The Bugle Dordogne - Oct 2014 by The Bugle

The 23rd French Conker Championships It’s that time of year again! The 23rd official French Conker Championships are being held at Abjat-surBandiat on Saturday 4th October. >> Page 20

Dordogne October 2014 - Issue #16

Income tax changes to benefit 9 million

NEWS - Pharmacists protest changes

Prime Minister Manuel Valls has unveiled changes to France's income tax rules, due to come into effect next year, that could see a further 3 million households pay no income tax, and another 6 million paying significantly less than they did this year.

NEWS - The MP with a fear of paperwork

come tax, which represents 19 million foyers. Income tax is calculated on a household basis and not on individual incomes. A couple living together combine their incomes and will receive twice the tax allowance; an extra half ‘part’ is then added for each dependant child. Under current rules, no tax is paid on the first €6010 earned (or €12,020 for a couple - €18,030 if they have 2 children). Income between €6,011 - €11,991 is then taxed at 5.5% and it is this band that may soon be removed. It is believed that under the new rules due to come into force next year, the 5.5% band will be removed altogether, but that the threshold for the 14% band will be lowered to

>> continued on page 9

Dordogne’s pharmacists went on strike recently, protesting reforms that could see them lose their monopoly on certain medicines >> Page 4

A disgraced MP, sacked after just 9 days in office, has blamed his "phobia of paperwork" for falling 3 years behind with his tax returns. >> Page 11

FRENCH LIFE - Staying warm this winter

One of the cheapest and most efficient methods of heating your home is with a wood burner. We bring you a guide to keeping warm this winter. >> Pages 12-13

s many as 9 million households in France could soon find themselves paying less tax in 2015 if Prime Minister Manuel Valls follows through with proposals to “remove” the lowest band of income tax. Speaking on iTélé, Valls insisted that removing the lower band would not, contrary to some speculation, mean a greater burden on higher taxpayers. When news of the changes first came to light, there was a degree of confusion as to the number of households that would benefit. Valls was quoted as saying that six million would be better off, but as more details were made public, budget minister Christian Eckert later referred to nine million. In France, approximately half of all households pay in-

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The Bergerac wine region has been awarded the prestigious “Vignobles >> Page 3 et découvertes” label

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

Welcome to

The Bugle

s I sat down to write this month's editorial, the final day's play of the Ryder Cup was just getting under way, so you'll forgive me if I am a bit distracted. If you are a fan of sport, then the Ryder Cup is surely one of the highlights of the year. Golf is nowhere near as popular in France as it is in the UK and that for me is largely down to an image problem. There are relatively few “municipal” type courses where green fees are more reasonable and that makes golf quite an expensive pastime in France. As such it has garnered an image as being slightly elitist, not something that usually sits well with the French public. It is a shame, as the wide open spaces available, especially in central France where I live, are just crying out to be turned into golf courses! Maybe that should be my next venture...? Golf

is certainly set to receive a profile boost over the coming years as the next Ryder Cup to be played on European soil will be at Le Golf National, just outside Paris, in 2018. It will be only the second time that the competition has been held in Europe outside of the British isles. The Ryder Cup has grown in popularity over recent decades and it is one of those rare times in sport when money goes out of the window and the players are passionate about nothing other than the history of the competition, being part of a team and the glory of winning. It must be tough to do for some golfers as there are not many sports which traditionally have quite such a solo mentality. This year's Ryder Cup has been made all the more exciting by the young Frenchman on the team, Victor Dubuisson, who I did not know too much about, but looks a real talent. He is only the third Frenchman

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

to represent Europe in the competition (Jean van der Velde and Thomas Levet are the others in case you are interested), but he certainly looks like he'll be around for a while. I've just seen that he's playing last, so here's hoping he can bring it home for Europe. I should probably announce right now that there will not be an October edition of the paper in 4 years' time as I will be somewhere on the outskirts of Paris cheering on Europe! I was very interested to see the income tax changes being brought in for next year that will see 9 million households paying less tax, with 3 million of those now paying none at all. Higher earners will not be affected, but I think that many expats will benefit from the shake-up. I do not know too many expats who live here on large salaries, but I know plenty that work for themselves or have modest incomes from one source or another. A few more euros in the pocket at the end of the year will certainly be a welcome relief for many people. Those living off a UK pension will also have felt slightly better off in recent weeks and months, as the euro/pound exchange rate has crept steadily higher. Following the Scottish “No” vote a few weeks ago, it surged to 1.28 euros to the

pound at one point, which makes a big difference if you are surviving on a sterling income; certainly better than the near 1:1 rates of a few years ago. It will also make France look cheaper to those spending pounds, so hopefully that will encourage a few more people to move over and get the economy moving again! There will be celebrations afoot this month here at Bugle Towers as the newspaper turns 5! It feels like a lifetime ago that I launched this venture... which actually happens to be true in the case of my eldest daughter - at least I'll always remember what year she was born. I joke of course, I don't need the paper to remember that... it was the year Chelsea won the FA Cup. Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

INSIDE this edition 3-7 Local News 8-11 National News 12-14 French Life 15 Practical 16 Language & Games 17-19 Directory 20-24 What's On

CONTACT us Tel: 05.55.41.17.76 General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales24@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): publicite@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions24@thebugle.eu Editor: Steve Martindale Write to: The Bugle Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

aurent Fabius, the minister for foreign affairs and international development, visited the Dordogne in September to grant the “Vignobles et découvertes” label to the tourist industry in the Bergerac wine region. This distinguished label, the first to be granted in the Aquitaine, highlights areas that offer quality and comprehensive short stay opportunities for tourists, focussing on the wine industry. For many vineyards, “wine tourism” is already a large part of their business, but the allocation of the Vignobles et découvertes label is a big boost to the region’s tourist industry. It is only the 40th such label awarded in France and has been granted for an initial 3-year period. The aim of the label is to improve the clarity of offers available for tourists as well as to be a guarantee of quality, given the large number of businesses working in the wine tourism industry.

It also aims to increase the number of tourists visiting regions carrying the label, whilst simultaneously helping to develop this important industry. “We must organise ourselves, so that the 2 billion tourists scattered throughout the world choose to come to France,” said the minister, speaking at the Château de Monbazillac just south of Bergerac. “Our wines are well known, we must now tell everyone about our wine heritage and history.” For the individual vineyards of the region, the importance is to get their message to a wider audience. “We would like to have someone from the tourism ministry attached to the online portal we are about to launch,” said Alain Sergenton, an independent winemaker from the Monbazillac appellation. “Individual initiatives are springing up all over the department. The important thing now is to identify them, group them

Bergerac wine tourism honoured

Fabius visited the Château de Monbazillac ing,” explained the president and effectively communiof the national independent cate their existence.” winemakers’ association, The region’s wine producwho had travelled down exers also used the minister’s pressly to put this point to visit as a chance to press the minister. him on the constraints of the With parliament soon to Evin Law, which restricts debate public health laws, the type of advertising opLaurent Fabius called on legtions available to winemakislators to find a fair balance ers. They drew particular atbetween public health and tention to the repeated legal advertising for winemakers. attacks against their market“We must, of course, pay ing by Anpaa (the national close attention in terms of agency for the prevention health, but it is also imporof alcoholism and addictant for the viticulteurs to be tion). “We are permanently able to market their wines,” insecure, legally speaking, added the minister. ■ when it comes to advertis-

Slippery shopper

There was minor panic in a clothes shop in the centre of Sarlat-la-Canéda recently when a snake was discovered browsing the latest fashions. The sapeurs-pompiers were called and were able to remove the mystery shopper, who turned out to be a grass snake (couleuvre). The non-venomous reptile was later released back into the wild, although presumably without any new threads. Grass snakes can reach 2 metres in length, although this is rare and you would be unlikely to come across one much longer than 1 metre - still large enough to give you a scare in the underwear aisle, though! You are far more likely to see one in an open clearing on a sunny day, near a region offering some shelter - a river bank or the edge of woodland, for example. They are also adept at climbing and will happily make their way into trees. They will bite if cornered or threatened, but the bite is not poisonous. Several species of viper are also common in France. Whilst much smaller than the grass snake, these reptiles are venomous, although their bite, while painful, is very rarely fatal. Vipers can often be identified by a distinctive chevron on its triangular head or by a zigzag pattern running down its back. Vipers will grow to a maximum length of around 60cm and if you are bitten by one, seek medical attention. If you are not a fan of snakes, the good news is that they will soon be hibernating for the winter, re-emerging sometime around April when temperatures begin to rise. ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

Pharmacists protest against reforms

here was serious disruption recently when the region’s pharmacies went on strike as part of an escalating battle with the government over plans to deregulate their industry and end the monopoly on selling certain medicines. In Périgueux, several hundred pharmacists took to the streets, with a further 80 or so protesting in Bergerac. The vast majority of pharmacies across the Dordogne were closed on Tuesday 30th September as a result, causing severe disruption to those needing to collect prescriptions. France’s pharmacies have long enjoyed a monopoly on all medication, a situation that many believe has led to artificially high prices for a number of “basic” medicines. The influential General Inspectorate of Finance recently released a report recommending that the sale of non-prescription, non-reimbursable drugs, such as painkillers, be opened up to competition. The report found that the cost of non-prescription drugs has risen by twice the cost of living in the last 15 years and said that allowing supermarkets to stock certain drugs would keep prices lower for consumers. The government also believes that allowing France’s supermarkets to enter this lucrative market for non-prescription medicines will result in more choice and lower prices for consumers. The pharmacists disagree. Current proposals would involve reclas-

sifying what constitutes a medicine. Health minister Marisol Touraine said recently that she was “not in favour of selling medicines in supermarkets”, although she did say that a shake-up of the industry was required. “I think it is right that we look at what products we need to be calling medicines,” said the minister, citing Fluocaril, a make of toothpaste, as an example. “Is it necessary that Fluocaril can only be sold through a pharmacy? I think not.” The same was the case, she added, for certain lozenges, concluding that “we should clean out the list of medicines”. The pharmacists, who are currently free to set the price for painkillers and other nonprescription “medicines”, are understandably opposed to any such opening up of their industry, saying that any changes would be dangerous for the public. A spokesperson for the UNPF, France’s national pharmacies’ union, confirmed that they would continue to fight any changes: “Following this strike and depending on the government’s future position, the UNPF will be organising further action, coordinated with the other unions.” During the strike, the health ministry had assured that there would a number of “pharmacies de garde” - on-call pharmacies - operating across the Dordogne. These were available to dispense prescriptions in the same way that pharmacies de garde currently function on a Sunday. ■

2 locals hit lottery jackpot

ady Luck has been shining on the Dordogne in recent weeks with two locals picking up life-changing lottery wins. One lady, who bought her ticket in Montignac, picked up the second biggest win in one EuroMillions draw, collecting a cheque for just over half a million euros. The woman opted to remain anonymous and even Pierre Lagorce, the owner of the shop which sold the winning ticket, had no idea that one of his customers had won such a large sum. Just one week later, another lucky local went into a tabac to check his ticket, only to be stunned by the news that he had won a cool million! Also wishing to remain anonymous, he did confirm that he would be spoiling his family and finishing some work on his house. The man, who said he had played the EuroMillions since it first ran in 2004, bought his ticket in Sigoulès, just south of Bergerac. The win was part of the My Million game that runs alongside the EuroMillions

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in France. Each ticket sold in France has a unique code and a separate draw guarantees one lucky punter a million euros in every draw. The win is the latest in a series of 7-figure jackpots in the Dordogne: in January 2013, €11 million was won on the French Loto in Mussidan; prior to that €7 million was won in Issigeac in 2012, €5 million in both Nontron in 2005 and Javerlhac in 2003 and €4.6 million in Saint-Léon-surl’Isle in 1999. ■

A noble cause

or more than twenty years, Downe House, an independent girls’ school located in Berkshire has had a branch near Sarlat and for more than 5 years, it has raised money for a French charity called Hôpital Sourire. This charity aims to put smiles back on the faces of children suffering from cancer and severe burns as well assisting their families. It doesn’t deal with medical equipment or research; it aims to make the life of these children more bearable in times of hardship through software, art workshops and beds for accompanying parents. On Saturday October 11th, Downe House girls are organizing a sale of cakes and accessories at the market, place du 14 Juillet, in Sarlat. The warm welcome they will give donators will be undoubtedly in proportion with their determination to raise more money than ever! The well-being of hospitalized children does matter! ■

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

LOCAL NEWS ♦ 5

6 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

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CSF - raising awareness

Thanks to her co-volunteers Pat Ward, Elaine O’Mahoney and Gina Maylon, this single Sunday afternoon made over €1,400. This sum is earmarked for the palliative care units in two of the Dordogne’s cancer-treating hospitals, in Périgueux. The Ribérac offshoot of CSF, calling itself

contre le cancer, and we are making CSF more approachable, more available and more consistent. There are still too many English-speaking people suffering with cancer or with a sufferer in the family, who are feeling isolated, vulnerable, helpless and alone. We can fix this. We try very hard to be good at supporting people, and it’s free. We are all volunteers but CSF places a high priority on professional standards, training and confidentiality. We are here to help.” ■

targeting of tumours for the Centre Hospitalier at Girac. This piece of hi-tech treatment equipment is being officially presented by CSF on Wednesday 8th October to the hospital, which cares for many cancer patients from the Dordogne, Haute-Vienne and Charente. Ongoing fund-raising events include marathon sponsored walks and swims, bake-offs, gala nights, beard-shaves, lunches, dinner dances, lotteries... and even a duck race!! Tony Benstead, CSF national president, told The Bugle: “This month is the start of a fresh approach. We have a strong link with La Ligue

If you or someone you know is affected by cancer, see for yourself what CSF can do for you at: www.cancersupportfrance.org by Brian Hinchcliffe

New York debut for Dordogne choir

a Rentrée is always a busy time for Cancer Support France and this autumn was no exception. This Francewide organization, which provides help, free of charge, to cancer sufferers and their families, is currently concentrating on getting itself better known. Their goal is to ensure that anyone affected by cancer has easy access to CSF services. A series of events across the Dordogne for autumn was launched in a very British way with a traditional English garden party, hosted by the Ribérac group’s Paula Barker at her home near Saint-Aulaye on the Dordogne/ Charente border. With 3 live bands, lots of stalls and plenty of cakes, it had all the ingredients for a perfect day out. “We have been really lucky,” said Paula, speaking just after the event. “The weather has been wonderful and so many CSF friends and supporters have turned up to enjoy our cream teas. It’s a great start to our CSF Awareness Campaign and a boost to our Drop-in Centre, every 4th Friday in Ribérac’s Palais de Justice.” “These drop-in sessions have proved an excellent way for people with cancer issues to get in touch over coffee and a bun,” added Annora Tiley, CSF Ribérac president. “And we now have our own Shiatsu practitioner attending the drop-in, offering advice and a free introductory treatment.” While the CSF is a source of advice and support, the Ribérac branch is also celebrated for its direct funding of cancer treatment centres.

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Annora Tiley and Paula Barker host CSF Garden Party “The Kitchen Cabinet” and based in the north Dordogne, has a tremendous record of support for two hospitals in Angoulême. The group recently funded a shower bed and special computer equipment for Soyaux hospital, and this month a diamond detector to provide precise

tinguished Concerts International” is a highly respected organization that brings choirs and musicians to perform in this iconic, world-class concert hall. However, Variations never let the grass grow under their feet, and between now and June the group are also preparing their upcoming programmed feast of entertainment for all tastes. One concert this October neatly links Variations to Carnegie Hall, via Liverpool’s most famous export. In 1964, The Beatles played at the iconic New York venue, and now exactly 50 years later, Variations are holding a tribute concert to the Fab Four. Veronica Dare-Bryan told us: “For the start of October we have put together what we believe will be a wonderful weekend’s celebration of The Beatles and their music, from their start in the 1960s to where we are now. This 2-night Baby Boom extravaganza is on Friday October 3rd and Saturday October 4th. There will be a bar open from 7pm with the concert starting at 8pm. We believe this production is a real knockout and marvelous value at only €10.” The concert, entitled “With a Little Help From My Friends” (see poster, left), is in the Salle Polyvalente in Villetoureix, near Ribérac. ■

group of local Dordogne singers have recently been attracting international attention for their work and are now preparing to perform a concert in New York’s Carnegie Hall in the New Year. The “Variations” group is well-known around Ribérac for the breadth and quality of their productions, delighting audiences with productions ranging from Old Tyme Music Hall to serious classical concerts. The 3 sections of Variations (Variations Ensemble Vocal, Variations-enScène and Variations Chamber choir) ensure top-class entertainment across the department’s prestigious venues throughout the year. Their jolly, rollicking Christmas shows, for example, are complemented by astounding renderings of works in concert, such as Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem, Haydn’s Imperial Mass and many more. Their renown is spreading and an unusual chain of events has now led to international recognition. It was their 2013 Easter concert that ultimately led to a recent invitation to perform in the USA. Val Wareham told The Bugle: “A Dutch member of the audience made a recording during the concert. He was so pleased with it he posted the excerpt on YouTube. It was spotted by an organization in New York and we have been asked to perform Fauré’s Requiem in the Carnegie Hall in Manhattan next year.” An exciting opportunity that the choir is determined to make into a triumph! The “Dis-

Val Wareham has more information on 05 53 90 62 03 or at valeriewareham@me.com by Brian Hinchcliffe

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 7

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts 2015

ollowing on from the wonderful result of Open Gardens/Jardins Ouverts 2014, we are now looking forward to events in 2015 and we have made some changes. Instead of the single open weekend in June, as was the case this year, there will be 3 main opening days - Sunday March 8th, Sunday May 10th and Sunday July 12th. Some gardens will be open on other days and all these details will be posted on the website (see below). So, for next year, visitors will be able to see a much greater variety of plants and, of course, a lot more gardens will be available. For the first time, we will have gardens in the Dordogne and we are delighted that we now have a local co-ordinator who will help develop Open Gardens in that department. For those who are not aware of the Open Garden scheme, it is a project based loosely on the Yellow Book scheme which has run successfully in the UK for many years and has raised millions of pounds for charitable causes. A group of dedicated gardeners and volunteers is now trying to develop a similar project in France and has met with huge enthusiasm

and 2015 will be our third year. The aim is to encourage garden owners to open their gardens to the public who pay an annual subscription which entitles them to visit as many gardens as they wish throughout the year. For 2015, the profits will be donated to a French charity called “A Chacun son Everest”, an association which organises activities for children suffering from cancer or leukaemia. In 2014, €2,500 was sent to this worthy organisation and our aim is to double that amount in 2015. There are many ways to become involved in Open Gardens Offer your garden: If you think that people would enjoy walking round your garden and that you would enjoy that experience, please get in touch, no matter which department you are in. Someone will come and discuss the idea and you can decide if this is for you. Although there are 3 main dates itemised above, you can sign up for any or all of them. Alternatively, you have the option of opening on a completely separate date if that is when your garden looks its best. Your minimum commitment is 1 day per year.

Be a visitor: There are few nicer ways to spend a lazy day than strolling round beautiful gardens, being inspired by ideas that you want to adopt yourself. The membership card costs only €10 and this entitles you to visit as many of the gardens as you wish, throughout 2015. All of the gardens are different, some are set on the banks of rivers whilst other have far-reaching views; ponds, wild flower meadows, extensive rang-

es of flowers and shrubs and bog gardens are just some of the many other attractions to view. Become a co-ordinator: If the idea of Open Gardens appeals to you, you may wish to help us develop the scheme by becoming a co-ordinator. This is a simple role and would involve you in co-ordinating a small group of gardens (and that may be as few as 3 or 4). If you think that this may be of interest, please get in touch; we

From 1st to 14th October 2014

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will be happy to talk over how you could get involved. You will be surprised at how easy and enjoyable it is. There is much more information our website www.opengardens. eu or for an informal discussion, please contact: Kevin Weedon 05 53 50 09 24 or kevinweedon@orange.fr Mick Moat 05 55 63 43 12 or mick@opengardens.eu ■

8 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

Nicolas Sarkozy on the comeback trail

ove him or hate him, there's no getting away from him. Following months of “will he, won't he?” speculation, former president Nicolas Sarkozy has finally stepped back into the political arena, two years after promising “you'll never hear from me again”. After announcing his comeback on his Facebook page, Sarkozy was then given a 45-minute primetime interview on television station France 2. The decision to announce the news on Facebook was seen as an attempt by the former president to attract support among a younger demographic, the first move in a campaign that is sure to run until the next presidential elections, scheduled for 2017. “My dear friends,” began the Facebook post, which took the form of a long letter, “I have been able to stand back and take the essential distance to analyse my term in office, draw the lessons from it, return to our shared history, measure the vanity of certain feelings, and put aside any feeling of revenge or confrontation. I have seen confusion, rejection and anger rising like an inexorable tide against those in power and more generally against everything connected with politics. I have felt among many French people the temptation to stop believing in anything or anyone... This absence of all hope, so specific to France today, forces us to reinvent ourselves.” Sarkozy's return is ostensibly to run for the leadership of his political party, the UMP, although his ambitions surely rest with a second term as France's president. In fact, during his 45-minute TV interview, he mentioned the UMP only once. He told the nation that he had “perhaps less energy, but more wisdom”, accusing Hollande of “a litany of lies” during the 2012 presidential cam-

paign, which he said he had “lost … but by very little”. “I'm not going to caricature him [Hollande], because there's already too much violence in our country. His actions speak for themselves. In two years, he has demolished everything we did, simply because we did it,” Sarkozy said. “I don't want to argue with Mr Hollande. He thinks bad things of me; I think nothing of him.” For his part, Hollande was not drawn into the media circus surrounding Sarkozy's return, saying during his biannual press conference: “Those who have governed

yesterday and before yesterday have a perfect right to seek to govern tomorrow and after tomorrow. That's democracy.” For a long time it looked as though legal troubles would scupper any return to politics, but France's version of Berlusconi has so far avoided any convictions. Sarkozy emphasised that he had never been convicted of any wrongdoing and argued that he was not to blame for a scandal over funding for his failed presidential campaign in 2012. “I'm the one who is the victim,” he told newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche.

Mr Sarkozy expressed delight that 2.5 million people had read his Facebook post on Friday announcing his return to politics, twice the number who watched a rare but lengthy press conference by the deeply unpopular Mr Hollande the previous day. When the energetic and charismatic Sarkozy was first elected as head of state, he was initially seen as a dynamic figure who could carry out the unpopular but necessary reforms France needed. But as France’s economy floundered amid the global financial crisis and the eurozone’s woes, his public im-

age took a battering. He came to be known more for his “bling bling” lifestyle and his love of expensive watches and his tenure ended with election defeat to François Hollande, the self-styled “Mr Normal”, after only one term in office and with his popularity at then record lows. After spending a few years off the public radar, he is hoping to sell himself to voters as a seasoned statesman with the experience to revive France’s economy from what he - and many others - see as President Hollande's disastrous policies. ■

he French security services were left red-faced in September when three suspected jihadists, who had been arrested in Turkey and were being deported back to France, arrived at the wrong airport and were allowed to wander through customs unchallenged. The men were suspected of having joined militants in Syria and had initially been detained as they crossed the border back into Turkey. Two of the group, who French security services believe are part of a jihadist recruiting network, have close ties to Mohamed Merah, the man who shot dead seven people in Toulouse in 2012, including a rabbi and his young family, before being killed by police during a siege. Imad Djebali, a childhood friend of Merah, was jailed for four years for terrorism in 2009 while Abdelouahed Bagadhali, who is married to Merah's sister Souad, is known to police for his links to an Islamist school. The trio were due to be flown to Paris, but the captain of their flight refused to carry them as they did not have correct documentation. At that point, Turkish police simply put them on the next flight to France, which left shortly after heading for Marseille, but without informing French authorities. The French interior ministry announced that the men had been arrested at Orly, before rapidly backtracking as it emerged that they had in fact landed in Marseille, breezed through customs and were wander-

ing free through France's second city. Even the group's lawyers were incredulous at the bungled repatriation. “As incredible as it may seem, it’s true,” said Pierre Dunac, representing Imad Djebali. “I don't know what the interior ministry is saying, but legally if they had been extradited they would have been accompanied from Turkey to France. They came back to France of their own free will. The other reality is that they went through customs in France with their passports without being bothered in any way.” The trio later handed themselves in to police. The bungled operation was a severe embarrassment for France, coming as it did in a week when the French had been told to be on heightened alert because of the danger from returning jihadists. Islamic State has specifically called for French people to be targeted and shortly after the episode a French tourist was kidnapped and executed by militants in Algeria. Despite these heightened security concerns, once on French soil the group's passports were either never checked, or more worryingly, they failed to trigger an alert. France was quick to pass blame back to Turkish authorities. French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called Turkey's decision to change the flights “unfortunate”. Speaking to radio station France Info, the minister said that the incident had been largely due to the lack of good collaboration with the Turkish services. “This mix-up

Red faces after bungled repatriation

The suspected jihadists wandered through Marseille airport unchallenged society based on religion, but when they get shows that we have to strengthen relations, there they are terrified by the fanaticism, methods and actions with the Turkish authe crimes and torture that is being carthorities,” he said. ried out,” said lawyer Christian Etelin, who According to Le Monde newspaper, the once represented killer Mohamed Merah. three left for Syria in February to join the He said that once the group had made plans Islamic State (IS) group, but became disilluto leave Syria, they were imprisoned by the sioned and eventually surrendered to TurkIS as suspected French spies. “They were ish border police at the end of August, asksure they would be condemned to death and ing to be repatriated to France. They were it's for this reason they did everything they then detained for three weeks, before finally could to escape and handed themselves over being sent back. to the Turkish police to ask for their help “It's a classic story of young French or and protection.” ■ Westerners who dream of Islamic State, a

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9 million to pay Don't worry, the French don't know anything about wine either! less tax in 2015

ave you ever stood in the wine aisle, looking at row up on row of seemingly identical bottles, before silently plumping for the one with the prettiest label? Or used the phrase “this is a really good bottle” when what you actually mean is “this one cost more than I would usually spend”? France is synonymous with wine and, for many people, this country's vineyards are a large part of the appeal of living here, but not everyone knows their cèpage from their appellation... even the French themselves! A survey, carried out for the magazine Terre de Vins, asked a group of French drinkers if they considered themselves knowledgeable about wine. Of those surveyed, 71% said no and of these 43% admitted they knew nothing at all. A mere 3% believed that they knew everything there was to know, although a further 26% did say that they “knew enough”. Unsurprisingly, it was wealthier executives and professionals that knew the most about wine, reinforcing the idea that wine knowledge is linked to social class. “This proves that learning about wine is seen as still very elitist in French society and there is also a feeling – real or supposed – that those households with limited purchasing power cannot afford quality wines,” said a spokesperson for

>> continued from pg 1 €9,690. The result is that for higher-rate tax payers, there will be little or no change in their total tax bill, but lower income families will

If the changes go through as currently outlined, then 3 million households that paid tax this year will pay nothing in 2015 and a further 6 million will see their tax bill reduced. The total

Valls is hoping to help France's poorer households

the polling company, Viavoice. The survey also revealed that more than half of all people believe that youngsters should be taught more about wine and responsible drinking. “Faced with the bingedrinking phenomenon and the massive exposure of youngsters to alcohol, wine, which is the mark of civilisation, constitutes a healthier and more cultured alternative,” the magazine wrote in its article. Speaking to the Guardian newspaper, Rodolphe Wartel, director of Terre de Vins, said: “In general, French people think the wine world is complicated. Because behind the taste there is a whole universe, a language, the land, they fear expressing an opinion about it. Our job is to show them

that it is, in fact, quite simple. What surprised us most is that 51% of people thought youngsters should learn about wine through tastings at the age of 17 to combat binge-drinking. As the legal age to drink is 18 this breaks something of a taboo.” After a few difficult years, the French wine industry did receive some better news recently when it was announced that 2014's harvest would be above average, particularly around Bordeaux, where harvests are up 40% on last year. According to government figures, the average harvest between 2009 and 2013 was 4.56 billion litres; the 2014 harvest is expected to reach 4.64 billion. In general terms, wine consumption in France

has been on the decline in recent times and earlier this year the country lost its place as the world's largest consumer to America. US drinkers consumed 2.91 billion litres of wine in 2013, while the French drank 2.8 billion litres, followed by Italy (2.2 billion), Germany (2 billion) and China (1.7 billion). Exports are also on the decline, with 7.3% less being exported in the first 6 months of this year, a drop which is being put down to the socalled “China Effect”. In an attempt to cut down on corruption, China has banned the practice of giving gifts and holding lavish banquets and this has had a significant impact on French wine imports, with the Bordeaux region again particularly affected. ■

DFDS Portsmouth route may close Expats who travel back to the UK by ferry will be concerned by reports that DFDS Seaways is looking at closing its Le Havre – Portsmouth service. The route, which DFDS took over with LD Lines in 2012, has struggled for profitability and the companies revealed they have “recorded heavy financial losses on this service since 2005”. There have been numerous attempts to make the route more viable: the previous ferry, the Norman Voyager, was replaced by the smaller Seven Sisters vessel and there have been several sales and marketing initiatives, but the route has remained non-profit making and a closure consultation is now underway. Passenger and freight customers currently booked will not be affected, and all bookings that have been made will be honoured. ■

benefit. Many had questioned whether higher earners would ultimately have to foot the bill for tax breaks for the less well off, but this was strenuously denied by the budget minister who insisted: “There will be no losers. Hear us when we say that these measures will not be paid for by other contributors.”

cost to the state is an estimated €3.3 billion when combined with earlier tax pledges already made for the next financial year. The proposals could still change as they will now have to go into the 2015 Finance Law, which will be debated by parliament, before coming into force at the end of the year. ■

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10 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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Angry farmers torch tax office

here was widespread condemnation in September when a group of French farmers in Brittany burnt down government buildings in protests over living standards. The vegetable farmers in the town of Morlaix also used tractors and trailers to dump artichokes, cauliflowers and manure in the middle of the streets, according to police. The drama began when around 100 farmers launched an overnight attack on an insurance office just outside Morlaix, which they set light, destroying it completely. They then drove their tractors to the main tax office in the town where they dumped tonnes of

unsold vegetables, smashed windows and then set that building on fire also. There were also reports that a busy main road was then blocked in both directions, preventing the emergency services from attending the blaze. Politicians were quick to voice their anger at the farmers' action, with Prime Minister Valls “vigorously” condemning the “looting and destruction by fire” of the buildings. “It is particularly shocking that the fire service was prevented from doing its job,” Valls said in a statement. “Legal proceedings will be carried out against the perpetrators of these acts.” Agriculture minister Stephane Le Foll said “nothing

can justify these acts of violence” and called on all parties “to find solutions to manage this crisis”. A Russian embargo on some Western goods - imposed over the Ukraine crisis - has blocked off one of the main export markets for France's farmers and there was some local support for their plight. Agnès LeBrun, mayor of Morlaix, said the farmers had been “sounding the alarm” over the deepening financial crisis for several weeks. “They are weighed down by social charges, by taxes, by debts. Farmers are not madmen, they are company bosses who are not being listened to.” The civil servants that work

in the local government buildings also vented their frustration at the violence they regularly face. Patrick Vélain of the civil service union said officials were growing tired of being pelted with eggs and abused by furious taxpayers. “We're sick of being targeted by the famers of north Finistère,” Mr Vélain told FranceInfo radio. “It isn't the first time the tax centre has been attacked. We're always told the perpetrators will be punished and then nothing happens.” He went on to point out that the office would now be forced to close at a time when many struggling taxpayers were coming in to ask for extra time to pay their annual bills. ■

The wider implications of the recent Scottish referendum

s the Scottish referendum approached, the result was in doubt right up to the moment polling stations closed. The debate surrounding Scottish independence and the future of the United Kingdom was being closely followed by British expats around the world for obvious reasons. But the potential of a “Yes” vote also held huge significance for many other European nations, particularly in France. Stephen Tindale, an analyst at London's Centre for European Reform, speaking before the results of the referendum were announced, explained

Pilot dies avoiding houses

There was tragedy in the south of France last month when a man died in a light aircraft crash near the town of Laloubère, near Tarbes in the Hautes-Pyrénées. But for the heroic action of the pilot, however, the tragedy could have been far greater. Former military man and current Airbus pilot, Eric Fradin, was flying a group of five parachutists from the Para Club of Tarbes on a jump, when the Cessna 206 aircraft encountered as yet unexplained problems. Two of the parachutists jumped at 1,000 metres and the plane had managed to climb back up to 3,000 metres before the remaining three parachuters leapt to safety and the plane entered a spin. At this point, rather than ejecting to safety himself, Mr Fradin stayed at the controls and fought to steer the aircraft away from nearby buildings. The plane eventually came down near a motorway, missing houses by just 30 metres. Unfortunately, the pilot lost his life in the crash. The president of the Para Club of Tarbes, Geoffroy Lagarde, praised the bravery and professionalism of the pilot, telling journalists that “the pilot had performed the procedures to stop the plane catching fire, cutting the electrics and steering the plane so it corkscrewed towards the fields”. “We saw from the ground what he did, he was at the controls to recover the plane and avoid the houses,” one witness told the Dépêche du midi. The cause of the crash remains unknown, although one of the plane's flaps was later found a distance from the crash site. ■

WWII bomb kills camper why governments would be worried: “What's happening is being watched very closely by many other parts of Europe, so they [regional governments] can take the message and argue for more powers from their central governments or, in the Catalan case, complete independence.” The French island of Corsica has long had a simmering independence movement and in other regions such as Brittany and the French Basque Country, activists are pushing for greater local autonomy, if not outright independence. Pro-independence activists in these areas point to the fact

they have their own languages and cultural identities. “It’s a constitutional abnormality that France is the only country in Western Europe not to recognize any national identities other than a French identity,” Basque nationalist Peio Etcheverry-Ainchart told newspaper Le Parisien. “We are in favour of a Europe based on a federation of sovereign peoples.” The separatist movement in Corsica enjoys widespread support and Peter Poggioli, from the local Corsica Libera political party, predicted the eventual break-up of modern Europe. “This marks the end of large nations created from

small stateless nations states, such as Scotland or Corsica, which were built by destroying the language and culture and appropriating the wealth of minorities.” In the end, Scotland voted to stay part of the Union and politicians across Europe will have breathed a sigh of relief. A “Yes” vote from Scotland would undoubtedly have led to renewed calls for autonomy and independence from a number of areas across Europe. The eventual Scottish “No” vote will temporarily have taken the wind out of the separatists' sails in places such as Corsica... for now at least. ■

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05 55 41 17 76

A 26-year-old man died in September when a World War II bomb exploded on an island off the north-west coast of France. The man was camping on a beach with a number of friends when the explosion took place. Initial reports suggested that high tides may have washed the unexploded bomb up the beach and into the group's camp on the île de Groix. The explosion took place at around 2am after the group had settled down to sleep, instantly killing the young man and leaving a 25-year-old friend with serious injuries. The injured man was airlifted to a hospital in Nantes, while the remaining eight members of the party where transferred to l'Orient and treated for shock. After the incident, around twenty police officers joined divers and de-mining squads on the island to determine the cause of death and technicians soon found a metal object they believed was a “piece of ammunition” dating back to World War Two. ■

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Disgraced minister had a "phobia of paperwork"

fter just 9 days as France's minister for trade following the recent cabinet reshuffle, Thomas Thévenoud has been forced to resign over a scandal involving unpaid taxes. The reason the disgraced minister gave for not declaring his income for more than 3 years was up there with “the dog ate my homework”. This particular politician, civil servant and member of parliament, apparently suffers from a phobia of paperwork! Initially the Elysée cited “personal reasons” for the minister's resignation, but before long sources were claiming that unpaid taxes were at the heart of the matter. iTélé said that he had missed his last 3 tax declara-

tions and website Mediapart separately claimed that the tax office had already initiated proceedings against the politician to recover the back taxes. News then emerged in satirical newspaper Le Canard Enchainé that the already disgraced former minister had also failed to pay rent on his chic Parisian left-bank apartment for the last three years, leading to threats of eviction. Mr Thévenoud insisted that he was “not a fraudster” and said his late payments were the result of psychological problems, which he described as an “administrative phobia”, explaining why he tended to let his paperwork slide. The scandal brought back painful

memories for President Hollande of the disgraced budget minister, Jérôme Cahuzac, who resigned last year after admitting that he had failed to pay tax and had held an illegal offshore bank account. Even worse for the government was the fact that Mr Thévenoud was the deputy chairman of the committee that investigated Mr Cahuzac, and had overseen a crackdown on tax evaders. Mr Thévenoud, who has been thrown out of the Socialist party, has since settled his rental arrears, as well as paying his back taxes, including more than €12,000 in latepayment fines. Whether he was able to fill out his own paperwork in order to do this was not revealed. ■

Budget price business class

ichelin-starred meals, fully-reclining massage chairs and complementary luxury cosmetics... it may sound like a contradiction in terms, but welcome to the world of budget business-class air travel. Launched in July by L'Avion founder Frantz Yvelin and former Swissair and JetAirways COO Peter Luethi, French airline La Compagnie offers passengers a round trip from Paris to New York for just €1,200 – as much as €3,000 cheaper than the same trip with Air France. “With French style and American dependability, La Compagnie will

become the choice of the current generation of hard-working business travellers who demand something more from air transportation,” said Yvelin. The airline's website states that their promise “is for those who want to enjoy an exclusive businessclass cabin at a smart price”. The fleet of redesigned Boeing 757-200 aircraft feature 74 seats in 2 x 2 rows, all of which are business class. While on board, business travellers dine on menus created by Christophe Langree, the Michelinstarred chef at Hotel Matignon in Paris and can refresh themselves with amenity kits provided by high-

Fizzy refill ban The latest target in France’s battle against obesity appears to be “free refills” of fizzy drinks. Although standard in countries like America, free refills are a relatively new marketing tool in France, only recently introduced by two fast food chains, KFC and Quick. The move sparked an outcry from nutritionists who are now calling for government intervention. “This must be banned,” said Serge Hercberg, the head of the National Nutrition and Health Programme, a government initiative to encourage healthy eating. “It is in total contradiction with public health recommendations. I oppose all marketing practices that encourage people to consume excessive quantities of unhealthy products.” Mr Hercberg, who is also professor of nutrition at a leading Paris medical school, went on to point out that it was low-income people who were the main customers of fast food chains: “It is the most disadvantaged people who are going to suffer from the unlimited supply of fizzy and sugary drinks. We have to fight social inequality in nutrition.” Xavier Denamur, a leading French chef who owns four restaurants in Paris, is a prominent campaigner against junk food and pointed out that the French state owned a large stake in Quick, which meant that the chain was effectively “going against government policy”. “The government is telling people to eat less fat, less sugar and less salt, and here we’ve got a largely state-owned chain that’s going to get kids hooked on fizzy drinks. People get more addicted to sugar than cocaine. Anything that encourages people to eat as much they like or drink as much as they like is a catastrophe. It should be outlawed.” The average Frenchman has put on 3kg since 1997 and the government has introduced a raft of measures to try and tackle the obesity problem, which is worst amongst the country’s youth. A tax on sugary drinks was introduced three years ago and fizzy

end cosmetic brand Caudalie. There is also complimentary Wi-fi and all passengers will be provided with personal Samsung tablets loaded with a range of films, music, books and magazines. The launch of La Compagnie's flights follows the announcement that newly created Odyssey Airlines is to start all-business-class flights between London City Airport and New York from 2016. British Airways already offers allbusiness-class flights on that route and Qatar Airways now runs allbusiness-class flights between London and Doha. ■

drinks are banned in school canteens in a bid to curb the country’s growing obesity problem. Despite government concerns, France has one of the lowest obesity rates in the western world, although the fast food industry is big business. The French get though an average of 14 burgers each per year, making them Europe’s second biggest burger eaters after the British, who consume 17, according to a recent survey. ■

Man phones ex more than 21,000 times A French man has been jailed for phoning and texting his girl-

friend 21,807 times following a messy break-up. The 33-year-old admitted at his trial that, with hindsight, “it was stupid”. The unnamed defendant was given a 10-month sentence - six months of which was suspended - and a €1,000 fine. He was also ordered to undergo psychiatric treatment and was issued with a restraining order. The obsessive boyfriend, who had been hospitalised in the past for depression, made the calls to demand the woman either thank him for fixing up their flat, or compensate him for the work he had done. “At the time, my logic was that until she returns the money - or at least says thank you - I would not stop the calls,” he told the court in Lyon. “She tried to block her line, but he phoned her parents instead and her workplace,” said Manuella Spee, lawyer for the victim, a 32-year-old teacher who was also not named. The calls continued at an average of more than 73 per day over a 10-month period and did not stop until the former girlfriend finally said thank you during a meeting organised by a mediator. “I tell myself, with hindsight, that it was stupid,” the man told the court during his trial. ■

Mr Thévenoud was afraid of paperwork

France is top for online government services

rance has developed something of a reputation for red tape over the years and many of us will have experienced the frustration of dealing with government bureaucracy. According to a recent survey by the UN, however, you may be better off trying online next time you need to get something done: France has the best online government services in Europe! The UN’s E-Government Survey 2014 puts France at the top of the European table and at number four worldwide, with only South Korea, Australia and Singapore offering their citizens better online services. Dealing with the government online is also relatively easy on the other side of the Channel, with the UK coming in at 8th place on the UN's list, although this is down from

the third position it occupied the last time the survey was carried out in 2012. The E-Government Survey evaluates the availability of online services, telecommunication infrastructure and the general level of public education, and France was singled out for praise in the report for being a “leader” in this field. The French government is not resting on its laurels, however, and more projects are in the pipeline aimed at further simplifying bureaucracy for businesses. One such project is called Dites-le nous une seule fois (Only tell us once) and will allow companies to store their details on a central database that can be accessed by several government departments, rather than repeatedly sending out duplicate forms containing the same data. ■

12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

The joys of a wood burning stove Winter is fast approaching and Stove Sellers have teamed up with The Bugle to give readers a quick-fire guide to help you to get the most out of your wood burning stove this season. No matter whether you are a wood burning novice or seasoned professional, you will certainly appreciate the following advice on using your wood burner safely and efficiently as we all begin to light up our stoves for the first time this autumn.

f this is your first season with a wood burning stove, you are likely to encounter the following common scenario on your way to becoming a professional ‘fire starter’ (not to be confused with an arsonist!) Once you’ve lit your stove for the first time (or think that you have it alight!) the first stage is to fill the room with smoke before opening all the doors and windows to let the warm smoke out and the cold air in. When you’ve had enough of the cold and your cheeks have turned blue, it’s then normal practice to close all the windows and doors (with your house still half full of smoke) only to then realise that the fire in the stove has “gone out”. Thankfully, you’ve a small electric convector heater which you bought locally from Mr Bricolage and you can huddle around that in the meantime whilst you meticulously read though the stove's instruction manual which helpfully contains all you need to know about lighting and using your stove in at least a dozen different languages... except English! If you have instructions in English you will most likely not read much further than the first page of the instruction manual which reads something like: “Congratulations on the purchase of your new wood burning stove. Read this manual carefully before using your appliance for the first time and it will provide you with many years of trouble free service...” By now you will be thoroughly fed up with the user manual and will have deposited it inside the stove as useful kindling and by the time you’ve mastered the feat of the fire-maker several weeks later, having endured the familiar sub zero temperatures of a typical rural French winter, the spring has arrived and it’s warm enough to make do without any heating throughout the warm sum-

mer months. Instead, you can put into practice what you have learned about how to light your wood burner by inviting round your local Maire for a barbecue. This may all sound a little extreme, but many of us are unlikely to have any real understanding about how to start and use our wood burners properly and safely. So, with this in mind, we have put together some helpful general advice about which stove to use and how to get the most out of it, whilst hopefully avoiding any serious injury! Safety first If you’re one of those people who believe that a little bit of smoke never harmed anyone, then think again. Every type of fuel burnt has its own specific risks and if you are to reduce these risks, ensuring that your appliance is correctly installed and operated is essential. The dangers of house fires are all too obvious but there are still a number of dangers which are not considered, such as fires in the chimney itself and the transference of heat into walls, floors or combustible materials. Then there’s the silent killer: Carbon Monoxide. Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas which is the result of incomplete combustion of carbon-based fuels. It’s not confined to poorly maintained or faulty gas boilers in rented accommodation as many people believe. Incomplete combustion from burning solid fuels and wood in particular, poses a far greater risk than from gas. Inhaled, carbon monoxide may cause death if present in large quantities or if a person is exposed to it for long enough. Making sure that your wood burning stove is correctly installed, by having a competent professional carry out an inspection

which involves a few simple tests, could save lives as well as ensuring that your stove is working efficiently. Consider fitting a carbon monoxide alarm. It will detect this poisonous gas whereas you cannot. In the UK it is now mandatory to fit one with every new stove.

Choosing a wood burning stove A wood burning stove is only designed to heat a specific area as a room heater only. Don’t buy a large output stove, fit it in your lounge and expect it to warm the entire house because it will not often work like that. If you require a stove to power your central heating in addition to heating your room, you will need a stove with a boiler, however you will need a lot greater output than that to just heat your room. The size of the boiler you need will depend on the number of radiators you have to heat, so you would be advised to ask an expert such as a plumber or heating engineer for advice. The heat output of a stove is measured in kilowatts. The output you require is dependent on the size of the room to be heated. To identify the output you require you will have to calculate the size of the space that you wish to heat. In order to calculate the size of stove required, measure the width, length and height of your room and then calculate the three measurements together, i.e. width 4m x length 8m x height 2.8m = 89.6 m3. If your room or house is fitted with good insulation then divide the room's volume by 25. If it has only average insulation then divide the volume by 15 and if the insulation is poor or non-existent, then divide the room's volume by 10. In our example above, the room is fitted with average insulation so we divide the room's volume by 15 and the kilowatt demand is shown to be around 6kW.

This is not an exact classification, but can be used as a good 'rule of thumb'. The ability of a stove to heat your room will be affected by such aspects as the number of doors & windows and whether or not they are double-glazed, the quality of any insulation material including the type of floor covering and even the wall construction and its covering can affect the thermal qualities of the property. In these cases you may need to look at a stove with a greater output. And remember, most British manufacturers quote the MAXIMUM output of their stoves when fired with

best quality seasoned wood. You should also look for the stove's NOMINAL heat output in order to work out the size of appliance that you require and it is worth bearing in mind that heating your room or property to a comfortable level is one thing when the outside ambient temperature is 0 degrees, but heating it to a comfortable level when the temperature outside slips 10-15 degrees BELOW freezing is quite another! The FLUE A sweep of your chimney (aka ramonage in France) is essential

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

partially blocked the flue. There are still folk in rural farming communities in France who believe that the best way to clear their chimneys is by firing their 12-bore shotguns up them, or by dropping live chickens down them! Although quite an effective means, some stacks have been known to collapse using the “twelve-bore” method and some poor poulets have become stuck half-way down the stack as they frantically attempt to ‘flap’ the flue clean. My advice here would be consider hiring a qualified sweep instead, with a good selection of brushes. Contrary to popular belief in rural France, the remains of last year’s Christmas tree make a pretty poor substitute! The FUEL

if you intend using an open fire or solid fuel appliance such as a wood burning stove. It’s important to ensure that your flue way is clear, free of any build-up of tar and sooty deposits and working correctly. In France you should have your chimney swept throughout its entire

length twice a year (once, if you have a gas or oil appliance) and sometimes even more is required if poor quality wood is burnt. A certificate (certificat de ramonage) should also be issued which will be required by insurance companies if you make a claim from, for exam-

ple, damage arising from a chimney fire. In addition to ensuring that the flue way's walls are free of deposits, you can never tell what may have happened since the last time the fire was used. Birds can nest in the stack during the nesting season or masonry may have fallen and

This may sound like a ridiculous question but you’d be surprised at what some people try to burn in their wood burners. There are industrial waste disposal sites that do not incinerate some of the things which we have found remains of in people's wood burners. These include rubber, plastics, railway sleepers, dead animals and bicycle tyres! It is recommended that you only burn good quality well seasoned hardwoods such as ash, oak or beech. Don’t try to burn wood covered in preservatives or paint, for instance. Make sure that your supply is dry and ideally it should have been seasoned for about two years to reduce the moisture content. Stack your wood and cover the top of it to protect it from the rain. Ideally, the sides of the stack should be exposed to allow air to circulate over and around it. Don’t cover your wood with impervious materials such as polythene as condensation may form underneath and rot the wood. A breathable tarpaulin or sheets of corrugated iron are ideal for sheltering wood during the seasoning process. In France wood is usually sold by the ‘stère’ which equates to 1m³, or by the ‘corde’, which equates to 3m³ or 4m³ in some areas. Always buy good quality hardwoods and avoid softwoods such as pine or fir. It’s true that these woods will still burn well (properly seasoned); however, unseasoned fir should be avoided as it contains a lot of resins which will create tarry deposits in your flue way if not burnt completely. In principle, woods having equal density will have the same calorific value and it’s worth noting that a stère of oak would be nearly twice the weight of a stère of pine (more commonly used for making pallets).

The price of a stère can vary widely (I can buy a stère for about €55,00 including delivery) but it can range from as little as €35,00 to well above €80,00 and more in some areas. Make sure the quality of wood is good, ensure that it is dry and seasoned and not mixed with any inferior quality wood. Not sure? Then buy yourself a moisture meter for €30,00 and test it for yourself. A good supplier will cut your logs to length and this usually means that a metre-length log will be cut in half (50cm) or into thirds (logs of about 30-35cm in length). You may still have to split the wood yourself, though, to fit it into your stove. Don’t try to force your wood into your stove’s fire chamber, as you can crack and damage the internal fire bricks of some models and door glass if your logs rest against the glass under pressure during the combustion process, especially when burning damp wood. We have this old saying in the trade that if your stove fails to work correctly it can only be down to one of three things: the FLUE, the FUEL or the FOOL that’s using it! Enjoying your stove Once you have got your wood supply organised, you can get on with enjoying the cosy warmth and glow which makes this sort of heating so attractive. Back boilers can be fitted to some stoves if you want the stove to heat water for a central heating system. Even the smallest of stoves can often have a boiler fitted so that you can plumb in a couple of radiators or boil a hot water cylinder for domestic hot water use. Imagine, a cosy wood burner with hot water generated for free! With the winter season on its way most of us will be firing up our wood burners for the first time this year, so it’s important to get the most out of our stoves as safely as possible if we are all to ward off the inevitable French cold snap this winter. ■ If you’d like to know more about the topics raised here, take a look at Stove-Sellers' website for more information on wood burning stoves and cookers, central heating systems, chimney installations and chimney sweeps at www.stovesellers.com or call 05.55.63.78.72

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

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14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

In the garden - jobs for October

by Michelle Pierce

f the weather does what it should normally do, then this is really the last workable month of the year outside in the garden, which means there's lots to do. That said, some years have mild winters, and others have harsher weather earlier. So who knows...? It's my resolution this year to pick up piles of rubbish like prunings, twigs, flower pots dumped in corners, half used bags of compost, etc., before things start hibernating in them. At the same time, I must have a look round to see that there are enough spaces for these beasties. Or that the piles are not in my way and can stay where they are until late March without being disturbed. I also check that my insect hotels are reasonably waterproof. A couple of coats of linseed oil on the wooden roofs helps a lot. This is good too on any wooden garden furniture that you are going to leave out over the winter, or wooden gates which are unpainted. Pick a good dry sunny day to do it, so you aren't locking dampness into the wood.

leaves as a chore, but that's not a view I share. There's something so satisfying to look at a newly cleaned path or patch of lawn! The greenhouses & polytunnels are winding down now after the exuberance of the summer so it's a good time to clean them out and throw away anything you don't want to keep. If your bases are earth, it's good to spread a layer of manure, or compost onto them, or if this isn't available, some fallen leaves, or bracken, to reinvigorate the soil structure and refresh the soil organisms. Give them a good watering, too, and plant the winter crops that were sown in August. If you have a surfeit of plants, put some outside and some under cover, to spread the cropping season. Put a good layer of mulch round the base of any sensitive plants, like dahlias if you decide not to lift the tubers - newspaper and bracken are also fine. Think also about any pots or troughs you have. Move things like agapanthus under cover. Remember it's the combination of cold & wet

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www.anenglishnurseryinfrance.com month deciding what to put in the ground. You may also decide to bury the pots in the ground so that the cold weather, which will probably come, will have less of an impact and so you don't need to remember to water them. The grass is still growing, but leave some of the peripheral areas longer for the wildlife. Bulbs are entering the shops now. Check if they are OK for autumn planting and plant them reasonably quickly after purchase. Most of us plant them too shallow, so try and respect the depths. As a rule, it's good to plant the bulb at least 3 times its depth. Logical when you think of how solid the ground gets when there's frost. Add a bit of grit under them if you have waterlogged, clay soil. Note where you've planted them, so you don't damage them in the spring. October is also a good month to move new, runaway raspberry canes into better places, strawberry runners or clumps of herbaceous perennials that are not in flower. Keep an eye on the “météo” and pick your courgettes and tomatoes (if you have any this year) until the bitter end. Collect your orchard fruit and make sloe gin from the sloes. There are loads of other things to do but generally, just make the most of this very lovely time in the garden! Good gardening! ■

Kids and schools and gardens Go round and check gutters on sheds for fallen leaves/twigs and put balls of chicken wire scrunched up over the downpipe entrances to stop them getting blocked. Put lids on water butts for the same reason. Check chicken coop roofs, too. Leaves are falling thick & fast, so make the most of this resource by either adding it to your compost heap, making a dedicated leaf bin for leaf mould, or just spreading it in a thick layer on cleaned beds. This is really effective, but expect some displacement by blackbirds scratching for worms. I have tried filling bin bags with the leaves, but find that finally this ends up giving too much extra work. Some people see fallen

that does the most damage, so sometimes just putting a pot under the eaves where it won't get rained on can be beneficial (depending, clearly, on what's in it). Any really big pots that can't be moved should be protected by being wrapped in a layer of insulation, and a good layer of mulch spread on top, or a fleece spread over the plant. Very tiny water features, such as miniature waterlilies in buckets, should also have some protection, but this must be done in such a way that you can easily monitor the water level, so it doesn't drop too far. Remember, whilst plants in pots are generally pretty tough, the more you have, the more work you have, too, so it may be judicious to spend the

Letters to

The Editor

Dear Sirs,

our paper is directed primarily to expatriate residents in France and it may be that this might be of interest to them. I am not a resident

expatriate but I am a regular visitor to my daughter’s home in the Lot et Garonne. On my last visit in May I was taken ill with a tummy upset. My daughter contacted the doctor in Ste-Livrade. He arrived very promptly, diagnosed a gall bladder problem, rang

Whilst school gardens are quite common things in the UK, strangely in the French countryside they seem reasonably rare. Maybe everybody already has a garden at home... This year, Club Liseron has a project to relaunch the garden for the Elementary School in Massignac, which had fallen into disrepair and was pretty much abandoned. A working bee saw members and local 'élus' (town councillors) working to create new beds, weed the old ones, plant new fruit bushes and generally look towards creating an interesting space which teachers will be able to use to do lots of fun things. Work in progress... We'd be interested to hear from any other schools that have gardens in the local area, and see what they do with them. Contact Michelle Pierce: unjardinenfrance@gmail.com

The importance of insurance for an ambulance and rang the A&E at St Cyr Hospital in Villeneuve for an urgent investigation of the problem. I was on my way in less than thirty minutes. At the hospital I had a number of tests and scans. The Oxford accented Englishspeaking surgeon explained the position. I had a severe infection of the gall bladder with complications. This was a complete surprise to me. She would not do an emergency operation but would treat the infection with antibiotics. In due course when I had fully recovered the gall bladder

could then be removed. I was put into a two-bedded ward, connected to a multiple drip feed of antibiotics and pain killers and was in hospital for three weeks. I must say that I had first class medical and nursing care. I do not remember much of the first week but in the second week I was much improved and at the end of the third week I was considered fit enough to be transferred to my local NHS hospital provided that I had a nurse in attendance. My travel insurance, through Ryanair, was well worth the small premium - ambulance

to Toulouse, flight to Bristol and ambulance to my local hospital for a three-week stay. Now that I have made a complete recovery I will be revisiting France in the near future. My three-week total immersion course in conversational French should benefit me considerably. The moral of this little story is simple. Always expect the unexpected and make sure you have adequate insurance to cover surprise expenses. Yours faithfully, D. Quinlan

PRACTICAL ♦ 15

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Driving in France Prune CALONNE, English-speaking French lawyer in Toulouse and The Bugle’s resident expert, informs you on how to travel safely in France by car and gives you practical tips to avoid any trouble while you are travelling through the country. 1. What is needed to drive safely in France There are three main documents you need to carry at all times while you drive a car in France: a) A registration certificate or “carte grise”, a piece of paper proving ownership of the car. b) Proof of insurance, also called here “attestation d’assurance”. This is a green paper showing that you have motor insurance covering you while you are driving in France. Your insurance company covers your trip when driving abroad in Europe or worldwide. You are covered for up to three months. Note that if you have comprehensive insurance, the insurance might only cover you for the damages abroad as if you had third party insurance. You need to check the terms and conditions of your insurance contract before you leave. c) Valid driving licence - only drivers possessing a valid driving licence and who are over 18 can drive in France. In addition to these three documents, you also need a spare set of bulbs and an “alcotest” or breathalyser kit. In theory, if you do not have the latter in your car then you could get a fine but in reality this law is not being enforced in France. At all times - and kept out of your boot - you need to have a luminous yellow jacket to be worn if you need to leave the vehicle to attend to a puncture or if you have a problem with your car, plus a triangle that you position in front of your car to warn other drivers that you are immobilised. 2. Speed limits and cameras The speed limit on town and village roads and streets is 50 km/h, except around schools when it is limited to 30

km/h. 90 km/h is the speed limit on A roads (routes nationales, or RN roads) and B roads (routes départementales or D roads) unless there are road signs telling you otherwise. On ring roads near big cities, the speed limit is 90 or 110 km/h. On motorways, the speed is limited to 130 km/h except if it is raining where the speed is limited to 110 km/h. Bear in mind that you can pay for tolls on the French motorways in cash (coins or notes) or with a credit/ debit card WITH A CHIP!!!! However, MAESTRO cards are usually not accepted on most French motorways. There are only a few average speed cameras in operation in France, restricted to a very few areas. Most speed cameras are fixed cameras. 3. Drink driving in France and its consequences for foreigners Drink driving is unfortunately more common in France than in the UK. British drivers have accepted the idea that if you do drink you must not drive; this is not yet the case in France. Please also note that in France when a driver gets his/her licence, it has 12 points on it and every offence sees a certain number withdrawn, contrary to Great Britain where the opposite is true. The alcohol intake in France is limited to 0.5 g/l. If a driver tests positive and is over this limit, he/she is not automatically banned from driving. Between 0.5g/l to 0.8 g/l, this offence is sanctioned by the withdrawal of 6 points, a €135 fine - payable immediately if you are foreign - and the car might be immobilised. If you are over 0,8 g/l, it is sanctioned by 6 points, up to a €4,500 fine, a licence suspension, or invalidation, compulsory safety training and up to 2 years in jail. If you refuse to have a blood test done, you will be sanctioned with the same penalties as if you were driving with 0.8 g/l of alcohol in the blood.

To regain the points lost on the driving licence you need to not infringe the French road code (“code de la route”) for 2 to 3 years, or attend safety training where you could gain back up to 4 points on your licence. Foreigners must pay fines on the spot. If they do not have the necessary cash, the police or the gendarme will hold on to the driving licence until the fine is paid after a trip to the nearest cash machine. In theory, the car could even be impounded, but it is rarely the case. If you get stopped, stay calm and be courteous with the policeman or the gendarme. If they do not speak English, ask them to repeat slowly. If you still do not understand, use sign language. It might work. If they want you to take a test, take the test! DO NOT REFUSE. If you refuse, it could go badly for you. If the situation is really getting out of hand and you end up in custody (“garde a vue”) stay calm and ask to get an interpreter. If you are not totally fluent in French, do not try to be brave and attempt to go ahead with the interrogation phase without a French interpreter! From my experience, and without being overly pessimistic, handling a custody on your own without an interpreter and without a lawyer, is suicide. Remember that most gendarmes and policemen are trained to make people talk. Finally, remember that you have the right to remain silent. Do so until you have these two professionals by your side.

Follow these simple rules and you will be fine. The chances that you will end up in this situation are very slim, so keep yourself informed and enjoy your holidays! 4. Parking tickets If you do not pay to park or if your ticket expires, you risk a fine of €17. In France, the chances of getting a ticket if you are late getting back to your car are lower than in the UK, because we do not have as many traffic wardens in France and they are not as over zealous! If you do get a ticket, know that you can pay the fine online - www.amendes. gouv.fr. Part of this site is in English. In the next edition of The Bugle, I will be dealing with the necessary steps you should take if you are relocating to France and driving. ■ For more information, please do not hesitate to contact: Prune CALONNE, Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse, 117 route d’Albi, 31200 Toulouse Phone: 05 34 30 51 33 Mobile: 06 74 16 11 12 Email: scpcalonneadouedugast@hotmail.fr My firm can arrange appointments in CAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.

FUTURE EUROPEAN SUCCESSION RULES AND “CONTRATS D’ASSURANCE VIE” Question: I have the typical problem in France, that my husband and I want to leave assets to each other and then to our two families in equal shares. We have already been advised to set up “Contrats d’Assurance Vie”, to solve the problem for our capital. Will these still be valid under UK law? Your question demonstrates just how many “grey areas” still exist as to the potential consequences of using the new European succession rules and choosing UK law. You have effectively arranged for your husband to receive your invested capital, while ensuring that it will ultimately be divided between your children and step-children, in the percent-

ages you require, with little or no inheritance tax. You have done this through your “beneficiary clause” under French insurance law. It is logical to assume that this should still be valid, since, under French law, the benefits of life assurance investments are taken outside your estate and so are not governed by a will. However, UK law, which you plan to use to govern your inheritance, does not recognise “beneficiary clauses” and the beneficiary of a life assurance policy is normally your estate. In theory, therefore, the policy could be reintegrated into your estate, meaning that your stepchildren would end up paying the 60% tax you have managed to avoid.

It is too early to tell how this (or other areas of conflict between the two laws) will be dealt with in practice. However, it is vital to remember that French solutions to inheritance problems do exist. Moreover, the new rules could have unforeseen consequences and it is vital to take expert advice before writing a new will.. Peter Wakelin is Regional Manager of Siddalls France, Independent Financial Advisers, specialised in tax, inheritance, pension and investment planning for the British community in France since 1996. Telephone 05 56 34 75 51 Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net. Web: www.siddalls.fr

16 ♦ LANGUAGE & GAMES

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

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Crossword Clues and answers (page 23) in English

Across:

1. Informal gathering (6) 4. Intolerant person (5) 8. Bloodsucking worm (5) 9. Part time policeman (7) 10. Funeral procession (7) 11. Pantomime Jack (4) 12. Tipster's best (3) 14. Inhabitant of Jellystone Park (4) 15. Give praise (4) 18. Winner's trophy (3) 21. Exaggerated publicity (4) 23. Most supple (7) 25. Female thespian (7) 26. Sibling's daughter (5) 27. Large wading bird (5) 28. Smouldering pieces of wood (6)

Down:

1. Join two ends (6) 2. Farewell greeting (7) 3. e.g Charlton,Wigan (8) 4. Prepare a drink (4) 5. Society (5) 6. Old dancing girl (6) 7. Poplar tree (5) 13. Metalic element (8) 16. Four stringed instrument (7) 17. Sword case (6) 19. A velvety fabric (5) 20. Emphasize (6) 22. Humorous father (5) 24. A long period of time (4)

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

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

Solution on page 23

SUDOKU - EASY

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

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

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Business Directory

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CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

ADVERTORIAL

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ith 5 years’ experience delivering print advertising to an expat market, The Bugle represents one of the most cost-effective ways to let English speakers know about your business. An advert with The Bugle starts from just €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 200 distribution points across the region and surrounding areas where readers can pick up a copy for free. We also distribute 2,000 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.

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he last few months at Sat-Elec have been very difficult and we apologise to all our customers for any delays or difficulties in contacting us. One of our founding directors - and my wife - was taken very ill and died at the end of July. We are now back on course and as they say “Life goes on”. Poor or No Broadband? Satellite is your answer. There are two main providers in Europe. Rent or buy, the choice is yours. DIY or we can install it for you, again the choice is yours. The equipment is delivered to your door. TOOWAY offers speeds of up to 22M down and 6M up and the monthly rental (dependant on package) starts from €19.95. SES offers speeds of up to 20M down and 2M up and the monthly rental (dependant on package) starts from €10.95. For very light users SES offers a pay as you go option at €7.75 per Gigabyte. Is UK TV reception a problem? We have over 25 years' experience in the satellite world and Mike G is here to assist you. Call him on 05 55 09 15 73. CCTV - Four cameras and a DVR fitted from €800.00 and you can view it from an iPhone or laptop anywhere. Ideal for checking if the gard-

ner, cleaner, etc. has come, or for just projecting the view from your window in France on to the wall to impress the neighbours in the UK. Now, have you ever wanted a UK phone number in France? We are able to provide you with a UK phone number with the rental starting from £5.00 per month. There is a wide range of phones to choose from and it will work over Broadband and satellite Broadband. If you are interested please call Mike T on 03 66 88 06 29. The two Mikes are happy to prepare a custom package for you on all or any of the above. Call Mike G on 05 55 09 15 73 or Mike T on 03 66 88 06 29 or email: info@sat-elec.co.uk SAT-ELEC where knowledge and experience provide the complete solution.

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

ADVERTORIAL

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

05 55 41 17 76 WiFi Anglais

Solve your Internet, wireless and computer problems Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

Food & Drink

Email: Stephen@Wisedale.com

UK & French Satellite TV

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

TOOWAY BROADBAND Approved Supplier

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

05 55 09 15 73

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

sales@thebugle.eu

All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Monday: Le Champsac (every other week) Tuesday: Tremolat Wednesday: Star Inn, Périgueux Thursday: Eymet Friday: Lauzun

(except the last Friday of the month when it is Daglan)

See our website for full details:

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

La Poutre

Bar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine. Themed nights each Friday: 1st Friday - Curry night 2nd Friday - Quiz night 3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!! 4th Friday - Live Music night Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve) Saturday 6pm - 10pm Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditional English roasts served For further details call Steve: or email: steve.francis24@gmail.com or facebook: Beaupouyet La Poutre

Siret: 800 525 040 00013

Formerly Electrosat

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you

05 53 80 29 54

Tel: 05 53 30 23 96 Mob: 07 78 52 20 46

Sat-Elec

The Dordogne Chippy

siret 537 415 903 00013

Karen’s Kitchen Catering for you in the Dordogne

Specialising in home-made pastries: Sausage rolls, Pasties - Cornish, Cheese & Onion, Steak & Stilton, Vegetarian & Chicken. Eccles cakes. Scones made to order. All prepared and baked daily on the premises you cannot get fresher! Bacon, cheese, bread, tea bags & tinned produce all in stock. Find me at your local market: • Tue - Le Bugue • Thu - Eymet • Fri - Le Buisson • Sat - Villereal • Sun - Issigeac

www.karenskitchen24.com email: karenskitchen24@gmail.com

05 53 74 01 91 or 06 01 31 07 47

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

05.55.41.17.76

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Gifts & Crafts

Handholding Pest Control Services

Transport, Removals & Storage

Your advert here 05 55 41 17 76

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

WWW.CARDBUBBLE.COM BUY YOUR BRITISH GREETINGS CARDS ONLINE!

Franglais- Central France Pest Control Services

... exists to provide quality services to businesses and individuals in the Dordogne and beyond. We deliver invaluable linguistic assistance, practical IT and audiovisual assistance, web solutions and photographic services. To find out more call us on

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com Email: info@applicateur3d.com Curative and preventative

General

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

+33 (0)6 77 38 58 56

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

05 55 33 21 59

www.franglais-services.com

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental

www.frenchvanman.eu

or visit

SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

siret: 791 378 433 00019

87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres Siret 530 213 644 00012

Parking For Property Maintenance Limoges Airport

Health & Beauty

Efficient parking for all types of vehicles Book now!!

QUALITY CARDS AT UK PRICES! E: ANGI@CARDBUBBLE.COM FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS OVER €10 WORLDWIDE

● HAIRSTYLIST ● COSMETICIAN ● MAKE-UP ● MASTER ARTISAN

ENGLISH SPOKEN • Air-conditioned • Shiatsu massage chair

Tue - Fri: 9h - 19h, Sat 9h - 17h

Tel: 05 24 13 65 58

sarldesouchevicente@sfr.fr 47, rue du Gén. de Gaulle, 24660 Coulounieix Chamiers

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Dyal Consulting

Your partners for peace of mind While you’re away, we can look after your house, check for weather damage, perform small maintenance jobs, take care of the garden, get your home ready for winter. On your return, we can prepare your house, stock up on groceries, etc... everything to make your arrival stress free. We are here to keep your house alive throughout your absence and to make your life easier! Call your concierge today:

07 77 95 31 36

CARPET / UPHOLSTERY CLEANING Specialists in all carpet and upholstery cleaning

PROCHEM trained and Qualified

10 years UK experience - Covering depts 24/47/33

06 32 32 64 54 / 05 53 58 00 98 email lucidservices24@gmail.com siret: 512 614 306 00011

www.parkinglimoges.com

Eco Entrepot

sales24@thebugle.eu

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

05 55 41 17 76

05 55 68 74 73 Open every day except Monday

Your advert here

SOS Help

01 46 21 46 46

05 55 41 17 76

www.soshelpline.org

06 13 38 59 68 05 55 14 49 45

siret: 751 978 917 00019

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

Man & Van Transport

aka The Shed

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up! 3 - 11pm daily Confidential & Non-profit

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 20,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

6-Month Contract €108

Small b&w Directory Ad

(€18/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad

(€24/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad

(€27/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad

(€36/month)

€144 €162 €216

12-Month Contract €162

(€13.50/month)

€216

(€18/month)

€243

(€20.25/month)

€324

(€27/month)

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

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

30 words max

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

WHAT’S

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

French Conker Championships

Saturday 4th October Abjat-sur-Bandiat It’s that time of year again! The 23rd official French Conker Championships are being held at Abjat-sur-Bandiat on Saturday 4th October. Why ‘official’? Simply because the tournament is organised by La Federation Française de Conkers. That means that anybody can organise a conker tournament, but only the one held in Abjat can be described as the French Conker Championships and, of course, the eventual French champion can represent France at the World Conker Championships held annually in England.

The registration desk for the tournament is open from 2pm and is open to men, women and children. An enormous vide-greniers is held throughout the day and after the presentation of trophies there is a meal at the Entente Cordiale followed by a concert with the group ‘Bootleg’. Needless to say for the Conker Championships all conkers and strings are provided, therefore no ‘treated’ conkers possible! For further information or for a booking for the vide-greniers please contact Stewart Edwards on 05 53 56 16 93.

How the championships started...

Journée des plantes Sunday 5th October, Neuvic-sur-l’Isle Exhibition and sale of plants by specialized nurseries (trees, shrubs, perennials, sage, grasses, bamboo, boxwood, lavender, Mediterranean plants...), craft for ecohabitat (recovery of rainwater, solar panels, insulation, natural paints...), specialist book sale and workshops. Conference on natural paints at 15h. From 9h30 in the grounds of the Château de Neuvic. Tickets €4.50; FREE for Under 18s. For more information visit www.chateau-parc-neuvic.com

In 1989 my wife and I bought a hotel bar restaurant in Abjat-sur-Bandiat in the Périgord Vert. The modern history of conkers in France starts here! Passing under the conker trees on the Place des Marronniers on her way to the greengrocer's Sue found she was crushing thousands of conkers underfoot. Naturally, she collected some, much to the amazement of the locals who warned her not to use them for cooking! The French view of English cooking in those days wasn't very high! And so in 1990, with those few collected conkers, we held an impromptu conker tournament with a few Brits on holiday and a couple of bemused Frenchmen. For the next few years we continued, in front of the bar (named in 1989 “Entente Cordiale”) with an increasing number of participants.

In 1994 a conker competition with 50 people taking part was won by a young Frenchman Stéphane Jally. When we told him that there existed a World Conker Championship each year in England he insisted that he wanted to take a team to England to represent France and so in October 1995 France was represented in front of 8,000 spectators at the World Championships near Oundle in England. The team returned with nothing but sore heads from the real ale in the beer tent! Stéphane won the French Championship the following year (so it's not just luck!) in front of a much bigger, largely French, crowd. It was decided at this time to officially create La Fédération Française de Conkers in order to keep the annual French Conker Championships here in Abjat. by Stewart Edwards

WHAT’S ON ♦ 21

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Fête des paniers - Sainte-Eulalie-d’Ans Sunday 12th October Professional basket makers will be exhibiting their creations and offering demonstrations of their skills throughout the day. Look out for local basket maker Adrian Charlton (see feature article below)!

Traditional basket making in the Dordogne

Local Business Feature

ordogne Basket University. OK, maybe not quite a university, more of a college, but what is certain is that the main subject is baskets. In Oxford or Cambridge he would be a senior don and Professor of the Faculty of Willows. In Saint-Pardoux, near Brantôme, however, Adrian Charlton is better known as a highly-skilled craftsman, passionate about his work and the local guru on traditional basket weaving. Adrian has been crafting baskets for almost 30 years. Originally from Somerset, later moving to Norfolk, Adrian worked as a “roustabout”, on oil rigs all over the world... not the usual lead-in to basket weaving, you might think. Adrian agrees: “I was on shore leave from the rig and I came across a wise old master basket maker in a market at Great Yarmouth. He fired my passion for the subject and over a long period he taught me about making baskets. As a result, I left the oil industry for something quieter and greener. Not easier but far more satisfying!” Basketry is one of mankind’s oldest crafts, intensely practical, highly adaptable, strong, light and durable. Archeologists have found evidence of basketry dating back as far as 8000 BC. Moses floated in one, Shakespeare’s Falstaff hid in one, King Charles’ head fell into one, Billy Bunter had his tuck in one… baskets are universal. Just about every home on the planet has a basket of some kind.

From the master basket maker, Terry Bensley, Adrian learned the full range of traditional English basketry techniques, from small fruit pickers to furniture. In 1997 Adrian took on an apprentice, Ruth Kidd, who would later become his full-time assistant, business partner and wife. Back in Norfolk, Adrian and Ruth cultivated forty varieties of willow on three beds. Now at their place in the woods near Brantôme, where they moved just this year, they have cleared space and planted a new willow bed which will be ready for weaving in a year or so. In the meantime they use French and Somerset-grown willow to create their enormous range of baskets in traditional styles, both English and French - especially the “Bouyricoun” - all of which are sold online and at local markets. Whilst building up his own business, Adrian became a tutor in the craft, running his own courses as well as via further education in Norfolk, the Basket Makers’ Association and summer schools in York, Hampshire, Buckinghamshire and even British Columbia and Mount Vernon, USA. His work has earned him a Heritage Trainer’s Award. Here in the Dordogne, their cottage has a studio with workshop attached, and they are planning gîte accommodation for longer courses. Many students return to Adrian and Ruth to learn even more about willow growing, selection and preparation as well as additional, more complex, weaving techniques. The couple do a range of courses from just a day, weekend, or longer, or even on a residential, private tuition basis.

Fête de la châtaigne et du cèpe 18th-19th October

Pumpkin Festival Thursday 16th October, Issigeac See pumpkins and gourds in all shapes, sizes and colours and sample the delicious pumpkin soup. There will be also be a competition for the biggest pumpkin and the best pumpkin creation.

Adrian & Ruth exhibiting in Brantôme “We can teach everyone enough to be able to take away their own basket in one weekend,” says Ruth. “Our students can learn everything they need to make 50 different kinds of baskets, even a big linen bin, but to learn how to make a living from basket weaving will take a little longer.” The next one-day tasters take place on 4th October and 15th November and Adrian and Ruth will be exhibiting at the Fête des Paniers, Sainte-Eulalie-d’Ans on Sunday 12th October. To learn more go to http://www.norfolkbaskets.co.uk ■ by Brian Hinchcliffe

Head to the village of Villefranche-du-Périgord on the third weekend of October for the 26th edition of its annual chestnut and mushroom festival.

This two-day extravaganza offers visitors a farmers and local produce market, the sale of grilled chestnuts and fresh apple juice, artisans demonstrating their skills and plenty of entertainment besides. On Saturday morning there will be competitions for the best chestnut cake, best chestnut, biggest and smallest chestnut, and best cèpe. In the afternoon, there is a mushroom market & chestnut picking contest. The evening follows with a meal and dancing. On Sunday, sample the giant cèpe omelette (€15 – buy your ticket repas from the Foyer rural from 11h30) and then watch the chestnut spitting contest (15h), followed by a mushroom market (16h).

All day. Place du château.

Do you want to advertise your event in The Bugle? To find out more:

sales24@thebugle.eu 05 55 41 17 76

For more information tel 05 53 50 89 12 or visit www.facebook.com/les.paniers24

22 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2014

The Great Phoenix Book Fair

18th October, Campsegret, 24140 The largest Anglo-French fund-raising event in South-West France will return on Saturday 18th October, 2014. The doors will open at 09:00 for 30 mins exclusively for those with limited mobility, and then at 09:30 for everybody else. Doors close at 15:00. Over 18,000 wellsorted and recent books, CDs and DVDs will once again be available to all from only 1 euro each. The catering team will supply delicious home-made savouries, tasty cakes, scones and other assorted goodies, along with hot and cold drinks, again from only 1 euro each. So come and make a day of it, browse, meet new people, join friends, have lunch and enjoy yourself. And most importantly,

you’ll be helping Phoenix Association to care and rehome animals in need. Salle Municipale, 24140 Camsegret - on the N21 between Bergerac and Périgueux. Find out more about Phoenix Association at www.phoenixasso.com

Do you want to advertise your event in The Bugle? To find out more: sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Deborah Smith - Running the Bergerac half marathon for Phoenix - 5th October 2014 Believe it or not, in 2012, Deborah Smith couldn’t even run 100 yards down the garden without being out of breath. Having taken up running to boost her energy levels, she is now a pro, and is running the Bergerac half marathon on 5th October in order to raise money for Phoenix. Deborah is a massive Phoenix supporter and is very proactive in helping us out with fund-raising. She also adopted Phoenix’s Mollie in 2013 to accompany her other dog, Dougie. Deborah says: “I really hope I can raise lots of money for Phoenix, it’s such a special group of people doing wonderful things for our four-legged friends who can’t speak for themselves.” Please visit Deborah’s special page on our website http://phoenixasso.com/?p=7437 where you can find out more about her challenge and most importantly, sponsor her. Thank you Deborah, and best of luck! Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France Monthly circulation: 11,000 copies All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited. Dépôt légal à parution.

Directeur: Rédacteur-en-chef: Siège SIRET: Imprimé par:

Steve Martindale Steve Martindale Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois France 514 989 748 00017 Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac France

Tirage mensuel:

11,000 copies

The Bugle cannot accept responsibility for the claims of advertisers or their professionalism. We strongly advise readers to verify that the company you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France or elsewhere in the world.

Marché de Noël - 14th December I would like to invite everyone to our annual Marché de Noël on the 14th December in Abjat-sur-Bandiat. We have some fantastic stalls booked again this year, packed with wonderful things for you to look at and, I hope, for you to purchase. I think every year gets more interesting and exciting. So, come and join us at the Capitolet in Abjat-sur-Bandiat from 10h-18h. We have a BBQ, gateaux, sandwiches, buvette, tombola and most important of all Père Noël will be visiting in the morning and then again after lunch, handing out sweets and taking any last requests from all the “good” children. All the proceeds will be going to Bansang Hospital Gambia, as last year, and information about the hospital can be found on our web site www. bangsanghospitalappeal.org, or you can contact me, Linda Nicholson, on 05 53 56 73 86 or by email at lindanicholson51@yahoo.co.uk I would also like to invite any newcomers to our Marché who would like to book a table in order to sell their handmade or unusual items. This is a very successful marché, which has been going for a considerable number of years now. We are always looking for new vendors and would like anyone interested to contact me, Linda, in any of the above ways.

WHAT’S ON ♦ 23

OCTOBER 2014 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu that our help does not affect any means-tested payments. Briefly we can consider assisting those who: We understand that life can be difficult for expats living away from the UK and that sometimes assistance is needed. We will listen and try to help when that help is needed. As I am sure you realise, there seems to be this popular misconception that expats living outside of the UK live in large houses with hectares of ground and that nobody ever has problems. As we all know this is far from the truth and even the best laid plans can fall apart due to sudden changes in health, bereavement, family breakdown or a host of other unforeseen problems. Registered charity Elizabeth Finn Care is able to offer direct financial assistance to British and Irish nationals or residents who live overseas. We ensure

1. Are British or Irish residents or nationals. 2. Are living on a low income or means-tested benefits. 3. Have formerly been employed in one of a wide range of qualifying occupations. Have, or have had, a partner employed in a qualifying occupation. We are able to consider assisting financially in numerous ways. For more information contact: Mary Hughes - Case worker France, Elizabeth Finn Care tel: 04 68 23 43 79 or visit: www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk and: www.turn2us.org.uk

Phoenix Appeal for Sparky 5 month-old male kitten If you’re looking to add some sparkle to your life, maybe you could consider adopting this little chap. Maybe “little” is not the right word, given that Sparky is actually the biggest of a litter of four! He had a bad start in life, being born to a stray mum, one who fortunately chose to give birth on a kindly person’s doorstep! One SOS call to Phoenix and a few days later, he was safely in our care. Attention-seeking Sparky is a charmer. He knows what he wants and he knows how to get it - his tricks include a bit of chat (ok, a lot of chat!) and rolling over for some belly rubs. Sparky is well socialised with people, dogs and cats, which makes him a perfect all-rounder. Not to mention, he’s pretty handsome too! If Sparky lights your fire, please get in touch with foster mum Caroline on 05 53 91 39 02 or email carolinearcher1@gmail.com Sparky is chipped (250269606212103), vaccinated and de-parasited and is near La Tour Blanche, 24320. www.phoenixasso.com www.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

Monday

Market Days

Beynac Le Fleix Les Eyzies Ste-Alvère

Tuesday

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

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

EASY

Piégut Pluviers Razac Sarlat Siorac-en-Périgord Vélines Domme Excideuil Eymet La Coquille Lalinde Monpazier St Astier St-Julien-de-Lampon Terrasson

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

Friday

Sunday

Thursday

Bergerac Brantôme Cubjac Le Buisson Ribérac Sarlat Sigoulès Vergt

Saturday

Agonac Beaumont du Périgord

MEDIUM

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

HARD

24 ♦ WHAT’S ON