The Bugle Dordogne - October 2020

Lascaux celebrates 80 years since discovery Celebrating its 80th anniversary, experts say the delicate prehistoric paintings are >> Page 3 benefitting from lockdown

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Further delays for residency website

>> continued on page 4

Eye make-up sales soar post lockdown - pg 9

The human hair cleaning the sea - pg 10

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 15-18

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faltering, many were quick to claim that the delay was a political one, but the ambassador moved to quell such worries, explaining that the situation was simply a bureaucratic hurdle. “I know that this is going to be a disappointment for many of you who are keen to get your administrative affairs in order as soon as possible,” he said.

“I really want to reassure you, therefore, that the delay isn’t for political reasons, but because the decree setting out the exact guidance is still with ministers in the State Council.

I think clearly it is better that the policy and the guidance are in place before your applications start rolling in.”

It is believed that the delay is due to scheduling difficulties at the Conseil d’État, France’s top administrative authority, to validate the decree on the

Banksy boat migrants welcome in France - pg 6

UK banks begin closing expat accounts due to Brexit - pg 8

Initially postponed by three months from July to 1st October, the website allowing expats to apply for a residency permit will not now open for "a few weeks". fter months of waiting, the launch of the muchanticipated website allowing British residents in France to apply for residency permits has again been delayed, this time by at least a fortnight. Originally planned for July, the launch of the portal was pushed back until 1st October, but the British Embassy in Paris has now confirmed that it will not now go live for “a few weeks”.

“I have received a note from the French government explaining that the opening is going to be delayed by a few weeks,” announced the British Ambassador, Edward Llewellyn in a Facebook video post. “The French government tell us we are now looking at a launch in the middle of October.”

With heated Brexit negotiations currently

INSIDE > > >

2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

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lthough we had some unbelievably warm weather in September, I have been brought down to earth with a bump these last few days. A chill has set in, persistent drizzle has made trips down the garden a muddy affair and the falling of the first leaves has reminded me what a mountainous task of raking and bagging awaits me over the course of the next month.

Combined with the threat of Covid once again looming large, it can sometimes be hard to keep your spirits up.

Which is why I have been trying to look at things differently and turn a chore into, if not exactly a pleasure, certainly less of a chore. I actually quite enjoy doing the gardening if I do not feel under time pressure. It’s once it gets on top of me that the task can feel overwhelming and a huge effort. So I have broken my garden down into sections which I’m going to tackle in short sharp bursts in between the usual daily tasks, rather than trying to clear an entire weekend to do it in one blast.

My job is a largely sedentary one and it can be refreshing to take a half hour break from the

office, get outside for some air and get the blood f lowing. In actual fact, I would probably get more done if I took more short breaks and came back to my computer with renewed energy.

The amount of time I spend a day “just checking the headlines” or watching “suggested for you” videos served up to me on my Facebook feed that I am neither interested in, nor want to watch yet can’t seem to stop looking at! If I converted all that time into raking leaves, I would be fitter and the “chore” would get done without me realising... that and my brain would also be marginally less rotten.

It is often how you approach something, and not the thing itself, which is the problem, and this applies to all walks of life.

My eldest was convinced she hates courgettes. She is not a fussy eater and will try almost anything, so I have always let her have her courgette phobia and would never put any on her plate. This summer, we were given some fine looking green and yellow, homegrown courgettes by a friend and my wife turned some of them into soup which I convinced my daughter to try a tiny sip of.

Turns out, she only hates the big chunks of over-boiled, bland courgette that she got served

once at school and absolutely loves it in its soup form (although I’m sure the copious amounts of cream and Parmesan went some way to improving the experience!)

The same was true for me on one of my very first visits to my mother-in-law’s house. She is an excellent cook and I had very much been looking forward to some hot dinner on our arrival, so my heart sank when it was revealed we would be tucking into a hearty bowl of sprout soup! Up until that moment, my lifetime’s experience of sprouts was as a bitter, soggy accompaniment to Christmas dinner, and once a year we were expected to eat several of these abominations “because it’s tradition”. Again, it turns out I do like sprouts, I had just been going about it the wrong way, i.e. without the cream and bacon!

I have also recently realised that celery is not always the devil’s food - although in its raw form it undeniably is and you will fail to ever convince

me otherwise - and is in fact quite pleasant when cooked down in a sauce or stock. And so it is that, along with tackling my autumnal raking (why do we have so many deciduous trees in our garden!), I am also going to get to grips with celeriac (see page 14). Julia’s passion for food is contagious and she makes almost anything sound delicious. So while I think I might have had celeriac mash once and hated it, I was probably doing it wrong and am now going to try some of her suggestions.

Unfortunately, I don’t think that there is a positive way to deal with the fact that most of us will soon need residency permits to continue to live in France. That is just one chore that will need to be dealt with through gritted teeth.

I know that plenty of people have already applied for a carte de séjour in one form or another, but these will all need to be converted before July next year.

Those who already have their paperwork submitted may not

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3-11 French News

have many more hoops to jump through, but those of us waiting for the new website to open still have it all to do. The most recent delay is not ideal (see our front page story), but it does seem likely that the site will go live at some point in October and there are indications that the French government are doing their best to ensure that the process is a straightforward one. The feedback from the application system that was put in place last year in case of a no-deal - and which it is thought this new one will mirror - was overwhelmingly positive, which feels like a good note to end on!

Until next month!

Steve Martindale, Editor www.thebugle.eu articles.thebugle.eu facebook.com/The BugleFrance

12 Practical 13-14 French Life 15-18 Directory 19-20 What’s On

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FRENCH NEWS ♦ 3

Lascaux “doing well” 80 years after discovery

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he world-famous Lascaux caves, one of the jewels in the crown of the Dordogne, were said to be “doing well” after lockdown as conservationists celebrated 80 years since their discovery on 12th September 1940. The cave paintings, which are estimated to be 17,300 years old and are regarded as one of the finest examples of prehistoric art, were discovered by four local boys who came across the entrance to the cave by chance when they were searching for a lost dog. The group eventually found the dog scratching at the base of a tree that had recently been uprooted. There they found a hole, no more than 20 cm in diameter.

Marcel Ravidat, one of the four boys, returned several days later with some more friends and an oil lamp and after throwing down stones, established that the hole led to a large cavern. After several days exploring the new caves, one of the group told his parents what they had found, experts were called in and the importance of the find soon became apparent.

Opening up the caves to the wider public proved popular, but came at a cost. By 1955, the carbon dioxide produced by the estimated 1,200 people visiting each day began to visibly damage the paintings and the fragile underground chambers were closed in 1963.

The general public were then unable to see the paintings until the Lascaux 2 museum was completed in 1983 and opened nearby.

Some scientists fear that the success of this building - which attracts 250,000 visitors a

year - may have disturbed the micro-climate in the original caves. Any human presence is regarded as potentially destructive, and since the turn of the century the caves have been menaced by fungal invasions, although these outbreaks have been contained in recent years and in some cases reversed.

On the 80th anniversary of their discovery, Muriel Mauriac, who has been conservation manager at the caves for 11 years, said that the caves are currently in a more “balanced” state of repair and were benefitting from the recent lockdown. “This is such an iconic cave, so exceptional, that it became a victim of its own success. After the different microbiological crises that it has been through, we can say that things are now going much bet-

ter. It is still fragile, vulnerable, and a very complex ecosystem,” explained the conservation manager. “The cave has been resting recently. When the country was in lockdown, that is usually a good time of year to enter for maintenance and inspections and we have seen that during this rest period, the cave is remarkably balanced in terms of the temperature of the air and rock. There is now an almost-perfect equilibrium between the airrock temperatures inside of the cave.”

The Lascaux paintings mostly consist of primitive images of large animals, most of which are known from fossil evidence to have lived in the area at the time. In 1979, Lascaux was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Sites list. ■

Man blows up house chasing fly An elderly man in the Dordogne had a narrow escape recently when he blew up part of his house while trying to swat a fly. The 82-yearold, who lives alone, luckily suffered only minor burns to his hand following the incident in the village of Parcoul-Chenaud, in the west of the department, just outside La Roche-Chalais.

The octogenarian had just finished preparing his evening meal when the bothersome fly began to get on his nerves. Wanting to eat his dinner in peace, the man picked up his electric swatting racquet, designed to kill bugs with a short, sharp electric shock. Unbeknownst to the man, however, gas from a leaking bottle had been accumulating under his kitchen counter.

When the insect came into contact with the racquet’s electrical cords, the resulting spark ignited the gas, causing a large explosion which destroyed the kitchen and also damaged the ceiling. The man was taken to hospital in Libourne for treatment, and was then later rehoused at a local campsite where he will remain while repairs are carried out to his home. ■

4 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2020

Yellow vest protests Petition for ban on junk back with a whimper food adverts aimed at kids

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© Thomas Bresson (WikiCommons)

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fter a break for the national lockdown and the summer holidays, the gilets jaunes took to the streets once again in September. The protests, which began in response to planned green fuel taxes has gradually morphed into a broader anti-establishment movement. As the size of the protests began to shrink, however, it is predominantly those from the hard left that remain active and the movement appears to now have limited wider public support.

Authorities faced significant headaches in the build-up to September's much hyped comeback. Police came under criticism for some of the heavy-handed tactics used in the early days of the protests, but were determined to meet any resurgence with a show of force. The current health crisis also posed its own problems: the government did not want to appear to be using the situation to ban the protests, but at the same time, Paris was on a high level of alert during the planned marches with coronavirus cases rising sharply.

In the end, the government authorised two march routes in the capital and de-

ployed large numbers of security forces at key sites, such as the Champs-Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, both as a show of force and an attempt to prevent the violent looting that became a common theme in 2019.

In the end, although authorities had prepared for as many as 5,000 protesters, it is believed that no more than half this number turned up, with most now agreeing that the movement is all but dead and no longer represents the hundreds of thousands who initially supported it. Many of those who did make it to Paris appeared intent on violence and police made over 250 arrests during the course of the day.

“The movement is dead, I'll say that clearly, but we're here because we have nothing to lose. This is a kind of last stand,” said Michael, a 43-year-old protester in the crowd at Place de Wagram, before the march began. Not everyone agrees that the movement is on its last legs, however, with veteran protesters Pascale and Patrick saying defiantly: “Today is kind of a test for what comes next, but the movement isn't running out of steam!” ■

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s child obesity levels rise steadily, the consumer group UFC-Que Choisir has launched a petition demanding a ban on advertising the most unhealthy foods aimed at children.

The organisation believes that the ban should apply to foods with a score of D or E on the Nutri-Score food labelling system unveiled in 2017. Unlike other systems, which show individual ratings for certain ingredients such as salt, fat or calories, the Nutri-Score label gives a single, overall rating based on a variety of healthy and unhealthy markers, ranging from A (green) to E (red).

were shocked to find that 88 per cent of products that are being promoted are in the two worst Nutri-Score classes,” said Alain Bazot, president of the consumer group.

“The links between alarming levels of childhood obesity, unbalanced eating and marketing are well established and it is urgent that we take ambitious preventative steps. The commitments by the food industry and lauded by authorities are a failure, and childhood obesity is alarming. It has never been more urgent to act to impose limits on adverts that are intended to be seen by children, by banning on-screen promo-

In a study, UFC-Que Choisir analysed “448 hours of televised programmes” and “7,150 adverts”, finding that almost 90 per cent of adverts aimed at children were for foods high in fat, sugar or salt - such as sweets, chocolate, fast food, sugary cereal and biscuits - and classed as D or E . “We

tion of foods of which consumption must be limited.”

The association also highlighted that the minister for the economy recently estimated that the social cost of people being overweight and obese is €22 billion per year - a similar cost to that of alcohol and tobacco use. ■

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Two-week delay for residency card website >> continued from pg 1 details of the application process for the new residency cards, such as exactly what documents will be required and any other qualifying conditions. A draft of the decree had been prepared by government officials in July, and it had been hoped that it would be validated over the summer holiday period by the Council, but this appears to have not been possible.

The delay also places the current timeframes in doubt as British nationals will now have even less time to compile their applications. The Embassy has asked the French government if it is possible to also extend the final deadline for residency card applications, which is currently set at 30th June, to account for the late opening of the application process.

Although Britons will no longer be EU citizens from January next year, the government has previously confirmed that a grace period means it will not be compulsory to have a titre de séjour until 1st July 2021.

On this date, unless it is also moved in the coming weeks, you will need to be either carrying a valid residency permit, or have proof of an ongoing application.

From next year, anyone arriving in the country with a British passport, and without a residency permit, will be considered as a tourist, meaning you can not stay in the country for more than 90 days out of every 180. If you currently live in France and are planning to travel overseas in the first six months of next year, bear in mind that you may be affected by this rule if when reentering the country you do not have either a titre de séjour, proof that you have applied for one, or proof that you are usually resident in France, such as an attestation de domicile signed by your local mairie.

The government initially launched a bilingual residency permit website last year allowing British people living in France to apply in advance in the event of a no-deal Brexit. This site allowed people to apply online and upload the majority of their supporting documents electronically.

Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and it is widely believed that the new website will be largely based on this previous version.

Furthermore, anyone who has already applied via the “no-deal” site will have their application dealt with automatically and will not have to go through the process a second time.

Although yet to be confirmed, it is widely expected that there will be two kinds of card: one for people who can prove they have lived in France for at least five years and a second for those who arrived more recently. This second card will be valid for up to five years and will be exchangeable for a permanent one after five years of residency.

The application process will be simplest for

those who already hold a 10-year “carte de séjour - séjour permanent”, which it is believed can simply be converted to the new type of residency permit via the new website.

The website will be accessed by clicking on the Brexit link at the bottom of the following page: http://invite.contacts-demarches.interieur. gouv.fr ■

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Marseille opens its port to Banksy migrants

M

igrants rescued on a ship funded by elusive artist Banksy have been welcomed by the port city of Marseille after several other countries refused entry to the vessel. The MV Louise Michel was carrying over 250 refugees rescued from the Mediterranean Sea when it encountered difficulties in August. The majority were transferred to a larger rescue ship and, after an international appeal, the deputy mayor of Marseille announced the city would open its doors to all those who were on board.

The MV Louise Michel, named after a 19th century French anarchist, is painted in hot pink and white and features a Banksy artwork depicting a girl in a life vest holding a heart-shaped safety buoy, reminiscent of one of the artist's most famous works, Balloon Girl. In an Instagram post unveiling the boat, Banksy stated satirically: “Like most people in the art world, I bought a yacht to cruise the Med.” The boat was bought with proceeds from some of the Bristol street artist's works

and is captained by a professional crew with “a flat hierarchy and a vegan diet”.

The vessel's mission statement is “to uphold maritime law and rescue anyone in peril without prejudice”. “We on board the Louise Michel believe we are all individuals, nationality should not make a difference to what rights one has and how we treat each other. We answer the SOS call of all those in distress, not just to save their souls - but our own.”

During its maiden voyage, the former French coastguard boat, which is smaller but much faster than many similar rescue ships operating in the Mediterranean, quickly picked up 250 migrants after responding to a number of distress calls. With the boat at full capacity and unable to sail safely - and with many on board dangerously dehydrated - the Italian coastguard evacuated 49 of the most vulnerable passengers, before the remainder were later transferred to the larger German rescue ship Sea Watch 4.

Despite numerous appeals to the Maltese and Italian governments - the two nearest countries -

the rescue ships were left stranded at sea without permission to dock at any port, until the city of Marseille stepped in. “These are refugees; these are people who are risking death,” said the city's deputy mayor, Benoît Payan. “They are at sea in a critical situation.

Maritime law, maritime history, the history of our city - they all call on our responsibility. Women

and children are dying. In this situation, we don’t ask for papers or the legal status of these people.

We save them.”

The charity Médecins Sans Frontières subsequently accused Italy and Malta of ignoring distress calls at sea, in breach of maritime law and described the situation in the Mediterranean Sea as “dire”. According to the UN,

more than 43,000 migrants have arrived in Europe via the Mediterranean since January and while this number is far lower than at the peak of Europe's migrant crisis in 2015, the crossing remains dangerous: an estimated 554 people have died so far this year attempting the journey, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). ■

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FRENCH NEWS ♦ 7

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8 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

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New regional alert levels for Covid-19

A

s the Covid-19 situation worsened in September, France's health minister unveiled a new alert system and map that sees the areas with the highest level of Covid-19 infections subject to new restrictions including the closure of bars. The system has four colours: pink - alerte (alert), red - alerte renforcée (heightened alert), dark red - alerte maximale (maximum alert) and dark grey état d'urgence sanitaire (state of emergency).

Those departments in light grey are not subject to any restrictions.

Certain areas can be placed on the red or dark red alert without the whole department being affected. For example, people living in the Aix-Marseille metropolitan area are on alerte maximale, but the remainder of the Bouches-du-Rhône department remains pink.

“Let’s be clear, the situation is continuing to deteriorate,” the health minister, Olivier Véran, said during a live speech to the nation where he updated the population on the latest on the Covid-19 virus development in France. “There is still time to act. If we don't take steps quickly, we risk reaching critical thresholds in certain regions and huge stress on hospitals.”

Speaking later on television, Prime Minister Jean Castex refused to rule out a second lockdown, but insisted that the current tougher measures were being introduced to avoid such a situation. “We are not playing around with an epidemic; we have decided to take stronger measures. It is a race against the clock to avoid situations that we saw last spring. What I do not want is a return to the month of March; these stronger measures are about avoiding overwhelming our hospital establishments. If we do not act, we could

find ourselves in a situation like that of last spring. That could mean reconfinement, and we must avoid it.”

The four levels of alert Pink: departments with a high level of spread, defined as an incidence rate of more than 50 positive cases per 100,000 inhabitants, however in these areas the virus has had little impact on intensive care units and on the elderly. Local authorities in these areas

may take extra measures to curb the spread, although they are not obligated to do so, but must limit weddings, parties and social events to 30 people maximum.

Red: cities or departments with a rate above 150 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and a high level of spread among the elderly (above 50 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), but with moderate pressure on hospitals. Bars must close by 10 pm, gatherings are limited to 10 people and community halls must close.

Dark Red: an incidence rate above 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and a very high level of spread among the elderly (above 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants), plus a pressure hospitals implying that intensive care units have filled up over 30 per cent of their beds with Covid-19 patients. Bars and restaurants must close completely for at least two weeks, and public spaces without strict health protocols in place must also close.

Dark Grey: no details have yet been given on what this status represents and no areas have been placed on this level of alert. In the first lockdown, the whole country was placed under a state of emergency and it is believed that this level may eventually be used to implement local or national lockdowns. ■

UK banks are already MP left red-faced after shutting expat accounts parked car blocks train Barclaycard has told cardholders whose accounts are linked to a foreign address that their credit card will stop working in a few weeks' time. People using PO box or “care of” addresses will be similarly affected.

“Customers whose Barclaycard is not linked to a UK residential address will have their account closed on 16th November, 2020 if they don’t provide us with a UK residential address before then,” the company confirmed in a statement. “If a customer’s account is closed, we will carry on sending statements until they’ve paid off their outstanding balance and they will still be able to access their account via Barclaycard online servicing.”

Barclays and Coutts have also started contacting customers. “In light of the UK leaving the EU at the end of 2020, we continue to review the services we offer to customers within the European Economic Area (EEA), and any impacted customers will be contacted directly,” Barclays said in a statement. “The timings for account closure will depend on the type of product that a customer holds, but we will always give notice to customers.”

“In the event that no alternative to the European Economic Area passporting regime for financial services is agreed between the UK and EU, we have taken the difficult decision to withdraw from offering our services to clients who reside in the EEA,” Coutts said. ■

A

French politician was left redfaced recently after accidentally holding up a passenger train by parking his car on a level crossing that he himself had unveiled just two years previously. Jean Lassalle, an independent MP, made the faux pas when he was running late to watch his son’s rugby match in Bedous, south-west France.

“When I arrived, there were already many people there and I was running late.

I saw this magnificent place and I parked there,” he told France Bleu. His embarrassing mistake became apparent during the match, however, when police approached the MP and explained that his car was blocking a passenger train. “The train was indeed at a standstill,” Lassalle told newspaper Sud Ouest. “I apologised to the passengers. Everyone was very nice. Back in the day, before the train line, we used to park there all the time. I have no excuse: it's been two years since the line opened and it was me who

© Antoine Lamielle (WikiCommons)

W

ith the end of the transition period fast approaching, and with no deal on the horizon, an increasing number of expats are reporting that their banks have said they will be closing their UK bank accounts. As members of the EU, British banks were able to operate within Europe under so-called “passporting” rules. Having failed to negotiate continued access to the passporting scheme, UK banks will need to apply for new banking licences to provide certain services in each of the 27 different EU countries.

Each of the EU member states has different rules for cross-border bank accounts which will therefore start to apply immediately after the UK's transition period ends on 31st December 2020. It would appear that many banks have decided that the effort is not worth the reward. “In some cases, continuing to serve customers would be incredibly complex, extremely expensive and very time-consuming, and simply would not make economic sense,” a source at one British bank told The Times newspaper. “This is passporting, this is the reality of Brexit.”

Lloyds is understood to be closing business accounts - not personal accounts - of customers living in the Netherlands, Germany, Ireland, Italy and Portugal. However, the bank said it had no current plans to discontinue any services for customers in France.

inaugurated it. It's a big mistake.”

The 65-year-old has served as an Independent member of the National Assembly since 2002 and was briefly part of the presidential race in 2017. The politician did have a solution as to how a similar situation could be avoided in the future, joking: “If I had a driver like many of my peers, this would not have happened!“ Fortunately for all concerned, visibility was good on the day in question, the

passenger train was able to safely come to a controlled stop and the MP escaped without a fine.

It is not the first time Lassalle has been in the news.

In 2016, he went on a 39day hunger strike in protest against a threat to 150 jobs in his constituency when a paint firm planned to close its factory and relocate. The strike ended when the closure was scrapped, but not before the MP was admitted to hospital having lost 18 kilograms in weight over the course of the protest. ■

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The eyes have it post lockdown

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T

credit: Brett Freedman / brettfreedman.com

osmetics companies in France have had the smile wiped off their faces this year as a result of confinement and the rules surrounding face masks, with lipstick sales taking a particular hit.

Despite recently being crowned as the country’s favourite beauty accessory, lipstick has been shunned since France went into confinement in March, with sales plummeting 75 per cent during lockdown and a further 26 per cent since.

The term “lipstick effect” was coined in 2001 by Leonard Lauder, chairman of Estée Lauder, who first spotted that lipstick sales were inversely related to economic health. When the chips are down, the theory goes, women are more likely to buy lipstick as an affordable luxury to make themselves look and feel better. In 2020, however, the reverse has proved to be true with first confinement and then face masks leading many women to kiss goodbye to their red lips.

“Sales collapsed and haven’t come back again since the reopening of stores,” explained Mathilde Lion, beauty analyst for NPD.

Government unveils €100 billion stimulus

Overall, it has been estimated that make-up sales are down 17 per cent since the start of the year in France.

The one winner in the cosmetics industry has been the eye makeup sector, which has seen a rise in sales over recent months. “The popularity of eye make-up can be attributed to increased experimentation at home and wearing makeup whilst socialising with family and friends virtually or during conference calls with colleagues,” said Emma Fishwick, an account manager at NPD. Another factor has been social media-led trends encouraging people to experiment with makeup while wearing face coverings

in public. “As consumers are required to wear face coverings in shops, on public transport and other public spaces, the lip segment has declined in share, driven largely by a decline in demand of lip colour as the lip area is no longer visible when wearing a mask.”

The trend has not been limited to France. In the UK, there has been an even bigger rise in sales of eye make-up. My Beauty Brand recently reported a 480 per cent increase in sales of their eye paint since lockdown, while Tweezerman has seen a 331 per cent rise in orders for eyelash curlers compared to the same period last year. ■

he government has unveiled a massive €100 billion plan to rescue the economy from the coronavirus crisis, with big investments in green energy and transport as well as industrial innovation.

Announcing the “France Relance” (France Reboot) plan, Prime Minister Jean Castex hailed its “historic ambition and size”, stressing the package is almost four times as large as the rescue plan introduced in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.

At around four per cent of GDP, the stimulus package is the largest plan unveiled in Europe so far relative to the size of the economy, the prime minister said. “The time for a relaunch has come,” President Emmanuel Macron tweeted.

Under the plan, €30 billion will be spent on “ecological transition” projects, including €9 billion on the development of a hydrogen industry and other green technologies, €4.7 billion for the state railways and €6.7 billion on improving insulation in homes and public buildings.

A further €35 billion will go towards industrial competitiveness and innovation, including €20 billion in reduced taxes for industry over the next two years. The final €35 billion has been put aside for “social and regional cohesion”, including employment projects and skills training for the young.

The government expects the economy to shrink up to 11 per cent this year as a result of the pandemic. The prime minister and Bruno Le Maire, the finance minister, both said they expected the economy to recover to its pre-crisis level by 2022 as a result of the huge investments contained in the plan, of which €40 billion will come from EU grants. The EU is currently distributing a massive €750 billion recovery programme brokered in July

by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The UK will not have access to this fund.

Mr Castex said the government would not repeat the mistakes made in past crises of increasing tax rates to pay for the spending, but would instead generate growth to bolster the government’s overall tax revenues.

“There will be no tax rises,” he said. ■

10 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

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Growing anger over The human hair cleaning the oceans empty food packaging

coiffeurs-justes.fr

O

ne enterprising hairdresser in southern France is hoping to put the country's leftover locks to work in the fight against sea pollution. The innovative recycling scheme is the work of Thierry Gras, founder of Coiffeurs Justes - Fair Hairdressers - which now has 40 tonnes of human hair at its warehouse in Brignoles, near Marseille, waiting to be processed.

The hair is stuffed into nylon stockings which are then floated in the sea to mop up oil pollution. “Hair is lipophilic, which means it absorbs fats and hydrocarbons,” explained Gras.

After a successful trial in the nearby port of Cavalaire-sur-Mer, the foundation is now waiting for the green light from labour inspectors and anti-pollution officials before beginning large-scale production of the tubes later this year.

Despite the fact that hair can also be used as fertiliser, insulation material, concrete reinforcement or in water filtration, Gras was shocked to discover when he became a hairdresser that there was no established recycling facility for hair waste. He subsequently came up with the idea of creating hair-filled oil absorbers, and in 2015 founded his association.

Today he has 3,300 hair

salons contributing to the scheme.

At the Brignoles warehouse thousands of paper bags, each containing two kilograms of clippings, have been collected from participating hairdressers from all over France, Germany, Belgium and Luxembourg. The bags are then sent to another site a few streets away, where formerly unemployed people and school dropouts are paid to make the absorbent tubes. Gras plans to reinvest half of the sale price of the tubes in the employment centre.

The forearm-length tubes will be sold for €9 each and can absorb up to eight times their own weight in oil. With the average hairdresser generating 29 kilograms of hair a year - most of which currently ends up in the bin - the scheme is a cheap and efficient way of turning a natural waste product into one that can help fight pollution.

“The tubes can be used in case of a serious oil spill, such as the one in Mauritius recently, but the idea here is to remove micro-pollution on a continuous basis,” Gras explained.

In Cavalaire, a dozen tubes are already in use, serving as a pilot for the project, and Philippe Leonelli, the mayor of the seaside town and CEO of its port, is happy to have a new method for soaking up the oil leaked from the engines of some 1,100 boats docked in the port. “The traditional method uses large sponges made from polymer, products that are not reusable and which we discard after use,” the mayor said. The hair tubes are washable and can be reused as many as ten times. “We are all in search of reusable methods so as not to overburden our territory and our land.”

Several river and ocean ports in France have already shown an interest in purchasing the tubes. ■

A

consumer group has accused seven major brands of “food fraud” over the amount of empty space within their packaging. The European NGO Foodwatch said products made by Lipton, Léa Nature, Sojasun, Monoprix, Barilla, Carrefour and Leclerc were “full of nothing” and intended to dupe customers into thinking they were buying more food than was actually there.

Monoprix came under specific fire for its spice jars, which use a large label at the top to hide the fact that they are more than one quarter empty. “It’s all about the judicious positioning of the label and the opacity of the cap,” Foodwatch said in its report, which also highlights packets of cereals and quinoa only 40% filled, or diced salmon whose packaging contained just 32% fish.

“As a consumer, you can imagine yourself in the salmon section. You have all these slices of salmon that do not go to the end of the packaging, but as it is mostly cardboard, you do not see too much,” explained Camille Dorioz, campaign manager of the NGO. “It’s a competition for who can have the largest packaging on the shelf to show his product to the consumer.”

“After complaints from several consumers, we went to check supermarkets and compared

products between them. Almost all the shelves were affected by this excess packaging and these products sold ‘full of emptiness’. Offering useless packaging is not illegal, but it’s time to end these abusive practices.”

The NGO says companies are exploiting a “grey area of regulation”, adding that European law clearly states that packaging and marketing practices must not be deliberately misleading. “We consider oversized packaging to be illegitimate because it is deliberately intended to mislead the consumer.”

In order to highlight the problem and put more pressure on the industry to change their ways, Foodwatch have launched an online petition which will be sent to the CEOs of the companies highlighted in the study. “We're launching this petition not only to force these companies to change their practices, but to alert the manufacturers of all brands that consumers have had enough. It’s not just about misleading customers – who feel they’ve been had after buying a large product with very little contents – but the environmental repercussions are also unacceptable,” Dorioz said.

According to Forbes Insight, as much as 25% of all international freight is empty space inside packaging. That is the equivalent of 60 million empty containers being shipped around the world each year. ■

L

egendary French actor, comedian and voice-over artist Roger Carel has died at the age of 93.

He was arguably the most famous voice-over artist in French cinema history and will be well remembered as the voice of Asterix the Gaul and Mickey Mouse as well as Star Wars’ C-3PO, Winnie the Pooh, Kermit the Frog and Kaa from the Jungle Book. For those of a certain age, he was also the French voice of Benny Hill.

While most English speakers will watch relatively few films or programmes in a foreign language, dubbing remains a huge part of the industry internationally. The top voice-over artists will typically be used to voice the same actor in different films and can build a following in their own right and achieve significant popularity.

Carel began his career in theatre and radio dramas, where his unique voice and mischievous tone quickly led to success.

His talents opened the door to the business of dubbing, the work he became best known for and he would go on to work as a voice-over artist well into his eighties. “My magic potion recipe for staying young is this marvellous job that has kept me going... marvellously,” he said when finally retiring in 2013 after receiving the prestigious Henri-Langlois Award. “I had the chance to play a lot: theatre, TV, dub-

bing. When you're happy, you don't age so quickly.”

“Being a voice actor is the opposite of acting. You have to forget what you can do.

There is no question, unlike in the theatre or the cinema, of adapting a role to your measure. You must honestly reproduce the work of another. I have always treated it like a game.”

Carel was undoubtedly the biggest name in French dubbing history and with the rise of streaming platforms and changing viewing habits, many believe his fame will never be eclipsed. Following a change in the law in 1949 which required any film released in French cinemas to be dubbed in studios located in France, an industry was born. In the modern world, however, many people watch films online and the rise of streaming services such as Netflix has led to a significant move towards subtitling rather than dubbing.

The sheer volume of international content now available online makes dubbing a slow and expensive option compared to subtitling, and evidence appears to suggest that the public, particularly the younger generations, are becoming more and more used to watching subtitled programmes and films.

While the country may never again see another Roger Carel, his voice will remain iconic to legions of French film fans. ■

credit: Stéphane Cardinale / Corbis

France loses voice of Asterix and Mickey Mouse

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New Caledonia heads to polls for second independence referendum

© Bananaflo (WikiCommons)

T

around 40 per cent of the population are indigenous Kanaks and a further 27 per cent are of European origin.

The remainder of the islanders come from across Polynesia and south-east Asia.

Under colonial rule the Kanaks were confined to reserves and excluded from much of the island’s economy.

In the 1980s there were deadly clashes between French forces and indigenous Kanaks, which culminated in an incident that saw separatists kill four French gendarmes and take another 23 hostage in a cave. The subsequent French assault cost the lives of 19 Kanaks and two soldiers. In the aftermath, France agreed a deal allowing for a referendum on independence to be held by the end

Lockdown leads to boom of kittens for the SPA

A

nother unfortunate side effect of the ongoing coronavirus crisis is a boom in the number of cats needing to be re-homed. Releasing figures on International Cat Day, the national charity Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) said it had taken in more than 8,000 animals over the summer.

The reason would appear to be down to lower levels of sterilisation during March and April when the country was first locked down. According to the Confédération Nationale Défense de l'Animal a pair of unsterilised cats can lead to the birth of 20,000 kittens within 4 years!

“We have more animals in our shelters than other years,” said JacquesCharles Fombonne, president of the SPA. The organisation currently has 7,600 animals in its care, one-third of which are dogs and two-thirds cats.

“The only explanation is a lack of sterilisations in March and April. We have

not been actively catching cats, but we have had a lot of kittens brought in. As there are relatively few cat abandonments, it is mostly young litters that people find in their gardens and bring us.”

The current crisis has also led to fewer adoptions; the SPA would usually expect to re-home 3,500 animals each month across the summer, but this year, July and August saw just 1,200 adoptions.”

“We are open, people are welcome to come and adopt. People can choose a kitten that is at least three months old and that has its first vaccinations.

You will have the choice between small cats, young or old... unfortunately there is something for everyone!"

Abandoning an animal in France, including cats, is a crime punishable by up to two years in prison and a fine of €30,000. ■

of 2018. The subsequent “No” vote outcome was well below predictions, which has encouraged nationalists to try for a new referendum this year.

Over the past decade, relations between the two groups have improved markedly. During a visit to the archipelago at the start of his presidency, Macron acknowledged the “pains of colonisation” and saluted the “dignified” campaign for autonomy led by the Kanaks.

He and his administration had sought to strike a neutral tone on the first independence vote.

A “Yes” vote would make New Caledonia the first French territory to break away since Djibouti in 1977 and Vanuatu in 1980. ■

Dordogne school first to introduce uniforms

A

collège in the Dordogne has become the first in the department to introduce compulsory school uniforms for all its students, re-igniting a debate that has been gathering pace in recent years. Supporters of the move argue uniforms are a good way to promote social cohesion by levelling social and wealth status, and easing resentment that can emerge from how different students are dressed. Opponents, however, point to uniforms as the epitome of unacceptable authoritarianism and a detraction from more serious issues such as discipline and inclusion.

The Collège Jeanne d’Arc in La RocheChalais has introduced the new dress code from September this year, which sees pupils wearing matching T-shirts, polo shirts and sweatshirts, all bearing the school’s logo. “It stops people worrying about appearance and who has the most fashionable designer clothes,” explained the school’s head teacher Carole Faucheux. “Among the teenagers, we said that if we could remove this problem of inequality, at least on the top half of the body, that would help with integration of some students. It also helps to show that you can distinguish people other than by their appearance.”

By only making the top half of any outfit compulsory, the cost of the new uniform is relatively low. For €90, students receive 2 T-shirts, 4 polo shirts and 2

credit: Collège Jeanne d’Arc

he people of the South Pacific archipelago of New Caledonia will head to the polls this month in a referendum to decide whether or not to remain part of France or seek independence. The first referendum two years ago saw independence rejected by 56.4 per cent of voters, but the contest was much closer than polls had predicted, raising the stakes for the next vote on October 4.

As a “special collectivity of France”, New Caledonia currently enjoys a large degree of autonomy, but depends heavily on France for matters such as defence and education and receives billions from the central government each year. In return, the islands' position gives France a strategic foothold in the Indo-Pacific region where China is expanding its presence, as well as access to significant natural resources: Nouvelle-Calédonie has 25% of the world's nickel deposits.

It is the country's mining facility, however, which is central to the regional economy, that has found itself at the centre of the upcoming vote. The island's huge nickel extraction site is owned by the Brazilian mining giant Vale, which says it can no longer afford to invest in the loss-making factory and has threatened its closure, with the loss of thousands of jobs and millions in tax revenues.

“With the referendum just three weeks away, we are following this matter very closely and are indeed worried about the 3,000 jobs under threat,” an official in the office of France's overseas minister Sébastien Lecornu told AFP. “It would be an economic tsunami if the factory closed,” said Pierre Tuiteala, an official with the main Soenc-Nickel union. “This decision would lead to a complete collapse of New Caledonia's economy and its social security systems,” said Sonia Backes, president of the territory's southern province and an opponent of separating from France.

Advocates for remaining part of France worry that separatist parties could capitalise on a shutdown to press their case for taking back control of the strategic archipelago and its key industries.

First discovered by the British explorer James Cook, Nouvelle-Calédonie is located 1,210 kilometres to the east of Australia and is home to just over a quarter of a million people. Colonised by France in 1853, today

jumpers and initial reports suggest both students and parents are happy with the changes. “We don’t have to think too much about what they are going to wear.

And the children are taking it well - at least, I think my son was happy,” one parent told FranceInfo.

School uniforms have not been compulsory in France since 1968, but have risen up the political agenda in recent years, with Marine Le Pen and François Fillon both campaigning for their introduction during the last presidential campaign.

Uniforms look set to remain in the news after this year’s rentrée saw increasing numbers of schools sanctioning students for wearing “inappropriate” outfits, such as shorts that are too short, mini-skirts and crop tops revealing the midriff. This has led many to suggest that the debate was sexist, and that female students were far more likely to be asked to change clothes or reprimanded for their style than boys. ■

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Will UK assets invite a bigger tax bill after Brexit? - Blevins Franks

I

n preparation for Brexit, most UK expatriates in France have secured residence or put plans in place to settle before the transition period ends in December.

While that’s entirely appropriate, the planning shouldn’t end there, especially if you still have assets and investments in the UK. Brexit itself will not affect the double tax agreements that determine which country has the right to tax expatriates. However, two key changes are set to happen from 2021 that may change your tax treatment.

First, UK assets will no longer be EU/European Economic Area (EEA) assets. In some cases, this means they may stop receiving favourable tax treatment in France. Second, the UK government will no longer be bound

by EU freedom of movement rules for capital, potentially giving them more scope to tax non-residents.

Even without Brexit, once you are living abroad it is a good idea to review whether holding on to UK assets is still in your best interests.

UK property

The UK has gradually increased the tax burden on property for overseas residents. For example, after years without capital gains tax liability, ‘non-resident capital gains tax’ (NRCGT) started applying to nonUK residents selling UK residential property from 2015, and most commercial UK property and land from 2019.

If you are French resident, you may also attract capital gains tax there

(but can usually receive a credit for UK tax paid).

Beware that from April 2021, nonUK residents face a new 2% stamp duty surcharge when buying property in England and Northern Ireland. If you are resident in France and already own a home, even outside the UK, this means you could face up to 17% UK stamp duty costs on UK purchases.

When considering UK property as an investment, also remember that worldwide property counts towards wealth tax liability for French residents.

Note that non-UK residents remain liable to UK income tax on all rental income earned there. Although not taxed directly in France, you must declare it as part of your taxable income, which could potentially push you into a higher income tax bracket.

Explore alternative investment vehicles available for France residents that may offer better tax-efficiency as well as potential estate planning and currency benefits.

UK investments

Of course, most retired British expatriates have pension funds in the UK, and benefit from leaving them there and drawing income as needed.

But, depending on the type of pension and your circumstances, it may be worth weighing the pros and cons of transferring it out of the UK. Transferring into a Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Scheme can provide various advantages for France residents. Transfers to EU/ EEA-based QROPS are currently tax-free for EU residents, but there is a 25% ‘overseas transfer charge’ for other transfers. The UK government could easily extend this to EU transfers once no longer bound by the bloc’s rules. If you are considering

While the tax rules that apply to British expatriates today should not change after Brexit, watch out for situations where non-EU/EEA assets are taxed differently to domestic/EU assets.

For example, under French rules some key tax advantages only apply to EU life assurance/assurance-vie policies, so UK equivalents may incur a higher tax bill post-Brexit.

Remember too that once you are non-UK resident, UK investment products such as ISAs become taxable in France. If you cash-in these investments, local capital gains tax can also apply.

UK personal tax allowances Currently, non-UK residents receive the same allowances for income and capital gains tax as UK residents, so long as they hold a British passport or are an EEA citizen. However, a few years ago the government seriously considered restricting the personal income tax allowance for non-residents. It is possible these allowances could again become a target for the government to increase tax revenue from non-residents after Brexit.

UK pensions

this, take personalised advice now – pensions paperwork is a lengthy process and there is limited time before the transition period ends.

Another option may be to use the pensions freedom to take your fund as cash and re-invest in a tax-efficient arrangement in France. Again, seek regulated advice and take care not to jeopardise your retirement savings.

Financial planning should be based around your circumstances, objectives and risk profile, and the decision whether to retain UK assets is no exception. There are various issues to weigh up, taxation being just one of them, but it is worth considering if moving assets out of the UK may be beneficial. Do your research and take personalised specialist advice to establish what would work best for you today and your family in future. ■ The tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summarised; individuals should seek personalised advice.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page: www.blevinsfranks.com Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com

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The wines of Bergerac - Monbazillac

Jill Wellington (Pixabay)

by Martin Walker

T

he château of Monbazillac is a gem of the French Renaissance, dominating the 400ft high ridge that runs east-west for miles to the south of the city of Bergerac and which harbours some of the best wine terroir in France. There could be no finer place for a wine tasting and it was the natural place to hold the 25th concours of the classic, golden dessert wine of the region.

Around forty of us were invited to form the jury, judging the 2019 vintage from more than forty different vineyards. We were winemakers, travel writers, hoteliers and sommeliers from fine restaurants and serious experts like the man from the Guide Hachette des Vins, and Jean-François Vidalie, who has just produced a magisterial book, Monbazillac ou la Révélation d’un secret en Périgord.

The wines ranged from those made by the Château de Monbazillac group itself, to Monbazillacs from such local stars as David Fourtout from Les Verdots, Christian Roche from Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure, the Borderie family from Château Poulvère, Fabrice Camus from Domaine de la Lande and Jean-Paul Hembise from Château Montdoyen.

Most of us kept our eyes on the recent winners of the last few concours: Anthony Castaing from Grange Neuve and Benoît Gérardin from Château Le Fagé. At least, we would have except that this was a blind tasting, each bottle hidden inside a thick sleeve. Moreover, the tradition at this concours is for a kind of sudden death.

There were nine tables, each with three or five tasters, so that the total of voters would always be an odd number. Each of us was given two glasses, one with a white ribbon and the other with a blue. Two different wines, each known to us only by a number, were brought to the tables for each of the eight rounds of judging. Having given us time to examine the colour, to savour the bouquets and then the taste and then ponder the feel in the mouth, we each then at a signal from the organiser had at the same moment to hold up either the blue or the white glass, whichever we preferred.

The votes were then tallied and the winner could proceed to the next round.

The loser was eliminated. Round after round this went on, until the final when only two wines were left.

The first point to stress is that tasting sixteen glasses of different Monbazillacs is quite easy at first but tougher and tougher as the sweetness of the liquoreux wines starts to overwhelm the taste buds in a kind of sugar rush, despite the bread and water available to cleanse our palates. It is even tougher on the nostrils.

The second point is the importance of colour. In this concours, as in the five previous ones in which I took part, there seems to be a subtle preference for the wines that are golden rather than pale. The third feature that struck me was the unconscious power of groupthink. During the eight rounds, at my table we were mostly either unanimous or voting four to one. Only twice did we break three to two. At other ta-

bles too, one tended to see all white or all blue glasses raised, even though we each had to lift the glass of our choice at the same instant.

The variation was striking, even though Monbazillac wine must be made only from Sauvignon blanc and/ or gris, Sémillon and Muscadelle. Although no price was ever marked for the various bottles, I did some extra research to find that the costs varied from eight to more than twenty euros a bottle. (And the most legendary of Monbazillacs, from Bruno Bilancini’s Château Tirecul La Gravière, at 90 euros a bottle, was not in contention.)

Monbazillac is important for the economy of the Bergeracois, as the leader in sales of liquoreux wines in France. There are 144 producers, producing nearly 7 million bottles a year from 2,360 hectares. So at some 3000 litres per hectare, the yield is low. And the risks from the variations of weather are high. The key to a vin liquoreux is the fungus Botrytis cinerea, or noble rot, which reduces the liquid and concentrates the sugars in the grapes to give a hint of dried and candied fruits, and a remarkable, almost overwhelming sensation of richness and profundity in the mouth.

I love the stuff, whether very chilled as an aperitif, or with a good dessert or a strong cheese, or with a sweet and sour Chinese dish. I recently made a Spanish tapas meal for friends, with a gazpacho spiced with piment d’espelette and a very garlicky gambas al ajillo and the cold Monbazillac went perfectly with it.

So from time to time I raise a glass to those 11th century monks of the Benedictine priory of St Martin who invented the stuff, perhaps because they were too busy praying to tend their vines and found, as if a miracle, the noble rot had produced the famous wine.

The winner this time - again - was Benoît Gérardin of Château Le Fagé, and the runner-up was Patrick Daniel of Castel la Pèze. Christian Roche from l’Ancienne Cure was third.

Our table did quite well; or at least we reflected the mood and taste of the gathering. In the first round we voted 4 to 1 for l’Ancienne Cure. In round two we voted 5 to 0 for the Le Fagé. We also went 4 to 1 for the Castel la Pèze.

Then we all rose and proceeded to a second area of tables for a splendid dinner of foie gras, Dordogne sturgeon, followed by roast beef with topinambours, with which we drank a Pécharmant from Le Grand Jaure and a Montravel from Château Puy-Servain. We might not have deserved such a splendid evening, in such a lordly location as the Château de Monbazillac, but I like to think we might have earned it. ■

Martin Walker, author of the bestselling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac. Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

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A

Don't be afraid, it's only celeriac

by Julia Watson

ren’t you just tickled pink!

Extolling the virtues this time last year of celery, I explained the difference between celery stalks and celeriac - of which root I promised, “more, another time”. Well, guess what. It’s such a suitable autumnal vegetable, that time is now.

It may be because of how it looks a ball that’s been severely kicked then put through the hot wash bleach cycle, or because it can be dauntingly large but celeriac doesn’t seem to be much revered. The French make the most of it in céleri rémoulade, which is surely on no-one’s Hate List. But celeriac can give so much more.

It’s the same plant as celery, but is cultivated for its root, not its stalks.

You can’t swap celery for celeriac and vice versa in recipes that call for them by name. Like celery, it can be eaten raw or cooked, and while it has the same flavour as the stalks, that flavour is sweetened and mellowed when exposed to heat.

You may have assumed it was a cold region vegetable exclusive to the northern hemisphere where it’s grown across Northern Europe, Siberia and North America. But it’s also cultivated in North Africa and South-West Asia, albeit in their cooler high regions. And a close relation, cepa de apio criollo (Creole celery root), is a tuber with a similar flavour to celeriac, common in farmers markets from Dominica and Puerto Rico, where it is used to make traditional soups, to Venezuela and other Latin American countries, again, grown in highland regions.

I dare to propose that along with potato, celeriac is the most versatile vegetable we cultivate in the West.

You can boil it, steam it, roast it, mash it, grate it, fry it, and turn it into the most soothing of winter soups. All that’s required for that, at its most simple, is a base of finely chopped leek and onion stewed in butter till soft, chunks of peeled celeriac thrown in and everything softened in milk or stock, then blitzed and a generous pour of cream added. Crumble crisp cooked bacon over to serve.

But that’s just the start of it. Look up a latkes recipe and swap the potato for celeriac. Fry the latkes not in the traditional chicken schmaltz (chicken fat) but in duck fat for a Périgord take, and dab each golden disc with a blob of crème fraîche to serve, possibly with a teaspoon of horseradish mixed into it.

Celeriac roasted whole has been on hip restaurant menus for a year or two.

Scrub the celeriac thoroughly and rub it well with olive oil and the leaves from 6 sprigs of thyme or a spice like finely ground cumin or coriander, or simply salt it well. Wrap it tightly in foil, set in a pan and roast for 2 hours until soft. Spread the foil open and roast 30 minutes more to crisp up the skin. Cut into wedges, drizzle hazelnut oil and lemon juice over it, sprinkle with sea salt and serve with a seared steak, a roast of meat, or just by itself with a vinegary salad.

For a comforting gratin, slice equal quantities of peeled potatoes and celeriac and layer them with thin slices of one onion in a gratin dish. Season, cover with cream and dot with butter.

Bake in 180C oven for about an hour or until bubbling and gold.

Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK.

Roasted celeriac wedges with sage and walnuts

1 tablespoon olive oil 135ml maple syrup or honey 1kg celeriac, scrubbed clean then peeled 15g fresh sage leaves, shredded 1 teaspoon sea salt flakes 175g walnuts Preheat oven 400F/200°C. Beat the oil and syrup together in a jug. Cut the celeriac into 2.5cm wide wedges, and spread over a roasting pan. Drizzle half the maple syrup and oil over the wedges and toss them with clean hands to coat thoroughly.

Roast for 20-25 minutes till the wedges begin to soften, turning them halfway through.

Add the sage, salt and walnuts to the remaining maple syrup and oil, whisk then spoon over the celeriac. Continue to roast for 10-12 minutes more, or until the celeriac just begins to caramelise.

These wedges marry well with any meat dish - from roast to braise.

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Are your current Wealth Management and Pension plans fit for purpose? – Rosemary Sheppard, International Financial Adviser

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ith 10 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 €12.50 HT per month – that’s less than 42 cents a day to put your business in front of 30,000 people each month.

In the Dordogne we have more than 150 distribution points across the region and surrounding areas where readers can pick up a copy for free.

We also distribute 3,000 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.

Worship services in English held throughout the Dordogne: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Eymet Temple, Limeuil, Négrondes, Sainte Nathalène (near Sarlat).

All are welcome!!

Please visit our website for more information: www.churchinaquitaine.org Find us on Facebook: English Church Aquitaine

Smart Moves For a fully insured, careful service

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

smartmovers@hotmail.co.uk

+44 (0)7966 287 430

www.smartmovesremovals.com

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

06 04 17 80 93 Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

OCTOBER 2020 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

WHAT’S ON ♦ 19

Pumpkin Festival Sunday 18th October, Issigeac See pumpkins and gourds in all shapes, sizes and colours and sample the delicious pumpkin soup. There will also be a competition for the biggest pumpkin.

All day. Place du château.

For this 11th edition of the Salon Rue des Métiers d’Art, thirty-one artists and artisans will present their latest collections and demonstrate their skill and creativity in the centre of Nontron from 23rd-25th October.

Friday 14h-19h, Saturday 10h-19h and Sunday 10h-18h.

Entry €2; Free for Under 16s.

For more information visit www.metiersdartperigord.fr

Discover our award-winning Cognac and Pineau des Charentes Guided tours in English, in the heart of the Cognac region CLASSIC TOUR

PRIVATE TOUR

Enjoy a guided visit of our family domaine and discover the essentials of Cognac and Pineau des Charentes production.

Tasting of 2 Cognacs and 2 Pineau des Charentes.

Monday to Friday.

Duration 1 hour. Price: €10 per person.

A privileged, multi-sensory discovery of the history and craft of our Domaine. A private and guided tour which also includes the distillery, ageing cellars and vineyards.

Tasting of 3 Cognacs and 4 Pineau des Charentes accompanied by gourmet canapés. Ideal for families and groups.

Monday to Sunday. Duration 2 hours. Price: €20 per person.

* by appointment only - free for under-14’s

* by appointment only - free for under-14’s

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ OCTOBER 2020

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

English, Russian and other international performers. Concert tickets cost €15 including wine in the interval.

All events are organised by volunteers and serve as a meeting ground for the French and international communities of the Dordogne, including ACIP and La Tulipe.

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

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

Saturday 17th October at 5 pm Piano and Flute Recital

by Jennifer Fichet and Mihi Kim

Programme: Marais: Les folies d’Espagne (variations), Taffanel: Andante pastorale and scherzettino, Ibert: Entracteo, Scarlatti: Toccata en D min., Falla: Seven popular Spanish songs trans., Granados: O la Maja y el Ruisenor (Goyescas), Ravel: Habanera trans. , Granados – Kreisler: 5th Spanish Dance trans., Albeniz: Tango – trans., Albeniz: El puerto trans., Albeniz: Asturia, François Borne: Fantaisie brillante sur Carmen Jennifer Fichet: French international prize-winning pianist, chamber musician, teacher and accompanist. The public and the press are unanimous in saluting the finesse, sincerity and depth of her interpretations.

Mihi Kim: Korean flutist and piccolist, who at ten came to Europe to continue her studies. She has won international competitions and is currently pursuing her career as an international soloist in Europe, America (North and South) and Asia.

Latest news throughout the month: www.thebugle.eu