the City of London, is home to 500 companies - 40 per cent of which are foreign and 160,000 employees. ■

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nterest in space science and exploration received a huge boost in the UK this year when Major Tim Peake completed a 6-month mission onboard the International Space Station (ISS). During his time onboard the ISS, Major Peake performed the first ever spacewalk by a UK astronaut. Now it is the turn of France to raise its eyes to the skies as French astronaut Thomas Pesquet prepares for his own countdown to lift-off this November. At 38 years old, the former Air France pilot will be France’s 10th astronaut (or spationaute) - and the European Space Agency's (ESA) youngest - when he launches from Baïkonour in Kazakhstan to join the ISS. Pesquet has been in full-time training since 2014 and will be the mission's flight engineer, acting as co-pilot for the launch and return flights. The mission is being led by Russian cos-

monaut, commander Oleg Novitskiy, with NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson completing the 3-person team. It is Novitskiy's second trip to the ISS, but it is the American astronaut who is the most experienced; this will be her third long-duration mission to the ISS and the former NASA chief astronaut has already completed six spacewalks during a total of 377 days in space. “These are exciting times and I am privileged to be working with the best instructors and crewmates who inspire confidence at every step of the journey,” said Thomas Pesquet, shortly after the 16th November launch date was confirmed. “I cannot wait to be launched into space with Oleg and Peggy.” The astronauts will make the trip to the ISS, 450 km above the surface of the earth, and spend the next six months conducting a number of experiments for the ESA and CNES,

French astronaut lifts off for ISS

Thomas Pesquet in the Soyuz spacecraft simulator near Moscow

the French space agency. The trio are due to return to earth in May 2017.

You can follow the launch live on the ESA's website www.esa.int - and keep up to

date with France's latest astronaut via his website thomaspesquet.esa.int ■

Chinese team beat France in wine tasting competition

alk about getting hit where it hurts! French pride has been severely bruised after a Chinese team recently won an international wine tasting competition... and on home turf no less. The “blind” tasting took place at the Château du Galoupet vineyard, which lies near the Mediterranean coast and is one of France’s biggest wine estates. The win by the Chinese team - who came 13th in last year's competition - was described by organisers as a “thunderbolt in the world of wine”. The 21 teams from around the world

had to sample six white wines and six red wines without seeing the bottle or label, and then attempt to identify the wines’ countries of origin, the grape varieties used, their appellations and their vintages. The French team came in second place with the US third; Belgium, last year's runner-up, came fourth while former champions Spain were placed tenth this year. The British team came a distant 11th. China has long been identified as a huge growth market for wine, but many French producers still look

down their nose at Chinese drinkers, whose palettes they do not believe to be as “sophisticated” as your average European. Not only is China buying up European wines - and vineyards but it is also creating its own domestic industry. The country has begun to devote an increasing amount of its land to vineyards and last year it had almost 2 million acres of land dedicated to growing grapes, placing it second only to Spain worldwide. One person who was not surprised by the Chinese team's victory was their French coach, Brice Leboucq.

“In China the selection process to get a place on the team is truly ferocious, which means that here we only have the very best,” he told specialist magazine La Revue du vin de France, which organised the competition. The magazine wrote that the winners remained “humble even in victory”, writing that, “The astounding Chinese team conceded that in blind tasting 50 per cent is knowledge and 50 per cent is luck”. Next year’s championships are due to be held in Burgundy in the Côte d’Or wine-growing region. ■

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ NOVEMBER 2016

One billion euros pledged for Paris Olympic bid

rime Minister Manuel Valls has announced that the French government is to commit one billion euros of public money to support Paris' bid to host the 2024 Olympics. The news came as the city's bid leaders revealed that they had struck a deal with the country's five main trade unions. The “social pact” sealed with the unions, they said, would guarantee a “smooth and effective games-time operation” and benefit job creation. “The State will bring two thirds of the necessary public funds, that is one billion euros, to finance equipment and long-term construction which will be useful to the population,” Valls said, adding the funds would be released “between 2018 and 2024”, in the event of a successful bid. Central to the city's bid is a plan to develop areas of the capital's poorer banlieues. Valls said the northern Paris suburb of Seine-Saint-Denis, one of the poorest in France, would be the site of the Olympic Village and following the games, the complex would be transformed into 5,000 new homes. Earlier this month, International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach praised Paris' bid for the 2024

Games during a two-day visit to the capital. “The Paris bid is a very, very strong bid because of the unity and the large support it is sparking off,” he said. “Personally, I'm very impressed by the unity among both the sporting and political worlds.” There are still two stages of the bidding process before the final decision is revealed in Lima on 13th September 2017. In February, the candidate cities will submit their “Games Delivery, Experience and Venue Legacy” plans, and the IOC's Evaluation Commission will visit each bid city in May. The French capital is one of four

Mushroom picking advice

he arrival of autumn and the accompanying wetter weather always hails the start of mushroom picking season... and with it comes a startling increase in the number of cases of mushroom poisoning. In fact, according to health watchdogs, 87 people were poisoned in a single week in October this year, with a number of those requiring hospitalisation. “This rise in the number of cases of poisoning can be seen to run in parallel with the return of the rain, which encourages mushrooms to grow and therefore be collected,” explained the National Institute for Health Surveillance (InVS). If you are a mushroom forager, it is worth bearing in mind that pharmacists in France are trained to recognise the most common types of mushroom, so if in doubt, you can take any you have collected into a pharmacy for advice. It can also be wise to photograph any mushrooms you do collect as this will help to identify them in the event of illness. Symptoms of mushroom poisoning include diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea, vertigo and problems with eyesight and generally appear around 12 hours after ingestion. If you believe that you may have eaten a

candidates including Budapest, Los Angeles and Rome to have submitted bids outlining their financing to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Lausanne in October. The contest is effectively a three-horse race, however, after Rome’s bid was dealt a potentially fatal blow recently, when the city’s new mayor, Virginia Raggi, refused to give the bid her formal backing. “It is irresponsible to say yes to this candidature,” Raggi told reporters. “We are effectively asking the people of Rome and of Italy to shoulder the associated debts... we just don't support it.” Paris last hosted the Olympic Games in 1924, with unsuccessful bids to host the 1992, 2008 and 2012 Games. The city decided not to run for the 2020 event, which will be held in Tokyo. ■

Hollywood star to open Paris popcorn emporium Hollywood star Scarlett Johansson has announced plans to open a popcorn shop in Paris, even claiming that she will personally be serving future customers. You may wonder why one of the world's highest-paid actresses would be interested in shovelling out buckets of the cinema staple in the world's gastronomic capital, but this will be no ordinary popcorn shop. When it opens, Yummy Pop will be serving gourmet popcorn, made from seasonal ingredients freshly cooked and mixed on the premises. Rather than the standard “salted or sweet”, fine diners will have the choice of “truffle, parmesan and sage” flavoured popcorn - her personal favourite - as well as “real Vermont cheddar”, “strawberries and cream” and a number of other sweet and savoury options. The concept is a labour of love for the Lost in Translation actress and her French husband, advertising executive Romain Dauriac, whose sister will help to run the store. Johansson’s timing could not be better. The French capital is riding a wave of American-influenced food trends, from brunches and artisan coffee shops to hamburgers, with 70% of restaurants putting them on the menu, according to a recent study. ■

Ryanair announce check-in rule changes

poisonous mushroom, dial 15 or contact the anti-poison centre in Bordeaux on 05 56 96 40 80. The advice of regional health authorities includes the following: • Only pick mushrooms you recognise and seek advice if you are unsure (for example, from a pharmacist). • Only pick mushrooms that appear fresh and pick the whole mushroom to help with identification.

• Do not pick mushrooms close to sources of pollution, e.g. roadsides or industrial sites, as mushrooms concentrate pollutants. • Never store mushrooms in plastic bags as this speeds up their decomposition. • Store different varieties separately. • Store your mushrooms in the fridge and eat them within 2 days. • Cook any mushrooms you have collected never eat them raw.

hen flying with the lowcost airlines, you need to take the rough with the smooth. Many love to complain about the hidden fees and cramped seats, but there is no doubt the budget airlines provide a vital link to friends and family back home. Experienced travellers are also often adept at playing the game and avoiding many of the hidden 'extras'. The game got a little more complicated in October, however, after Ryanair announced that, from 1st November, 'basic' fare passengers would now only be able to check in online for their flight a maximum of four days in advance. The move means that travellers will now often need access to an internet connection and a printer while away in order to check in for their return flight. Arriving at the airport without first checking in online will cost you a cool €45/£45 per person. The only way to avoid checking in while you are away is to purchase assigned seating at the time of booking for an extra €6/£6 per person per flight. This will allow you to check in up to 30 days in advance for each leg of your journey. Another solution for those with smartphones could be to download the Ryanair app and use that to check in and download an e-ticket while away; this removes the need for a printer, but will still require an internet connection. In addition, some airports in Greece and Morocco cannot currently handle smartphones at

check-in. Ryanair defended the move, claiming it was in response to “extensive customer feedback” and is intended “to increase the choice available to customers who wish to reserve their seat onboard”. Defenders of the changes have pointed to the fact that many other airlines also don't allow you to check in far in advance. British Airways, for example, allow online check-in 24 hours before your scheduled flight. The difference is that it is free to do so at the airport, where Ryanair will charge €45/£45 per person. Ryanair’s email to passengers read: “From 1st November, free online check-in will be available from 4 days to 2 hours ahead of departure. Customers who do not wish to reserve their preferred seat, can check in online or on the mobile app free of charge between 4 days and 2 hours before departure and will be allocated a random seat. Affected customers who do not wish to accept this policy change have the right to cancel and request a refund, providing they do so within five days.” Ryanair has been hit hard by Brexit and the falling pound and recently cut its annual earnings forecast by 5 per cent. Both Ryanair and EasyJet have been slashing prices to increase demand and in September, Ryanair’s chief executive Michael O’Leary predicted that “Fares will fall by 10-12 per cent for the rest of the year” due to fierce competition and weak demand following the EU referendum. ■

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 11

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

The wines of Bergerac - describing a taste

by Martin Walker

ne of the biggest problems with wine is people like me who try to write about it. Almost anything to do with the human senses is very difficult to put into words. How do you define the delicacy of a mother’s touch, the intimacy of a lover’s caress, or the kindness of a stranger’s helping hand? And wine affects so many different senses which interact with one another. Obviously wine affects most our sense of smell and taste. But it also involves our sight. If you doubt this, there is an interesting experiment: see how often you can tell the difference between a red, white or rose wine once you are blindfolded. The colour of a wine in a glass, whether pale or golden, light red or deep burgundy, subtly affects our expectation of its taste. Researchers at the ISVV (the Institute for Wine and Grape Science) in Bordeaux have tried to put the different kinds of taste into categories. They list seven primary tastes: truffle, blackcurrant, liquorice, pepper, mint, grilled and sous-bois, which suggests a taste between undergrowth and woodland. Then they suggest that there are thirteen secondary tastes, including smoke, leather, tobacco, coffee, cedar, chocolate, caramel, ashes, vanilla, stewed fruit, animal, soot and wood. I think I know what they are trying to say but when it comes to defining the difference between soot and ashes, smoke and grilled, I suspect most of us would give up. But there are some useful ways to deepen your enjoyment of wine. Sometimes this is called educating the palate, which sounds rather pompous. I think of it more as coming to appreciate the small but important differences in the taste of

wine and I had a particularly useful experience recently. It was at the Foire des vins in Le Bugue and I came across a stall for a wine I had not encountered before, Château Vignal la Brie in the Monbazillac region, very close to the wine school of La Brie. Madame Négrier suggested I try her Bergerac Sec to begin, a very agreeable and fresh white wine, mostly from the Sémillon grape with about ten per cent each of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. At 5 euros a bottle, it was good value and better than most Bergerac whites. (And so it should be, with a fine location tucked close under the hill slope that leads up to Château Monbazillac.) Then she suggested I try what she called a more serious wine, something rather special. It was much the same wine, albeit from favoured parts of her land, but it had been kept on its lees while ageing in oak barrels. When I sniffed the bouquet, I knew this was a much richer, more complex wine with several different aromas. And when I tasted it, my eyes widened, my eyebrows shot up and I gave an involuntary grunt of pleasure and respect. This was a very remarkable wine, with a depth of flavour and a richness of taste that I admired. It was not a wine I would want to drink every day, but would be just right for a special occasion or to share with close friends who appreciate good wine. At 9.50 euros it was a bargain. I do this kind of double tasting quite often. I am a profound admirer of all the wines of Château de la Jaubertie, but it is instructive to try alongside one another the standard red and white wines, and then to try their Cuvée Mirabelle, which at around 16 euros are among the very

best wines the Bergerac produces. My old friend Pierre Desmartis of Château la Vieille Bergerie is one of the great masters of white wines, and has a whole series of gold medals from the Paris show to prove it. His standard Bergerac Sec is lovely, fresh as springtime with a charming sense of almost girlish innocence and costs 6.50 euros. His Cuvée Quercus white, at 9 euros, has all the subtle power of a beautiful woman in her prime. These wines, from the same vineyard, have a very great deal in common and yet they are markedly different and it’s fun to try and work out just what those differences might be and how to put them into words. The other way to try and appreciate these delicate shifts in taste is drink a flight - a series of the same wines from different vintages. I had a memorable afternoon tasting eight different years of

the magnificent and lordly Pécharment reds of Château de Tiregand with the owner, François-Xavier de St-Exupéry, and I was struck by the variety in taste and structure. My notebook, however, testifies to the near-impossibility of defining in words the differences between them. But that almost mystical mystery of taste is half the fun of enjoying wines. ■ Martin Walker, author of the bestselling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-inchief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

France budget for 2017 - Blevins Franks

t is that time of year again, when the government releases its proposed budget for the following year and it starts to make its way through the parliamentary process. The 2017 draft budget was presented on 28th September 2016. Here is a summary of the main measures affecting expatriates. Please note that these are current proposals and there may be changes before it is approved by the French parliament. Income tax As previously announced, a French Pay As You Earn (PAYE) system will be introduced from January 2018. The reform will apply to employed and self-employed individuals, and those receiving income from French pensions and unfurnished lettings in France. It should also apply to wages, pensions and annuities paid by non-French entities to French resident individuals, although the mechanism for how this would work is unknown. There will be a 20% income tax reduction for taxpayers with low income - up to €18,500 for individual taxpayers and €37,000 for couples subject to joint tax returns. A scale rate mechanism is introduced for those earning up to €20,500 (individual taxpayers) and €41,000 (couples). These limits will be increased by €3,700 for each additional half part for dependants. The scale rates of income tax for calendar year 2016 (paid in 2017) are: Net income subject to tax

Tax rate

Up to €9,710

€9,710 to €26,818

14%

€26,818 to €71,898

30%

€71,898 to €152,260

41%

Over €151,260

45%

Some tax credits will be extended: • The tax credit for sustainable development is ex-

tended up to 31st December 2017. This credit reduces the French income tax liability if you make energy efficiency improvements to your main home. • The tax credit for ‘Pinel’ investments is extended up to 31st December 2017. This credit applies to green homes let for a minimum of six years. • The credits for non-professional furnished landlord under the ‘Censier-Bouard’ rules are extended up to 31st December 2017. This credit applies to French resident taxpayers acquiring a property to let unfurnished. Only retirement homes, care homes or student residences qualify. • The credit for home help should now be applicable to all taxpayers. Currently an individual who employs a home help (for domestic work, child care, gardening, etc.) may deduct 50% of the amount paid to the home help from his tax liability, up to a maximum of €12,000, plus €1,500 per dependent or household member aged over 65, maximum €15,000. The maximum tax reduction is €7,500. • A tax credit is planned to be introduced on property for energy renovation work or adaptation for persons with disabilities. The tax reduction will equal 20% of the cost of the work, with a limit of €22,000. Impatriate regime The special impatriate regime for employees should be extended from five to a maximum of eight years. In addition, those under this regime will no longer be subject to ‘salary’ tax, a special tax payable by the employer on the employee’s income. Tax cap Currently combined French income tax, wealth tax and social charges cannot exceed 75% of your total income for the previous year. An anti-abuse clause will be introduced in the wealth tax cap to prevent the use of holding companies to take income out of the cap calculation.

Wealth tax The wealth tax holiday period has not been extended up to eight years as was predicted, so this remains at five years for now. Succession tax The succession tax reduction for families will be removed. Currently, where the beneficiary has more than three children, they can reduce their succession tax bill by €610 for the third and subsequent children, where the inheritance comes from a parent or spouse. This reduces to €305 if the inheritance is from another relative. Corporation tax For businesses whose turnover is less than €50 million, the corporation tax rate will reduce to 28% in 2017 for profits between €38,120 and €75,000. Corporation tax is currently levied at 15% for profits up to €38,120. Above €75,000 the normal 33.1/3% corporation tax rate will apply. Compared to the budgets we had a few years ago, the measures in this draft budget should have little impact on retired British expatriates living in France. However it is still important to review your tax planning from time to time to ensure it is up to date on all the tax reforms of recent years. You also want to make sure you are not paying more tax than necessary on your investment income, pensions and wealth. ■ Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ NOVEMBER 2016

Pruneaux d'Agen by Julia Watson

don’t want to alarm you, but as of 5th November, there are only 51 days before friends and relations will be unwrapping your Christmas presents. I only mention it because if you haven’t saved up to buy all your favourites a vachement drôle 2CV, a charmant château, or a mature vignoble, you need to get the production of one variety of far more affordable presents under way now. The food variety. And, frankly, these are the sort of gifts that would be more comfortably received than those just listed, since no-one will feel obliged to behave towards you with the obsequious gratitude absurdly expensive presents generally provoke. They will simply be touched you’ve gone to a bit of a cooking effort on their behalf. But you have to start now. While everyone knows the Périgord is associated with foie gras, walnuts and anything duck, the glossy black, khaki-fleshed pruneau d’Agen is often left off the list. Perhaps because while Agen, like the Dordogne, is in the Aquitaine, it’s sited over Périgord borders in the Lot-et-Garonne department. The French word prune means plum. Pruneau means prune. Originally grown in China, the violetreddish, thin-skinned prunes were grown across the Mediterranean

by the Romans, who planted trees in the Narbonne region south of the Aquitaine and north to the Quercy. Others have it they came to France from Damascus in the 13th century, in the care of pilgrims and crusaders. Monks collected the fruit that had fallen on the ground and had dried out, and found, months later, that they were still edible. The plump fruit were loaded onto the garbarres at Agen on the Garonne, and taken down river to Bordeaux for shipping onwards to the rest of the appreciative world. With Bordeaux imposing punitive taxes on the prunes, the producers began shipping them directly from Agen. They changed their name along with the port of origin from Pruneaux de Bordeaux to Pruneaux d’Agen.

Prunes from anywhere are filled with flavour, nutrients and vitamins. They are particularly high in vitamin K, which is good for strong bones and blood clotting. These qualities made prunes a key part of the diet of sailors on long-range merchant and navy ships. They are also high in fibre - the reason for the traditional British household’s bottle of Syrup of Figs in the bathroom cabinet, even if the European Food Safety Agency has ruled that prunes can’t be sold as a laxative. Huh! What do they know? Try eating six in a row and see how accurate is the EFSA’s decision. The ones to buy for cooking, or for eating straight from the display, are the mi-cuit (half-dried) sold in the street markets direct from the

grower. Like cooking a roast with a bone in delivers more flavour to the meat, in my experience prunes with the stones in are softer in texture. Besides, if you don’t already have your own special sweetie in your life, the stones also allow you to organise your romantic future without the need of a wedding planner, playing ‘Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Sailor’, and ‘Silk, Satin, Cotton, Rags’, and ‘Coach, Carriage, Wheelbarrow Cart’ and - pick your postcode - ‘Castle, Cottage, Pigsty, Barn’. Pruneaux d’Agen are not cheap. Their expense has to do with the 20 to 26-hour long oven-drying process they undergo to reduce their moisture. 1 kilo 30g of plums only produces 500g of prunes. Then they are plumped up in steam to partially rehydrate them to a moisture content of 35 per cent maximum.

You may see what appear to be prunes all of the same size in the market. But there are officially 46 grades in both size and quality. The largest ones come around 30 to 500g. Whether you’re cooking a Breton clafoutis or just stewing them gently (with a bag of Earl Grey tea to give a slight bergamot background), it’s worth paying a bit more to buy the best. Particularly for the recipe below, which you will store in jars and give to your nearest and dearest - or the Christmas visitor or guest who wasn’t on your present list but who’s brought a little something for you. ■ Julia Watson has been a longtime Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

Drowned Pruneaux d’Agen A quantity of Pruneaux d’Agen A bottle of Armagnac, or cheapest port, depending on your budget Sterilized lidded jars Fill the jars three quarters of the way with prunes. Cover them with alcohol. Close them and store in a dark place for at least one month before eating. The longer you leave them, the more delicious. To serve, plop one or two in a small cordial glass or flute and cover with spoonfuls of the alcohol. If you pass a bowl of whipped cream or crème fraîche, a small teaspoonful on top of the prunes will react with the alcohol and thicken up. These are an excellent store cupboard staple for unexpected guests.

In the garden - jobs for November

raditionally, November is a post-harvest time when the cold sets in, daylight is short and gardeners retreat to their sheds or kitchens to consult bulb and seed catalogues, in the happy knowledge that the garden is put to bed, and the winter crops are growing outside. But this year..? October has continued the drought, and has been so dry that unless you can water regularly, very little has grown. Seedlings that could have emerged in August or September, ready for good autumn growth, haven’t. And at the same time the first sparse frosts have done for the courgettes, beans and tomatoes that were doing so well. Grrrr! But that’s the strength of the gardener. Back to square one.

by Michelle Pierce left. If you have a mini tunnel, cloches, November is a good time, if the greenhouse, etc., sow a patch of ground is soft, to transplant or plant winter veg asap but keep the fleece trees and shrubs. Wait til bare roothandy in case it turns cold. ed plants have lost their leaves be You can plant onion sets, garlic, fore moving, but container grown leeks, etc. Young cabbage plants ones can be planted at any time (as bought from the market can go in, long as the ground isn’t frozen). as well other members of the cabRemember to give them a prune, bage family and winter lettuce, or stake and water in well. try sowing winter radish, mustards, Spread empty veg beds, or borland cress and spinach. Broad ders, with mulch or manure, to save beans and peas can be sown, as on weeding and feed the soil. Wolong as you don’t have too many ven geotextile can also do the job hungry field mice (or are prepared very effectively. to replace missing ones). Keep paths between veg beds Dahlias, which have suffered so clear of the new weeds that are much due to the drought, need cutgrowing - ensure they don’t get a ting back if you haven’t already, hold. and protecting with dry bracken or Get led astray by bulb catalogues mulch for the winter. - but try and include some of the old The last autumn veg needs pickvarieties, which usually have food ing and storing, if you’ve got any

SUDOKU - EASY

interest for spring insects. Plant bulbs twice as deep as they are high, or deeper. If November is cold, the small mammals and invertebrates will start to need shelter for overwintering or hibernating. Pile a heap of twigs or branches in a quiet corner. They’ll pay you back next year by eating undesirable insect pests. Also put up insect hotels in sheltered places. You can make your own, and even a suspended upturned clay pot filled with dry straw will give a home to lacewings, etc. Look after your tools; now is a good time to clean, sharpen blades, oil handles, etc., and find them a good place in your newly organised shed. Why not have the mower serviced when you’ve finished using it, too? Or at least give it a good

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 18

clean and an oil change. The earth is still surprisingly dry in many areas, so if you have water butts, empty them out onto your ground. Then, if necessary, scrub out the containers. You can then decide whether you are going to collect water over the winter and risk splitting them in big periods of cold, or wait til the cold months have passed before you bring them back into use. Bring your pots under cover or inside, or wrap with fleece if they’re too big. Don’t forget to give the houseplants a look-after (potting on, feeding, pruning...) and bring them in to more clement climes. So, there’s still stuff to be enjoyed in the garden. Good gardening!

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 13

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

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

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

05 53 58 55 38 and home of CANOUAN ENGLISH SPRINGER SPANIELS Siret: 499 234 615 00015

DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS Clipping, cutting, hand stripping, bathing, ear care & nail trimming. INGRID GELAUDIE La Baronnie, 24260 Audrix

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE

Auto Services

Renovating your French property?

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

New build?

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

Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

JOHN SOWERSBY

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05

+44 (0)1377 538 639

motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

05 55 41 17 76 sales24@thebugle.eu

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

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu Siret: 790 016 984 00011

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)

upvc-solutions uPVC windows, doors, porches & conservatories

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

www.upvc-solutions.webs.com email: upvc-solutions@orange.fr siret: 503 133 159 00015

CHARKER DAVID

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

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

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

Tel: 05 53 09 42 18

@iret: 794 282 368 00016

Building Services Architects/Surveyors

nicky@minoucats.fr www.minoucats.fr

SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73

MinouCats

Agnac, 47800

BARWICK ÉLECTRICITÉ

Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com

06 31 98 92 07

Tel: 05 53 93 92 44

SIRET: 493 770 358 00015

Your advert here

05 55 41 17 76

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

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

Building Services Electricians

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

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

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

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

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

Building Services General

Harlequin Developments est. 2007

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

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

Building Services Painters/Decorators Simon Carter

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

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

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

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

Would you like to receive an electronic copy of The Bugle each month? We can deliver a copy to your inbox, hot off the press

Simply email - subscriptions24@thebugle.eu For more details visit www.thebugle.eu

14 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ NOVEMBER 2016

ADVERTORIAL

Online radio station for English-speaking expats Ex-patradio.com is a brand new online internet radio station, which launched live on 21st March 2016. The station is designed for English-speaking expats. The aim is to have a variety of shows, ranging from chat shows through to music programming covering a full spectrum of musical tastes. Our DJ presenter music shows include: • ‘The Golden Oldies’ with Mick Hennell, featuring tracks from the 50s and 60s • ‘The Beat Goes On’ with Steve Bell, showcasing new expat bands, musicians and singers • ‘The Blend’ with Ira, our American presenter, with the best of Creole and Swamp music through to rare blues cuts • ‘The All Day Special’ with station founder, Dave Hailwood • ‘The Roast Beef’ and a little Country and Western from 'The Southern Comfort’ with Wayne Allen • ‘The Retro Chart Show’ with Dave Mac • ‘Soul Time’ with Max Morrison - a great new show of Northern Soul • ‘The Nostalgia Club’ with David Sibbald -

Our ‘live’ coffee morning chat shows with station founder, Dave Hailwood, feature regular specialist contributors, covering topics such as women’s issues, gardening, sport, travel, cuisine and eduction... in fact, anything that affects expats. Our audience is encouraged to join in via email or phone with comments, questions and requests. Ex-pat Radio aims to be an international station, with an approachable local feel to it. Our website also features businesses, advertis-

Building Services Plumbing & Heating

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER

Computers, Satellites & Web Design

- 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

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76 Building Services Sandblasting

Food & Drink AUBERGE AUX DELICES DE LA TREILLE 24350 MONTAGRIER

05 53 91 12 63

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

bobby@sandandblast.com steve@sandandblast.com SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

€24.90 Menu Soup+Starter+Main+Cheese+Dessert

Bar & Restaurant

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

Siret: 800 525 040 00013

Chimney Sweeps

05 53 80 29 54

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

sandblasting

05 55 76 31 59 / 06 77 40 95 92

A La Carte or 2 Set Menus Lunchtimes (except Sun and bank hols) Soup+Starter+Main+Dessert - €15 Soup+Starter+Main - €11.90 Soup+Main+Dessert - €11.90 Soup+Main - €8.90

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

We provide a fully operated

www.sandandblast.com

Closed Tue eve & Wed

La Poutre

Sand and Blast 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:

Experienced, Registered & Fully Insured No mess, no fuss Email: cinderssweep@gmail.com

T: 05 53 91 87 88 siret: 484 768 700 00011

ing their services and trades. If you are interested in sponsoring one of our shows on a regular basis, or would like a commercial made and aired, please get in touch with Catherine Brown at catherine@ex-patradio.com Email us with requests, stories, jokes, local events in your area, sports groups, and anything else. We want to hear it all.. So get typing to: dave@ex-patradio.com Like us on Facebook:www.facebook.com/ expatradiofrance/ Tweet us on: @ExpatRadioFr And listen live now!

songs from the 50s • ‘Smooth Jazz’ with Phil Johnson • ‘Good Vibes’ with Anne Dessens

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

www.ex-patradio.com

The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm 1st Monday: Le Champsac Tuesday: Tremolat Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Daglan See our website for full details:

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

Ivan Petley

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

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

Language Services

siret: 444 925 630 00014

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Gifts & Crafts

Personalised Poems Give someone special a unique & personal gift

www.personalisedpoems4you.webs.com

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

FRENCH LESSONS Via Skype

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

05 55 14 07 64 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Property Sales

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

Would you like to receive your copy of The Bugle by post each month? We can deliver a copy to your door, hot off the press

France, UK and Europe - €20 per year

Email us for more details - subscriptions24@thebugle.eu or visit www.thebugle.eu

Contact Joanna:

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

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Too Big to Fail, Let’s Hope So

Deutsche Bank has been in the headlines over the last few weeks for all the wrong reasons: dropping share price, questions over its capital adequacy and a huge DOJ fine of some 14 billion USD. Do you need any more evidence that the banking crisis that started 9 years ago in itself is far from over? The only difference is now the epicentre has moved from the US to Europe and the UK. All are fast being enveloped by a perfect storm of negatives, and this time around, it is substantially the policymakers and law

HOLIDAY HOMES IN THE UK

Eco Entrepot

05 55 41 17 76

www.ParkHolidays.com/beauportsales

SOS Help

bookstop

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

09 51 45 57 49

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

The above information was correct at the

Open every day except Monday

aka The Shed

CALL 0044 1424 853 764

Retail & Commerce

If you would like advice on what’s on offer I am here to help you, to arrange an independent, professional and impartial consultation or review of your current banking / investment portfolio. Please contact me by email at rosemary.sheppard@blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70.

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

Support

£9,995

already frail reputation of the banking system and may cause banks to further contract their balance sheets, perpetuating the wider economic impact of the crisis. So what can you do? First, make sure that you hold no more cash in your bank current account and or deposit account than is guaranteed ie £75,000 or €100,000, if possible keep it well under this amount and spread your risk across banks. Look at taking out some investments to diversify away from the banking system. ■

Your advert here

05 55 68 74 73

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

enforcers who are to blame. All eyes are naturally focused on the specific problems of Deutsche Bank: is it insolvent, is it possible Deutsche Bank could go the way of Lehman brothers or are we seeing the final crawl towards the nationalisation of Deutsche Bank? If necessary, Angela Merkel will bail the bank out, despite German lawmakers - including the finance ministry - continuing to refute speculation that it is preparing a back-up plan. Whatever the cost, Germany is more than solvent enough to take the hit. But Deutsche is not alone, as Tidjane Thiam, chief executive of Credit Suisse, observed last week, as an entire sector, European banks are still “not really investable”. Much the same disease as afflicts Continental banks also applies to British counterparts, including Royal Bank of Scotland, Barclays and even Lloyds. The saga deals yet another blow to the

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Transport, Removals & Storage

DSD Removals & Storage The Removal Experts 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

time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) through whom we have a registered branch and passport for financial services in France.

MICHAELS MOVERS

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Removals

UK ↔ France ↔ UK

Man & Van Transport

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

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

English & French Spoken

09 82 12 69 73 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

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

05 55 41 17 76

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OVER 25,000 PEOPLE EACH MONTH FOR AS LITTLE AS €13.50 HT

SALES@THEBUGLE.EU 05 55 41 17 76

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ NOVEMBER 2016

ADVERTORIAL

FREEZTEQ Frozen Dampcourse System is a unique and highly effective damp coursing system. It is based on siliconate solutions, which are inserted into holes drilled in the mortar line of the wall to be treated in the form of circular section, pre-frozen "ice sticks". The slow-melting system ensures a continuous water-repellent barrier because the system depends on diffusion, the most effective method for fluid distribution in masonry. Accurate dosages can be readily achieved and application costs are thus remarkably low.

The FREEZTEQ system is suitable for all types of walls, including brick, stone and rubble infill, and has shown itself to be particularly effective in the treatment of older properties. DIY or contractor; easy to use; 30 year guarantee available; most effective method; direct insertion; reduced costs; all wall thicknesses; all types of stone or brickwork; treatment from one side of wall only; no specialised equipment; no bulky equipment; correct dosage; no spillage of liquids; non-flammable; odourless. ■

FREEZTEQ Frozen Damp-course System is now available in France, all enquiries to Harlequin Developments. Tel: 05 55 68 67 56 or 06 06 60 46 97, e-mail: harlequindevelopments@live.com

Installers and distributors wanted for all regions of France.

ADVERTORIAL

Chasing Dreams and Flies; A Tragicomedy of Life in France

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

place at almost the same time. The book is available in both ebook and printed form from Amazon. Go to www.amazon.com and search for "Chasing dreams and flies". ■

ADVERTORIAL

Advertising with The Bugle

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

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

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €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!!

For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 05 55 41 17 76 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract €108

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€18/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€24/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€27/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€36/month)

€144 €162 €216

12-Month Contract €162

(€13.50/month)

€216

(€18/month)

€243

(€20.25/month)

€324

(€27/month)

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

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

30 words max

COMMUNITY ♦ 17

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Market Days

Monday

Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

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

Le Bugue Montignac Mussidan Neuvic Nontron Périgueux Razac Sarlat Sigoulès St Aulaye Ste-Foy-la-Grande Thiviers Verteillac Villefranche du Périgord

Friday

Sunday

Thursday

Tuesday

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

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

Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord Belvès Bergerac Lalinde La Roche Chalais

Minoushka

UPCOMING AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICES

Minoushka was in danger for her life when Phoenix cat foster carer, Sophie, came to her aid. Cute and very cheeky, this little madam just loves watching the world around her. She is also very playful and comes for cuddles when she feels in the mood, which is quite often. She is used to cats, dogs and young children.

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 06 NOVEMBER 10:30 Service of the Word – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Limeuil 11:00 Holy Communion – Doudrac 11:00 Prayer & Praise – Sainte Nathalène 15:00 French-Madagascan Family Communion – Bordeaux 16:00 Evensong – Bertric Burée

Minoushka will be vaccinated and chipped before adoption. If you are interested in adopting her please contact Sophie (Bergerac area) on 05 53 73 91 13 / 07 78 21 13 55 or at sophie.nicol@yahoo.fr

Wednesday 09 November 11:00 BCP Holy Communion – Bertric Burée SUNDAY 13 NOVEMBER 10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée 10:30 All Age Worship – Bordeaux 10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple 10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil 10:30 Remembrance Service - Monteton 10:30 Family Service – Négrondes 11:00 Remembrance Service - Condom Tuesday 15 November 11:30Holy Communion – Envals Thursday 17 November 10:30 BCP Holy Communion – Limeuil SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER 10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée 10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux 10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade 10:30 Morning Worship – Dondas 10:30 Morning Worship – Limeuil 10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton 11:00 Prayer & Praise with Communion – Sainte Nathalène Thursday 24 November 11:00 Holy Communion – Condom SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER 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

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

www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

International Coffee Chat ...welcomes expat & French women living some or all of the time in Sarlat - meet new people & make new friends! Held the third Monday of each month between 10h-11h30 at The French Coffee Shop, 35 avenue Gambetta, Sarlat.

€500 REWARD For information leading to the safe return of our 4 Indian Star Tortoises. Our 5 tortoises were stolen from Lauzun, 47410 on 13 March 2016. We have got one of the tortoises back after someone found her by the roadside and took her to Mescoules Zoo, 24240. Her shell was damaged and she had lost weight so we are extremely concerned about the remaining 4. We believe they may still be in the 24240 area. Indian Star Tortoises should be kept at a constant, specific temperature and be fed specific food. It is illegal to have an Indian Star Tortoise without a permit. The Miramont du Guyenne gendarmerie 05 53 83 39 10 have been informed. INDIAN STAR TORTOISES DO NOT HIBERNATE THEY MUST BE KEPT AT A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE. IF LEFT OUTSIDE DURING THE WINTER THEY WILL DIE

For more information call Kim on

06 09 18 74 42

If you have seen or know where our 4 tortoises are please contact us at susandurnford@yahoo.com or on 06 02 30 78 93 (French) or 06 42 20 83 88 / 05 53 88 14 35 (English). We are offering the reward with NO QUESTIONS ASKED. We just want our tortoises back. Thank you.

Chaplaincy of Aquitaine Christmas Carol Services and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers). All services are held in English. For further details, please see our website: www.churchinaquitaine.org or contact Chaplaincy Administration: Amy Owensmith, +33 (0) 607 04 07 77 chapaq.office@gmail.com THURSDAY 08 DECEMBER 17:00 Christmas Carol Service – Sainte Nathalène Dordogne 19:00 Christmas Carol Service – Montcaret, Dordogne FRIDAY 09 DECEMBER 18:00 Christmas Carol Service – Ribérac church, Dordogne SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER 18:30 Madagascan Carol Service – Bordeaux, Gironde

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER 11:00 Christmas Carol Service – Doudrac, Lot et Garonne 16:00 Christmas Carol Service – Chancelade Abbey, Dordogne 17:00 Christmas Carol Service – Limeuil, Dordogne 17:00 Christmas Carol Service – Monteton, Lot et Garonne 17:00 Christmas Carol Service – Bordeaux, Gironde WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 18:00 Christmas Carol Service – Eymet Church, Dordogne 18:30 Christmas Carol Service – Dondas, Lot et Garonne FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 18:00 Christmas Carol Service – Négrondes, Dordogne 18:30 Christmas Carol Service – St Médard, Lot et Garonne SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 17:00 Christmas Carol Service – Vic Fezensac, Gers TUESDAY 20 DECEMBER

18:30 Christmas Carol Service – Allez et Cazeneuve, Lot et Garonne SATURDAY 24 DECEMBER 18:00 Christmas Eve Holy Communion – Condom, Gers 18:00 Christmas Eve Holy Communion – Doudrac, Lot et Garonne 22:30 Christmas Eve Holy Communion – Limeuil, Dordogne SUNDAY 25 DECEMBER 10:30 Christmas Day Holy Communion – Bertric Burée, Dordogne 10:30 Christmas Day Family Communion – Bordeaux, Gironde 10:30 Christmas Day Fresh Expressions – Eymet Temple, Dordogne 10:30 Christmas Praise with Communion – Limeuil, Dordogne 10:30 Christmas Day Holy Communion – Monteton, Lot et Garonne 10:30 Christmas Day Holy Communion – Négrondes, Dordogne

18 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ NOVEMBER 2016

Sarlat Film Festival 8th-12th November

WHAT’S

ON DORDOGNE LADIES CLUB INTERNATIONAL Maison des Associations, place Jules Ferry, 24100 Bergerac

Sarlat’s wonderful architecture, medieval-style buildings and stone roofs have made a backdrop for a score of top motion pictures since 1968, adding to its fame and its fortune. So it’s no surprise to learn that only Nice and Paris have had more films shot in their locales than Sarlat. The town plays host to an annual Film Festival, which this year celebrates 25 years and will run from 8th to 12th November. One of the finest film festivals in the country, it attracts many famous French actors and directors who come to present their film. On the bill for this 25th edition of the festival are premiere screenings of feature films, numerous short films, workshops and discussion sessions with writers and film professionals.

The Dordogne Ladies Club International (DLCI) is a club open to women of any nationality who possess enough fluency in the English language to enable them to participate in the association’s activities. Our main aims are to promote social contact and friendships through social gatherings, lunches, excursions and other activities. We encourage our members to participate in some way or other in our fund-raising events. Since 1986, the club has donated over 110,000 euros to local charities. This year we are donating 6,000 euros to be shared between S.P.A. Bergerac, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Vacances Plein Air.

The Festival was created with an educational objective as it brings together 600 baccalaureate students each year from all over France who will take part in workshops and meet film crews. Films will be shown at the Cinéma Rex. Tickets (priced €5.50/€7.50/€8.50) are available on the door or from www.cinerex.fr (book early to avoid disappointment). For more information visit www.festivaldufilmdesarlat.com

AUTUMN FAIR The Dordogne Ladies Club is holding an Autumn Fair on Saturday 12th November at La Salle de l’Orangerie, Bergerac between 10 am and 4 pm. There will be a wide range of stalls selling gifts, homemade produce, Christmas goods and refreshments.

BOOKSTOP PRESENTS

Two full days of film with writer-director Dan Bessie. In addition to the screenings Dan will talk about what went on behind the scenes to create these films, brought them the success (or lack of success) each had, and discuss filmmaking in general. Admission is FREE - Bookstop offers tea, coffee and cake for purchase

La Salle de l’Orangerie is situated between rue Lakanal and rue Dr Simonet, opposite Clinique Pasteur and Parc Jean Jaures For more information visit: dlci.info

EASY

MEDIUM

HARD

THE FILMS Monday 21st November at 9:30 a.m. PETER AND THE WOLF 30 minutes, and based on Prokofiev’s intro to the orchestra. Ray Bolger (Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz) is the on-camera narrator.

...followed by: THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, YOUR MAGIC DOCTOR 20 minutes; a cartoon film describing, in a simple, clear and light-hearted manner, how the human body protects itself from disease.

AND / 2 p.m. EXECUTIVE ACTION Feature dramatic film that speculates on how President John Kennedy may have been assassinated. Stars Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Will Geer. _______________________________________________________

Tuesday 22nd November at 9:30 a.m. 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

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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Tirage mensuel:

12,000 copies

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A WAR IN HOLLYWOOD A feature-length documentary. This award-winning production reveals how Hollywood films viewed the Spanish Civil War (1936-39). Drawn from the experience of Dan’s father, Alvah Bessie, it tells the story of what led one American out of the 2500 who volunteered for combat in Spain to do so in an effort to help defeat the fascist general Francisco Franco. AND / 2 p.m. HARD TRAVELING Adapted from a novel by Dan’s father, this poignant pre-WWII feature retells a true story from Dan’s family about a kindly drifter who kills and robs a man in order to help support his family. _______________________________________________________

OK to book for just one day - daily seating is limited to 22. Please contact Howard at Bookstop to reserve a place 09 51 45 57 49 / bookstop24@gmail.com BOOKSTOP / 19 rue Victor Hugo / 24310 Brantôme

NOVEMBER 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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The nights draw in, the clouds come and the rain falls. However, MADS will bring a little sunshine to SW France with our winter play “DECKCHAIRS”. A very funny look at various aspects of life seen from 2 deckchairs on a beach. Come laugh away the winter blues with MADS. Seats sell quickly so don’t be too late!! WHEN: 8th, 9th & 10th December. 20h. WHERE: Salle des fêtes, Monsaguel. TICKETS: 10€ (-2€ for MADS members); Under 12s 5€ BOOKINGS: mads.bookings@gmail.com or 05 53 27 55 31

Soiréé indienne Salle Jacques Brel, Lalinde Friday 25th November at 19h30 An evening of traditional and Bollywood dance with the dancers of the association La Mouchette, organised by the association Kamalalinda to raise funds for Colva School in Goa. Indian Menu - chicken curry, includes wine and coffee. Adults €20; Children €10 For reservations tel 06 84 74 74 40 or 06 89 65 22 14

Got an event for The Bugle? notices@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

Now booking for Abjat-sur-Bandiat THE BANSANG HOSPITAL ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CRAFTS EXTRAVAGANZA Popular Dordogne local event Supporting Bansang Hospital, The Gambia, Africa Ideal opportunity for quality Crafters, Creators, Artists, Artisans, Vendors Whole day event, excellent venue, refreshments, etc.

Sunday 11th December Booking & enquiries to: Linda Nicholson - tel 05 53 56 73 86 Email lindanicholson51@yahoo.co.uk Find out about Bansang Hospial at bansanghospitalappeal.org

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