The Bugle Dordogne - Sep 2019 by The Bugle

French daredevil crosses Channel

Former jet-ski champion Franky Zapata has successfully crossed the Channel on his jetpowered hoverboard

>> Page 5

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November 2016 - Issue #85

Dordogne

Your local newspaper for life in France

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Fresh crackdown on cold callers

Cannabis sausages in 'high' demand - pg 9

Provence sends rosé to Trump - pg 11

The Bugle Business Directory - pg 14-18 © Tom Thersleff (Flickr)

>> continued on page 5

Fine warning issued for lane hoggers - pg 7

French couple face jail for Sardinian sand theft - page 7

After the failure of the original Bloctel system, the French telecoms watchdog Arcep has unveiled a series of new rules aimed at tackling unsolicited marketing calls.

he country’s telephone police, Arcep (L’autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes) have introduced a series of new measures aimed at bringing to an end the modern day menace that is cold calling. Anyone with a French mobile or landline will be more than familiar with receiving a call, apparently from within France, or even sometimes locally, only to find out that you are being targeted by a cold calling centre based abroad. For some, the number of such calls regularly reaches into the dozens every day. There was hope when the Bloctel system was first introduced in 2016. The scheme allowed people to register their number and opt out of marketing calls, with the threat of heavy fines for companies that broke the rules. In reality, the cold callers just got smarter and the system has thus far had a limited impact. Many companies simply transferred operations abroad, playing the system and making French law much harder to enforce. Despite millions signing up to the Bloctel opt-out scheme, it was quickly branded a failure, with as many as 90% of people claiming they were unhappy and relatively few fines handed out. Consumer affairs group UFC Que choisir conducted its own investigation after the system was introduced and concluded that the service was not living up to expectations. “We have noted that many people have complained, even after registering with Bloctel,” said a representative. “Some have even reported receiving more nuisance calls after registering. Furthermore,

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2 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

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irst things first, I promise I will not directly reference Brexit this month, although it does tie in tangentially to a topic that has been on my mind a lot, namely words and language. I learned a new word this month: quisling. I don’t know if my ignorance shows my age, but I have heard it increasingly used in the heated debates taking place in the UK, along with others such as ‘traitor’ and ‘fifth column’. As an aside, if anyone else is unsure what a quisling is, it is a Nordic term for someone who collaborates with the enemy, or more generally a traitor. The word originates from the surname of the Norwegian war-time leader Vidkun Quisling, who headed a domestic Nazi collaborationist regime during World War II. A word can mean one thing or another, but some words come loaded with subtext. Choose the right word in the right context and it can carry enormous unspoken meaning. A picture may paint a thousand words, but a well-chosen word can paint a picture. When our new prime minister accused certain politicians of “collaborating with the EU”, his supporters easily brushed it off as a synonym for “working alongside” or “dealing with”. Love him or hate him, BoJo is

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undoubtedly a supremely intelligent man, one who has studied history and written books on his childhood hero Sir Winston Churchill, so whilst stopping short of using the word “collaborator” - a word with particular resonance in France - he knew exactly what he was saying, and how some would inevitably choose to interpret his use of the word “collaborating”. I am convinced of this because of another word I heard him use at the G7 Summit while discussing a possible future trade deal with Trump. When the US president spoke of removing the anchor from around the ankle of Britain, Johnson shot back with “Talking of the anchor Donald, we want cabotage. How about that?” The word comes from the French caboter which means “to travel along the coast” and came to refer to the right of one country to trade between two ports within another country. It would eventually expand to include trade by land and air. Sometimes one word can say so much more than an entire paragraph and plucking out this perfectly descriptive word on the hoof shows what a mastery of language the new prime minister has... and in my opinion condemns him when he chooses to deliberately invoke words such as ‘collaborate’, with all the history that particular word brings to

Tel: 06 04 17 80 93 General: editor@thebugle.eu the debate. Of course, the subtleties and nuance of language only work when both parties understand each other. If you read the transcript, President Trump bookended Johnson’s use of cabotage with two “sentences” of his own: “At some point, they won’t have the obstacle of - they won’t have the anchor around their ankle, because that’s what they had. So, we’re going to have some very good trade talks and big numbers”, to which Johnson responded with his cabotage request, before Trump concluded, “Many things - many things we’re talking about.” Allow me to go out on a limb and suggest that the nuance was lost on the leader of the free world. I also read several articles this month about the use of English words in French advertising and the fight to eradicate the practice. Personally I don’t have a problem with that, and I always enjoyed “French” adverts on British TV... “Du vin, du pain, du Boursin” anyone?! I might feel differently if mine was considered the language under threat, but I do believe they evolve and rather than try to stick with some version of a language from decades or centuries ago, people should embrace new words, wherever they come from. You can never have too many ways to express yourself. English has come a long way since Chaucer and not for the worse!

Words and language also say so much about you. Whether you have your dinner at lunchtime or in the evening... whether tea is a cuppa or a meal... whether your friend is being grumpy or mardy... the choice of word says a lot about you and can instantly connect you with other people. Unfortunately, my French is not good enough to pick up these linguistic subtleties, but I was reminded of one I do understand by a Facebook post I saw recently (see above): how in half of France it’s a pain au chocolat, the other half a chocolatine... and never the twain shall meet! Until next month! Steve Martindale, Editor

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uch has been made of the damage inflicted on the country’s network of speed cameras in the wake of the gilets jaunes protests. Following the civil unrest of the last year, at one point it was estimated that as many as 80% of all speed cameras were damaged or completely destroyed and the Dordogne was no exception. Authorities recorded a total of 125 instances of vandalism in the department in 2018, far in excess of previous records. As part of the fightback, the government unveiled its next generation radar tourelle - or “tower radar” - and these are now being deployed across the department, replacing some of those that are out of service. The cameras, perched on tall towers, measure 4 metres in total and are capable of not only measuring speed but also tracking a variety of other misdemeanours, such as phoning while driving, sudden swerving, not wearing a seatbelt, or overtaking on the right, all of which are illegal in France. The 36 megapixel camera - which does not omit a visible flash - can simultaneously monitor 32 cars, travelling at different maximum speeds, across up to eight lanes and over a 200 metre stretch of road. Furthermore, in a tactic that will be familiar to British drivers, for every active radar, there will be four nearby decoy towers that will share the high-tech equipment and which can switch places without drivers realising. The radars were billed by the government as “indestructible”, but as the first in the Dordogne were being installed - on the RN 21 near Bergerac Airport and the RD 710 at Saint-Pierre - others erected elsewhere in France had already been destroyed. In the Aude department, eight out of the fourteen tower radars installed thus far have been damaged or burnt down, with similar stories being repeated across the country. In Savoie, six new radars were due to be installed, but one was burned out during its first night and two more were damaged before they could be brought online. There was much speculation online locally when the new tower radar on the RN 21 disappeared shortly after instal-

Indestructible radars in the Dordogne

lation. Despite numerous rumours that it had been stolen, local officials later confirmed it had merely been temporarily removed “for technical reasons”. Elsewhere, there were continued attacks on the department’s existing radar network, with a large number still out of action, including three in the Périgueux area alone. Local police have said that they are operating increased patrols of the speed cameras, given the levels of vandalism, and in August one man was caught in the process of spray-painting the radar on the N 221 at Saint-Laurent-sur-Manoire. The angry motorist was released after admitting to the crime and will be sentenced at Périgueux at a later date. Authorities have warned that anyone caught vandalising a speed camera faces a €15,000 fine, with much tougher penalties for those who set fire to them or destroy them entirely. The department currently has 23 fixed radars, with plans to add to this number in the near future. At time of going to print, the two new radars tourelles installed in the Dordogne are in operation... that is assuming they are not empty decoy towers! ■

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LOCAL NEWS ♦ 3

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

France’s first organic canteen

s the department’s children head back to school in September for La Rentrèe, the 350 students at the Pierre-Fanlac collège in Belvès can expect to eat well at lunchtime. Without a turkey twizzler in sight, the school has become the first in the country to offer 100% organic meals at its canteen. “We’ve been working on this for about a year,” explained the school’s head, Jérôme Péméja. “The school’s management team had to work closely with the head chef, who himself needed to source the necessary organic produce.” One of the biggest factors in the success of the project has been the backing of the canteen’s staff, and fortunately for the head teacher: “We have people who like to work with properly produced foods”. As is often the case, the best way to eat organically is to eat locally. “The vegetables come from the ferme de Cagnolle at SaintAmand-de-Belvès and the meat is also local. It’s a bit trickier for other store cupboard ingredients, but we are trying, wherever possible, to buy locally and seasonally. We have a cold storage unit for rapid freezing... there’s no question that we’ll be buying tomatoes in December!” The college’s canteen is the first in France to be certified as fully organic, a success that has been followed by a film crew for the TV programme “La Révolution des cantines”, due to be broadcast in 2020. ■

4 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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Water tankers deployed as drought reaches critical levels

ith the weather becoming increasingly unpredictable, a combination of factors has led to many of the country's reservoirs reaching dangerously low levels and water restrictions are in place across much of the country. The situation is particularly bad in the parts of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine and in late August reached critical levels in the Corrèze when the local network ran dry and drinking water had to be brought in by tanker. Despite earlier warnings from Véolia, the company which manages this water network, and the eventual arrival of the water trucks, public water usage did not initially appear to be dropping and the volume of water being brought in had to be ramped up. Without the state intervention, household taps in the areas concerned would soon have run dry. With the situation looking

likely to get worse before it gets any better, local mairies across the region have been calling on residents to take sensible steps to reduce their water usage. The areas affected in the recent crisis were the communes of Sarroux-Saint-Julien, Saint-Bonnet-près-Bort, Saint-Victour, Margerides, Monestier-PortDieu, Thalamy and Veyrières, as well as the area of Les Aubazines near Bort-les-Orgues.

At the time of writing, there were a total of 193 water restriction orders are in place across France, with much of the region on red alert. Under these conditions, all non-essential water usage is banned, including for agricultural purposes. ■ For more information see the government's Propluvia site: http://propluvia.developpementdurable.gouv.fr

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School timetable

lanning holidays can be tricky if you have children, with many tourist destinations ramping the prices out of term time and roads becoming jammed. To combat this, France has traditionally staggered a number of its school holidays, with each of the three defined “zones” taking holidays lasting 2 weeks in periods that overlap to create one “school holiday” of four weeks. This staggering of the school holidays spreads the load that is placed on the country's transport system and tourist industries and reduces the spike in holiday and travel prices often seen in the UK during, for example, the Easter holidays. Summer, October half-term and Christmas holidays in France are taken at the same time across the whole country. In the past, many neighbouring departments found their schools on holiday at different times, but since the number of regions was reduced to 13, this has been less of a problem and today, all schools across the expanded NouvelleAquitaine region are off at the same time. For those planning to get away with the kids, or others looking to book cheaper flights outside the busier school holidays, take note of the following dates:

La Rentrée: Mon 2nd Sep 2019 Vacances de Toussaint: Sat 19th Oct 2019 to Sun 3rd Nov 2019 Vacances de Noël: Sat 21st Dec 2019 to Sun 5th Jan 2020 Vacances d'hiver: Sat 22nd Feb 2020 to Sun 8th Mar 2020 Vacances de printemps: Sat 18th Apr 2020 to Sun 3rd May 2020 Grandes vacances: From Sat 4th Jul 2020

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 5

French daredevil crosses Channel

t the second attempt, French inventor and daredevil, Franky Zapata, has succeeded in becoming the first person to cross the Channel on a jet-powered hoverboard. His first effort ended in failure in late July when he lost his balance and fell into the water while attempting to land on a refuelling boat half way across the 34-kilometre stretch. “We made a machine three years ago... and now we've crossed the Channel, it's crazy,” he told reporters, before breaking into tears. “I’m feeling happy, it’s just an amazing moment in my life. Whether this is a historic event or not, I'm not the one to decide that, time will tell.” The “Flyboard” is manoeuvred by five turbines, attached to the pilot's feet and powered by a kerosene backpack. It can reach speeds of up to 180 km/h but is not easy to control in its current design, requiring significant skill and core strength. “It’s an isometric exercise for the thighs, so it burns – it’s quite hard. But you recover quickly, it’s not like riding a bicycle,” the former jet-ski champion explained, adding that the strong winds in the Channel had posed one of the biggest challenges. “The body resists the wind, and because the board is attached to my feet, all my body has to resist to the wind. I tried to enjoy it and not think about the pain.” Another concern for the pilot was the quick turnaround from the failed first attempt, which required the hoverboard to be completely rebuilt. “Normally we test the machines for several weeks before big events. Here, it’s a little bit worrying to be using a machine that has just been rebuilt,” he said ahead of his record bid. After failing to land on the refuelling boat during his first crossChannel attempt, this time a bigger boat was used and the team were also able to station the vessel in French territorial waters, a request that had been denied first time around. Zapata hit the national headlines earlier this year at the annual Bastille Day military parade when he hovered noisily above the

Crackdown on nuisance calls >> continued from pg 1

stunned crowd, which included President Emmanuel Macron. His device has captured the attention of the French military, which in December last year awarded a €1.3 million development grant to his company, Z-AIR. Defence Minister Florence Parly believes that it might eventually serve a variety of purposes, “for example as a flying logistical platform or, indeed, as an assault platform.” Despite losing two fingers when his hand was sucked into the turbine of the original prototype on its maiden flight, Zapata has remained unwavering in his devotion to the project: “I can't help it, the first time I saw it fly I said: This is going to be my life's work!” The inventor admits that his Flyboard isn’t quite yet ready for military use due to the noise it makes and the hours required to learn to fly it, but remains ambitious in his goals. Zapata eventually hopes to use his hoverboard to fly at much higher altitudes, something that would require him to carry a parachute, guidance equipment and possibly an oxygen tank. He is also developing an idea for a flying car. ■

cold callers are often targeting households at the most inconvenient time of day, such as during mealtimes.” The tougher rules being brought in will principally target companies that mask or alter their number to trick people into thinking the call is a local one, or from within the country. From 1st August it is now illegal to use a French landline number - that is one beginning with 01, 02, 03, 04, 05 or 09 - for any call originating from abroad. There is also now an added responsibility on the telecoms operators themselves to track, filter and block such calls. In the future, any company using a French landline number must be registered and based in the country and will continue to be bound to the existing rules related to the Bloctel system, which has also been beefed up: the fine for non-compliance has been raised from €75,000 to €375,000. Furthermore, “robo-diallers” - which play automated messages when you answer the phone - can no longer use a French mobile number to make the call, i.e. those beginning with 06 or 07. For more information on the government-run run Bloctel system, or to register your number, visit www.bloctel.gouv.fr ■

6 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 7

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Couple face jail for sand theft

pair of French tourists are facing up to six years in jail after being stopped by border guards with 40kg of sand from one of Sardinia’s famous beaches. The couple claimed that they wanted to take the sand home as a “souvenir” and did not realise they had committed an offence. The Mediterranean island of Sardinia is rightly famed for its pristine beaches, but the growing trend for tourists to bring part of those beaches back home with them has led authorities to clamp down in recent years. The island's famed white sand is considered a public good and it is strictly forbidden to remove it from the island many tonnes of sand are confiscated from tourists each year at the country's border posts. Border police found the white sand, taken from Chia beach in the south of the Italian island, stashed into 14 large plastic drinking bottles in the boot of the car as the tourists prepared to leave the island on a ferry bound for France. The couple now face a jail term of between one and six years for the crime of theft with the aggravating factor of stealing a public asset. Much of the sand taken from the island ends up on online auction sites and, under

a strengthened 2017 law, the trade in the island's sand, pebbles and shells is illegal, punishable with fines of up to €3,000. “Sandy beaches are one of the main attractions of Sardinia,” explained Pierluigi Cocco, a resident of the Sardinian capital, Cagliari, and an environmental scientist. “There are two threats: one is due to erosion, which is partly natural and partly induced by the increasing sea level due to climate change; the second is sand stealing by tourists. Only a fraction of the tourists visiting Sardinia spend their time digging up to 40kg of sand each. But if

you multiply half that amount times 5% of the one million tourists per year, in a few years that would contribute significantly to the reduction of beaches - the main reason why tourists are attracted by the island of Sardinia.” Signposts across the island clearly warn it is forbidden to take sand and in recent years vigilantes have begun patrolling the beaches on the hunt for offenders. In 1994, Sardinia banned access to the famous pink beach on Budelli Island, amid fears that its sand was disappearing due to tourists taking it home. ■

Fine warning for lane hoggers

t is one of the irritating driving habits that turn many people red with rage: middle lane malingerers! With the summer exodus in full swing, police in France have released a reminder that failure to use the correct lane on the motorway can in fact land you with a fine of up to €150. Although many believe that the inside lane of a motorway is for trucks and slow vehicles, this is not the case. In fact, you should always be in the right-hand lane unless you are using one of the other lanes to overtake, and on a three-lane motorway, drivers must maintain a speed of at least 80 kph. Article R412-9 of the French highway code states that “in normal conditions, every driver must maintain his/her vehicle near the right edge of the road”. “Certain bad habits are difficult to give up, such as driving

in the middle lane of the motorway. Driving in the middle or left lanes when not overtaking is forbidden,” the Gendarmerie wrote on its Facebook page, although the officers tried to keep their advice light-hearted, adding with a smiley face emoji: “We are aware that this post will annoy some people, so don't get angry in the comments section below and let's keep it constructive!” Failure to obey this rule could land you with a €35 fine, reduced to €22 if paid online immediately and rising to €150 for late payment. Another often ignored offence for motorway drivers is changing lanes without signalling. Not only will this also land you with a €35 fine, but will also cost you 3 points off your licence. ■

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ollowing July's announcement that France will begin imposing a digital tax on the giant online retailers, Amazon has become the first company to reveal that it will be passing this extra cost onto any business using its platform. The retailer announced that, from 1st October, it would be adding 3% to the commission it charges businesses that use its Marketplace platform in France. “As we operate in the very competitive and low-margin retail sector, and invest massively in creating new tools and services for our clients and vendor partners, we cannot withstand an additional tax,” the company said in a statement. “This could put smaller French firms at a competitive disadvantage to their peers in other countries, and like many others, we have alerted the authorities.” In a statement, the country's economy ministry was quick to divert any negative fallout onto the shoulders of Amazon, insisting that the tax “was above all a question of fiscal justice”. “Amazon has chosen to pass on the costs of this tax to the small and medium-sized enterprises that use its services. There is nothing obliging them to do so. This principle isn’t enshrined anywhere in the law creating the tax.” Passed by the National Assembly in July, the so-called GAFA tax - an acronym for Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon - will see a 3% levy imposed on the total annual revenues of the largest technology firms, rather than their local profits. Applied retroactively from 1st January this year, it will be imposed on companies with more than €750 million in annual worldwide revenues, at least €25 million of which are generated in France. Although many countries have mooted the idea of a digital tax - the UK is due to introduce a similar tax in 2020 - France was the first to act. The biggest online retailers typically route their EU profits to member states with low corporate taxes, such as Ireland or Luxembourg, allowing them to pay as little as 8% or 9% in corporation tax; the average across the bloc for traditional businesses is around 23%. It is believed that the tax will generate as much as €500 million annually for the government. ■

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Taux d’honoraires 10,800€ (9%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

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Ref: 8160-BGC €335,475 HAI

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Property on the Dordogne river comprising main house plus guest house and a small house to renovate. Barn, garage, workshop and a pool. 15 minutes from Bergerac on 1.5 hectares of land. DPE: G

To renovate, 2km from centre of Lalinde. 2 apartments totaling 125m² with separate access. 62m² attic to be renovated. On 10,613 m² of land, 1,170 m² of which has planning permission. DPE: 0

Old stone farmhouse 10 minutes from Lalinde. Independent 72m² apartment with a living room/kitchen, double bedroom and bathroom. Main house: 100m², 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms. Pool & Garden. DPE: 0

Taux d’honoraires 20 800€ (6.5%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 20 475€ (6.5%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 10 800€ (9%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 14 400€ (8%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Ref: 8115-BGC €215,000 HAI

Ref: 7348-BGC €595,000 HAI

Ref: 7992-LA €304,950 HAI

Ref: 8045-LA €236,500 HAI

Stone house dating from 1796 with outbuildings on 1,685m2 of garden, Close to all amenities and only 10 minutes from Bergerac. DPE: E

16th century country house with an attached cottage and swimming pool on an enclosed land of 3.75 acres. Summer kitchen and terrasse. Minutes from the village and just 20 minutes from Bergerac. DPE: D

Between Bergerac and Lalinde, 145 m² perigordine style property: lounge, ﬁtted kitchen, 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and swimming pool, with garden 2,000 m² tastefully renovated, elevated position. DPE: D

2 km from centre of Lalinde. Bungalow, with living room, open plan ﬁtted kitchen, 4 bedrooms, bathroom/shower,wc. Garage/ carport. Established garden of 2,997 m² with swimming pool. DPE: 0

Taux d’honoraires 15 000€ (7.5%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

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Taux d’honoraires 19 950€ (7%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 9

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prominent politician has hit back at claims he changed the angle in a photograph to make his ascent of an icy summit in the Alps seem more perilous. Eric Woerth, a senior right-of-centre MP, hit the headlines in 2010 when he was forced to resign from the Sarkozy government in the wake of a scandal over campaign financing, but his latest battle with investigative journalists is far more light-hearted. Tweeting a picture of himself seemingly clinging perilously to a sheer ice wall, the online community were quick to notice the zip of his jacket apparently defying gravity, a pile of ropes that that seem to be glued to the snow, and most astonishingly, two people in the background who appear to be walking vertically up the glacier! Woerth was quick to hit back, claiming that the image had not been doctored in any way, although he did join in on the fun somewhat and acknowledged “the avalanche (a dangerous phenomenon in a mountain setting) of comments” his tweet had generated. Within no time the internet was awash with images of the politician as part of the moon landing, climbing mount Mordor and scaling the famous Wall in Game of Thrones. ■

s the world's most powerful leaders met in Biarritz in August for the G7 Summit, local authorities unveiled a collection of high-tech public benches with embedded solar panels and mobile charging points. With Macron, Johnson and Trump busy discussing the challenges surrounding climate change, the timing seemed perfect from a public relations point of view, but the news was met with mockery online when the public was asked not to sit on them while the sun was out! Proudly unveiling the benches on Twitter, the deputy mayor of the city on the Atlantic coast announced: “Biarritz has received its first ever solar panel benches. Come and see them for yourselves, but don't sit on them too much if it's sunny so that they can fully charge.” The tweet was quickly followed by a series of replies poking fun at the idea. “All this needs now is a big electric sign powered by the bench, that says ‘no sitting’,” quipped one member of the Twitterati. “Perfect for sitting around at night,” joked another. “It reminds me of the solar-powered torch that only works during the day!” Elsewhere, there were complaints about the assumed cost and the potential waste of public money, but it was here that those quick to attack the scheme became unstuck. The benches, as well as a number of solar towers powering public charging stations elsewhere in the city, were

in fact installed for free by Engie, the company that manufactures them. “This was done for free by Engie,” confirmed the local official. “France wants to reduce the environmental impact of this summit as much as possible by using renewable energy. We are making the most of hosting the G7 Summit to showcase this kind of innovation and it has cost us absolutely nothing.” Indeed, such benches have already become a popular fixture in another French seaside city, Cannes, and they form part of a plan by Biarritz authorities to provide more than 80% of the city's electricity needs through solar power within three years. Just north of the Spanish border, the city is blessed with abundant sunshine and the ambitious goal will apparently be achieved by numerous micro-projects such as the benches, together with larger plans to cover the roofs of 14 sites with solar panels, such as schools, car parks and other large buildings. ■

Cannabis sausages a hit

s there anything more relaxing than a good barbecue on a hot summer's day? The answer could be 'yes' if your host is serving up cannabis sausages, which have become the talk of the town in Marseille. Known as “Ouidi”, the sausages are the creation of local butcher Luca Morand and despite common misconceptions, they are not actually illegal in France. The chipolatas contain cannabidiol, often referred to as CBD, which is an extract of the flower of the cannabis plant and the active ingredient currently used in medicinal marijuana treatments. Following recent law changes, it is perfectly legal to buy CBD, provided it contains less than 0.2 per cent of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and is not smoked directly. Traditionally smoked marijuana contains high levels of THC, a psychoactive ingredient which remains

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Question marks over Solar panel benches politician's mountain climbing prowess

illegal in France. The 22-year-old butcher had the idea for his cannabis sausages several years ago, before he even owned his own business, and his confidence appears to be well placed; he has sold 15 kg of the sausages in the first few weeks of sale. “I went to see several suppliers to see their prices, as I would do for any onion sausage. It's just that this time the 'onion' is really expensive, €13 a gram! I have quite a varied clientele from all walks of life. From the beginning, younger people were well aware what the sausages were, but I had to explain a few things to some of my older customers!” The butcher also has the full backing of his mother, Karin, who is a big fan of the chipolatas, which are unique in France and possibly the world: “Let's just say I slept very well after trying one!” ■

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NATIONAL NEWS ♦ 11

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Sunday supermarket trial

French supermarket has extended its opening hours until 9 pm on Sundays as part of a new trial, but all did not go smoothly on the first weekend. The 5,000 m² Casino Géant hypermarket in the town of Angers, western France, usually employs 115 staff, but no one was on the checkouts on the recent Sunday afternoon in August. Instead, after the usual closing time of 1 pm, the store remained open to self-service customers paying by card. Casino has already tested smaller staff-free supermarkets in major cities like Marseille and Lyon, and there are a growing number of convenience stores in Paris with automated checkouts. These stores rely on contracted security guards during late-night opening hours, or on Sunday afternoons, when staff working hours are restricted under labour laws. It is typically not possible to buy alcohol or knives, due to the lack of cashiers to perform age checks. The recent Sunday trial is believed to be the first for a hypermarket, however, and perhaps predictably, it attracted angry protests. “People don’t need an extra half day of shopping,” argued Jean Pastor, union representative of the Casino group in Angers. “There are already sufficient opening hours as it is.” The CGT workers’ union denounced the decision as “social regression”. “This is job-destroying. We do not see the point, and we condemn it. This is a social step backwards,” said Patrice Auvinet from the CGT union. “Checkout positions represent thousands of jobs in France. Little by little, we are moving towards a time in which the client does most of the work of an employee.”

Casino has maintained that the change received no opposition from its existing workers, and that the Sunday supervisors will be from an external company, so employees’ current hours and pay will not be affected: “Our staff will continue to work until 1 pm on Sundays, so we are operating well within our legal requirements.” Around midday, hundreds of union members, supported by a number of gilets jaunes protesters, gathered both inside and outside the store and minutes after 1 pm, error messages were appearing on the self-service checkouts. Many shoppers, frustrated by the technical issues and the vocal protesters, abandoned their shopping and headed home. After some heated confrontations, the situation calmed down by mid afternoon and a steady stream of shoppers were taking advantage of the extended opening hours. If successful, Casino plans to extend opening hours at 500 of its largest stores over the coming years. ■

Cross-border Irish driving fines fractions were committed by Irish-registered vehicles and a further 12,000 by Swedish-registered ones.” The news comes hot on the heals of evidence that authorities are successfully chasing increasing numbers of British drivers for offences in France (see July's edition of The Bugle), some of which have been significantly backdated. Although Britain signed up to the scheme in 2017, there were initially relatively few fines handed out cross-border. Some have suggested that with so many of the country's speed cameras out of action following the gilets jaunes protests, authorities are instead using resources to go back through previous data to enforce fines on foreign drivers. The full list of countries with which France now has cross-border traffic violation agreements is: Belgium, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Poland, UK, Romania, Italy, Luxembourg, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Portugal, Switzerland, Ireland, and Sweden. ■

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Anger over MPs' bullfighting trip There was outrage from animal rights activists in August when two government ministers were pictured attending a bullfight at Bayonne, south-west France. There was particular anger directed at Agriculture Minister Didier Guillaume, whose department is responsibility for animal welfare. Animal rights group the Bardot Foundation, set up by French actress Brigitte Bardot, said there were “no limits to the degeneracy” of the ministers, adding that the spectacle was “barbaric”. La corrida - bullfighting - is still permitted in areas of France where it has a long-established tradition, mostly in the south-west around towns such as Nîmes and Béziers where the sport still enjoys a strong following. There was celebration among opponents in 2015 when the practice was removed from the national cultural heritage list, although events do still take place regularly. ■

Provence sends rosé to Trump

When the government announced in July that it was to introduce a digital tax on the big online retailers – the socalled GAFA tax – President Trump hit back in a typically vocal Twitter tirade, denouncing President Macron’s “foolishness” and threatening to introduce tariffs on French wine, proclaiming: “I’ve always said American wine is better than French wine!” Although the threat made some wine producers slightly nervous, the President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region saw it as an opportunity to change President Trump’s mind. Declaring his part of France the number one region worldwide for rosé, the official sent two cases of Provence wine to leader of the US, declaring: “President Trump, don’t tax our rosé, drink it!” As a well-publicised teetotaller, it is not known if the charm offensive will help to diffuse the current diplomatic spat. ■

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uropean drivers travelling abroad are having to take increasing notice of local road laws as more and more countries are sharing information on traffic violations and enforcing fines cross-border. At the end of June this year, two more countries - Ireland and Sweden - were added to the list of countries that France has agreements with, bringing the total to 20. According to the road safety agency, la Sécurité Routière: “It is now possible to prosecute Irish and Swedish nationals who commit road infractions that are picked up by cameras in France. In return, French citizens who commit road infractions picked up by cameras on Irish and Swedish roads, can be prosecuted by the authorities of those countries.” “Since speed cameras were introduced in France, approximately 21% of all road infractions - and 50% of those committed in summer - involve foreign-registered vehicles, despite these representing less than 6% of total traffic. In the twelve months to January 2019, more than 15,000 in-

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12 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ SEPTEMBER 2019

Is your financial planning in shape for today? - Blevins Franks

With today’s Brexit uncertainty, low interest rates and global tax transparency, it can be hard to protect and grow your wealth, but regular financial reviews can help you make the most of opportunities.

hen was the last time you gave your finances a health check? If it was a while ago or you cannot remember, you will almost certainly benefit from reviewing your situation. Not only do your circumstances and goals generally evolve over time, but the rules and available options can change too. If you don’t keep up, you could find you are paying more taxes than you need to or missing out on new opportunities that offer significant advantages. You will benefit most from a holistic review of your financial situation – looking at how your savings, investments, other assets, tax planning, pensions and estate planning are structured and how they can best work together. Protecting your wealth It is only natural to want to preserve your wealth and see it grow over time. This is the key to enjoying the lifestyle you want while also providing lasting financial security for your family and future generations. However, today’s economic and political climate presents many challenges to capital

protection and growth. The prolonged period of low interest rates, for example, has made it harder to achieve decent returns on bank deposits and lower-risk investments, while creeping inflation further erodes the value of capital and income. This is also a time of heightened global tax scrutiny, with frequent changes to tax and pensions legislation. And, of course, Brexit is playing its part in stoking economic uncertainty and fluctuations in the value of sterling. At times like this, careful cross-border planning plays a particularly important role in securing your financial security over the long term. You need to weigh up which issues affect you most and establish what you can do to protect against them. DIY vs expert advice

While some choose a DIY approach to financial planning, most people who have built up or inherited wealth will benefit from an independent and expert review of their finances. After all, it is difficult to take a step back and look at your broad financial situation from a truly objective point of view, or fully understand the complex tax implications. As the goalposts often change, it is quite easy to get DIY tax planning wrong and potentially invite an unexpected tax bill or even a tax investigation. For the best results, talk to a financial adviser with cross-border experience. They should take time and use relevant tools to

thoroughly understand your unique situation, needs and objectives to establish tax-efficient solutions for you and your heirs. Investment planning

Investment is usually the area where people are most concerned about losing money. While all investments – even bank accounts – carry risk, a suitably diversified portfolio can help manage risk within your comfort level. It is essential to establish a clear and objective view of your risk tolerance to determine the investment approach that will best suit you. An adviser is best placed to do this objectively using psychometric testing, for example, combined with their knowledge of your family’s situation in France and your financial goals. Understanding local taxation If you live here, all elements of your financial planning – from investments to estate planning – need to be set up for France, not for the UK. Ideally, your adviser should be based in the France and have first-hand experience of the issues facing expatriates here, financial and otherwise. Crucially, they should also have in-depth understanding of crossborder tax planning, including the French tax regime and how it interacts with UK rules. A local adviser can also react quickly and help you make adjustments if your personal circumstances change, or if there are Brexit

developments or tax reforms that may affect you – including new opportunities. If you decide to relocate again or return to the UK at any point, they can help you navigate the tax regimes and residency rules of both countries. Protection through regulation Make sure you only deal with an adviser that has suitable, higher-level professional qualifications. The advisory firm should be authorised by a reputable regulatory body. Remember: if you are living France, your finances should be set up for your life here, not for your old life in the UK. The sooner you set up a strategic, long-term vision to protect your wealth, the sooner you can relax into a prosperous future in France. ■ All advice received from Blevins Franks is personalised and provided in writing. This article, however, should not be construed as providing any personalised taxation or investment advice. Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at: www.blevinsfranks.com Tel: 05 53 63 49 19 Email: bergerac@blevinsfranks.com

Grapes - good for so much more than wine

ummer’s winding down. We’re coming to the end of the more or less lazy time of year, poised once more at the start of the demanding working season that begins with the vendange. Grapes are coming into their own. Hanging in buxom bunches of purple and green, they weigh down vines on arbours and over garden fences as much as they do along the well-tended lines of the region’s vineyards. Some of these suffered atrociously in early summer from entirely unexpected attacks by extreme weather, grapes crushed under a sudden burst of hail in some vineyards, in others by localised and ferocious windstorms that had no effect on vines under a kilometre away, and which blew themselves out almost as soon as they had begun. Up to 90 per cent of grapes were lost in June on several estates in the wider south-west region if France. But winemakers tend to be a philosophical set of people. With or without climate change, putting your faith in nature and hoping it will be on your side when setting out to make wine is one of life's great perils. Wine-making has been done for centuries. The oldest known winery goes all the way back to 4,000 BC, in Armenia, while as many as 8,000 years ago, there was an established viticulture culture in neighbouring Georgia. Grapes are full of all kinds of health-giving multisyllabic properties in unpronounceable combinations. Most recently popular was resveratrol which some touted as being a life extender, though there isn’t any strong scientific evidence yet to back that claim. Any excuse for a glass. The so-called ‘French paradox’ - that phenomenon of red meat eating, red wine drinking that seems to Managing Editor: Steve Martindale Editor-in-Chief: Steve Martindale Registered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Monthly circulation: 14,000 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.

by Julia Watson

protect the French from the heart-related diseases bringing down other cultures - probably has less to do with the protective qualities of wine than the sensible manner in which the French eat, that is to say, slowly, at table among friends and family, not on the run or in the car, with better balanced plates of considered components, served in much smaller portions than, say, in America. Grapes are enormously versatile. They aren’t just for crushing for barrel fermentation or draping by the bunch into the fruit bowl. From them is produced not only jam and jellies and juice, but also vinegar and grapeseed oil. And don’t forget raisins. Though sweet, grapes have a valuable place in savoury recipes. Their acidity can point up and counterbalance rich dishes cooked in butter or cream. Throw a handful into a gratin of Brussels sprouts in a Gruyère cheese sauce then brown it under the grill. Or tone down a sautéed shrimp and rice dish that has been highly and deliciously spiced with a mix of toasted-and-ground cumin seed, fennel seed and Piment d’Espelette. You can roast red grapes and set them on slices of toasted baguette slathered in Bleu d’Auvergne to eat with your evening apéritif in the autumn sunshine. And don’t forget how well they go in a chilled, mayonnaise-dressed, salad of chunks of turkey or chicken breast on endive and watercress leaves under a scattering of toasted almonds. Here is a dish, easy to put together, that makes an impressive and delicious course at both a formal dinner and a relaxed family supper, depending on the elegant platter or rustic bowl you present it in. ■ Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK. Directeur: Steve Martindale Rédacteur-en-chef: Steve Martindale Siège: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois SIRET: 514 989 748 00017 Imprimé par: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac Tirage mensuel: 14,000 copies Tous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite. Dépôt légal à parution.

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Wine-braised chicken with roasted grapes Ingredients (serves 4):

4 medium onions, peeled 600g potatoes, peeled 2 large heads of fennel 1.5kg free-range chicken, jointed into 8 pieces Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste 3 tablespoons olive oil ½ bunch fresh rosemary, leaves roughly chopped 300ml white wine 200ml chicken stock 1 head of garlic, cut through the middle into 2 1 lemon, scrubbed and thinly sliced 2 handfuls red grapes, preferably seedless Leaves from a few sprigs of fresh flat-leaf parsley Preheat oven to 190C. Cut onions into wedges, roughly chop potatoes. Shave fennel bulbs with a potato peeler then cut into six pieces, keeping layers attached to base. Season chicken. Heat oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Working in batches, add chicken and fry until gold all over then remove to a plate. Add more oil if needed. Reduce heat to medium-low, add onions and fennel and sauté gently until soft but not coloured, about 15 minutes. Return chicken to pan, add rosemary, raise heat to medium-high and leave chicken to colour a few minutes.

Pour in wine and bring to boil, then lower heat and reduce by half. Add stock and potatoes. Insert garlic halves between chicken pieces and bring pan gently back to boil. Transfer all to a roasting tray, slip lemon slices between chicken pieces and vegetables. Roast for 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender and chicken cooked through. After 10 minutes, put the grapes in a small roasting dish, drizzle with a little oil and roast in the oven for the last 20 minutes or until caramelised. Fold grapes into the chicken. Pick off and roughly chop parsley leaves, scatter over and serve.

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

Phylloxera: Why all French wine might really be American

rance is rightly famous for its wine industry and produces some of the most sought-after vintages in the world. Wine has formed an important part of this country’s culture and economy for centuries, but 150 years ago a tiny American aphid brought the industry to its knees and very nearly signalled the end of French wine. Who ‘invented’ wine is a topic of heated debate, with a number of countries laying claim. As early as 7,000 BC, ancient tribes from the Yellow River Valley of China were drinking a fermented rice/honey/fruit wine which they stored in earthenware jars, but this would not be recognisable as wine as we know it today. Between 6,000 and 5,000 BC, there is increasing evidence of wine production in Georgia, then Armenia and Iran. As their empire grew, it is the Phoenicians who are credited with the westward spread of vineyards through the city states along the southern coast of the Mediterranean. Two recently discovered Phoenician shipwrecks from 750 BC were found to contain a cargo of wine that was still intact. It was then the Romans who brought wine to Western Europe as their empire spread north, planting vineyards near garrison towns so the drink could be produced locally rather than shipped over long distances. The French climate and terroir proved to be perfect for vineyards and in medieval France, the Roman Catholic Church supported wine production because the clergy required it for the Mass and monks took over the role, ageing it in caves; an industry had been born. By the early 19th century, France had garnered a reputation as one of the world’s greatest producers of wine. In much the same way as their Roman forebears, European colonialists brought their vines with them when they crossed the Atlantic to settle in the Americas. They took their prized vitis vinifera vines, a European species of wine grape, which was first planted in North America by French settlers in the 1600s. Unfortunately, vitis vinifera was not a happy traveller and most vines succumbed to local pests and pathogens. Undeterred, the early

settlers began experimenting with local grape species, such as vitis riparia and vitis rotundifolia, plants which thrived in their native soil, but produced wines that could not compare to the great wines of Europe. The solution was to graft European vines onto the roots of native American species, ensuring a good-quality wine, while protecting the plants from the unknown diseases in the soil. The wine industries thrived on both sides of the Atlantic until the advent of steam drastically cut the time it took to cross the ocean. This new technology resulted in the rapid establishment of experimental vineyards full of both American and hybrid vines all across France. At the time, very few people gave much thought to the potential dangers of such unregulated trade and it was this oversight that would set off a biological chain reaction that would forever change how grapes would be grown around the world. The first signs of trouble came in 1863 at a small vineyard in the village of Pujaut in the Gard department of southern France. A local Rhône Valley winemaker had imported and planted a number of American vines into his walled garden and the following year nearby vines started to die from a mysterious illness. Along with his American vines, the farmer had also unwittingly brought over a number of tiny passengers. The leaves of the infected vines turned yellow, then brown and the rootstock itself finally succumbed. When dug up, nothing could be detected except a fungal growth in some instances. It was a mystery. In the space of a few short seasons, entire vineyards collapsed, leaving many families struggling to make ends meet. The blight had begun. It would take almost five years for the source of the disease to be found, by which time there had already been widespread damage. The breakthrough was made by a pharmacist named Jules-Émile Planchon, who had joined a commission of politicians and winegrowers to investigate the looming national disaster. Planchon visited a sick vineyard in southern France, near Montpellier where the

team initially dug up several sickly vines, but, apart from their apparent disease, saw nothing that looked amiss. The breakthrough came when a healthy vine was uprooted by chance and inspected, revealing a grotesque spectacle, which Planchon described as follows: “Loupes were trained with care upon the roots of uprooted vines: but there was no rot, no trace of cryptogams; but suddenly under the magnifying lens of the instrument appeared an insect, a plant louse of yellowish colour, tight on the wood, sucking the sap. One looked more attentively; it is not one, it is not ten, but hundreds, thousands of the lice that one perceived, all in various stages of development. They are everywhere...!” Although Planchon assumed he had identified the culprit, a number of hurdles remained. Experts cast doubts, questioning why the insects were not on the dead vine roots. Snobbery also played its part: southern France had a reputation for producing lower quality wines and vignerons from the north of France argued that the insects were simply preying on inferior, already weakened vines. The presence of the insects was a symptom of weak vines, not the cause. Fortunately, Planchon persevered and published his findings, suspecting that the pest may in some way be linked to an American species of aphid, Phylloxera. Then, a respected entomologist from Missouri, C.V. Riley, read Planchon’s descriptions in 1870 and realised that these insects were indeed American phylloxera. This was despite the fact that the phylloxera Riley knew preferred to live on the leaves of American grape vines, whereas those found by Planchon had been found only on the roots of European varieties. Further experiments and studies would confirm that the insects were indeed the same, but simply preferred American leaves and European roots. With the enemy identified, the French wine industry set itself on a war footing and the government offered a 300,000 Franc reward for anyone that could invent an insecticide that would kill the invasive aphids. Flooding was found to work, but was prohibitively expensive and many winemak-

ers turned to toxic chemicals such as carbon disulphide, which did kill the phylloxera, but also often killed the vines along with them! With all efforts to eradicate the insects failing, many vineyards surreptitiously planted American phylloxera-resistant vines, just so that they had something to sell each year to keep their businesses afloat. Eventually, by the early 1890s and with the industry on its knees, it was generally accepted that the fight against the insects had failed and that the only long-term solution was to replace the entire country’s vines with phylloxera-resistant varieties. The industry was divided over its future: grafting local species onto American roots; or developing hybrid strains that were resistant to the aphids. Ultimately, both solutions were found and before long, production was back to pre-crisis levels. Hybrid vines would come to be associated with lower quality wines and they were eventually banned in France, a move that was also adopted across the EU in 1979. Today, nearly all the French wine you drink comes from vines grafted onto American roots, but not quite all. For reasons that remain unclear to this day, a few, rare French vineyards somehow escaped phylloxera’s wrath, and wine from these vineyards is highly prized. The biological basis for their evasion is a complete mystery and as the owner of one of these vineyards explained in 2006, “we have no scientific reason that I know of for why we don’t have phylloxera... we might not be able to produce a single bottle next year”. The hard lessons learned by France would form the blueprint for dealing with phylloxera, which gradually made its way round the world, first travelling east through Europe to Croatia and Greece and ultimately reaching as far as Australia and New Zealand. The only major wine producer that has completely evaded phylloxera is Chile, possibly because the country is surrounded by high mountains. Although French winemakers must run the annual gauntlet of late frosts, drought and hail storms, it is the dark cloud of devastating blight that still keeps many awake at night. ■

14 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ SEPTEMBER 2019

Business Directory

Your indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans Auto Services

Building Services Architects/Surveyors

MOTOR PARTS CHARENTE

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

+44 (0)7830 170761

motorptscharente@aol.com www.motorpartscharente.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

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

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

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

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

Architectural DRAWING SERVICE Renovating your French property? New build? Dossiers prepared Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

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

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

Architecte d’intérieur bilingual Interior design: new and renovation projects (residential and commercial space) • Plans, budgeting, work follow-up • 3D visualisation • Consulting before buying/selling a property

Your advert here

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

Email: dar_tacheva@yahoo.com https://designbar2.wixsite.com/designbar

06 04 17 80 93

NEU DplG ARCHITECTURE

Building Services Carpenters/Joiners

Building Services Electricians

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Siret: 790 016 984 00011

Member

Chamber

Architects

P r o v i d i n g A L L architectural services V ery s ma l l to v ery b i g projects welcome P r e-p u rc h a s e a s s i s ta n c e Feel welcome to ask for a non-binding meeting 05 53 56 52 27 a@mon.archi 06 42 86 59 12 (www)mon.archi

Tel: 06 27 36 48 23

Darren Piper

Carpentry &

Building Services Qualified craftsman with over 20 years experience running his own business in the UK - Specializing in:

Electrician & Home Renovations French Registered Electrician

Contact David Hirons:

06 85 85 51 01 dhirons1992@gmail.com

sales24@thebugle.eu

 Decking (all shapes and designs)  Renovations, alterations & conversions  Kitchens  Bathrooms Roofs Based in Sigoulès and covering Eymet, Bergerac, Duras & surroundings FREE QUOTES

06 04 17 80 93

06 89 18 35 89

06 04 17 80 93

Based in Périgord vert 24340 A l l o f F ra n c e c over ed

ADVERTORIAL

e: darren.piper@hotmail.com Siret: 847 651 072 00013

Siret: 810 344 820 00016

sales24@thebugle.eu

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

Preparation is Key – Rosemary Sheppard, International Financial Adviser

e are all well and truly fed up of hearing the ‘B’ word and the majority of expats I now speak to have reached the stage that they just want Brexit over with – whatever the outcome. If only life was so easy. We wonder, constantly, if those behind the doors of No.10 really do understand the upheaval they are causing from a point of view of those still in the UK, those that are unsure where is the best place for them and those of us who have already chosen to live our lives elsewhere. Whatever your opinion on Brexit and whatever the outcome, there are

some things that won’t change on October 31st and these are the things we can take control of and act on now. The UK and France currently have a Double Taxation (DT) agreement in place, which was put in place between the two countries and is not affected by the UK leaving the EU. This means that you should be preparing now and not waiting for the outcome of Brexit to ensure that what you have is still the most tax efficient solution for you as a French Tax resident in respect of your savings, investments and pensions. With the current exchange rate being so unnaturally low and potentially set to get worse it makes it all the more important to ensure that what we do have is not eaten up by the tax-man in either country. Preparation is the key – Did you know that once you leave the UK your ISAs and investments are no longer tax efficient and

GMS Electrical 40 years’ experience

French registered - French insured 10 year décennale insurance French consuel certificates obtained Any job, small or large Full re-wires, extra sockets, industrial/commericial installations... Pool heat pumps, external lighting, emergency lighting, electric gates... Contact Gary Sear:

05 53 08 94 90 06 84 27 79 67

garysear5@hotmail.com

Based near Les Eyzies de Tayac (24620) siren: 808 093 322

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 Building Services General CHARKER DAVID

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

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

worse than that you could be faced with a Capital Gains Tax (CGT) liability if you were to cash these in after leaving the UK? France will, of course, take into account any CGT that has been paid in the UK on realising any savings and investments, but as the UK give CGT allowances this may not leave you with much to offset against your French CGT bill and on top of that, if you do not hold an S1 form then this could also be subject to prélèvements sociaux at 17.2%. This is relevant to property as well as savings and investments. An example of this: In 2000 John put £2,000 into a stocks and shares ISA. This has been allowed to grow tax-free and is now worth £20,000. John moves to France and then decides to cash in his ISA. As far as the UK is concerned there is no CGT to pay, as this has been held in a tax-efficient ISA, but here in France there is no such

ANGLO SCAFFOLDING HIRE UK scaffolding supplied and erected here in France Qualified and fully insured FREE no obligation quotes Call Ian on

06 34 24 64 11 or see

www.lakesidebandb.net

Email: akbrunnstrom@yahoo.co.uk SIRET: 799 067 939 00014

Dan Dan the odd Job Man! Based near Bergerac General Maintenance Shelving Woodwork and Carpentry Dry Walling Small odd Jobs

Tel: 06 78 67 02 91 siret: 831 746 193 00018

KP RENOVATIONS DORDOGNE Tiling, plumbing, decorating, flooring and plasterboarding. Specialising in kitchens and bathrooms. Based in the Sarlat/Belvès areas and covering the Southern Dordogne.

E-mail : dn.charker@sfr.fr

Tel: 05 53 30 28 84 or 06 37 32 19 94

No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

Fully Registered SIRET: 522 951 318 00024 / 512 253 931 00012

Tel: 05 53 09 42 18

recognition and the £18,000 gain is potentially subject to taxation at the fixed rate 30%, which includes prélèvement sociaux at 17.2%, meaning John could potentially lose £5,400. In respect of property there has always been a ‘period of grace’ on selling your main residence in the UK after moving to France, but officially the French view is that the day you move is the day your principle residence changes, in theory making your UK property a second property that could be subject to CGT. If you think that your UK property may take a while to sell the best advise may be to ‘stay-put’ until you have that ‘sale agreed’. This is a very complex area of taxation and as such, I am not an expert in this field and you will need the combined advice of your financial planner, notaire and local tax expert, but thinking ahead BEFORE your move to France could help save you thousands. If you are already

Chantilly Properties

Property maintenance General repairs Kitchen Fitting Service Bathroom Fitting Dry lining/ Plasterboarding specialist

Tel: 05 53 58 07 99 Email: neilallcorn@orange.fr Siret: 792 389 561 00012

here, all is not lost. If you are unsure if your current investments could be costing you more than they need to, getting advice from a financial advice company that has weathered more than one or two financial storms is essential for your financial wellbeing and peace of mind. Blacktower Financial Management has been established for over 32 years and has worked with its clients through the good and the bad times, offering sound financial advice. For an independent, professional and impartial consultation please contact me by email: Rosemary.sheppard@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. Website: www.theblacktowergroup.com The above information was correct at the time of preparation and does not constitute investment advice and you should seek advice from a professional

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

adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Blacktower Financial Management Ltd is authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Blacktower Financial Management (Int) Ltd is licensed in Gibraltar by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) through whom we have a registered branch and passport for financial services in France. License number 00805B.

Building Services Plumbing & Heating

PLUMBING & HEATING ENGINEER - Installation, from kitchen taps to full central heating systems

sales24@thebugle.eu

- Breakdown / Replacement boilers

06 04 17 80 93

- Full analysed testing

Harlequin Building Developments Services est. 2007

All aspects of renovation and

Painters/Decorators

refurbishment, big or small.

Kitchens fitted and tiled Replacement doors and windows Parquet flooring Oak framed porches Plasterboard and Insulation Covering northern Dordogne

05.55.68.67.56 06.06.60.46.97

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

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

Simon Carter

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

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

Tel: 05 87 19 91 50 Mob: 07 81 26 88 65

- Emergency plumbing repairs

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

Building Services Sandblasting Sand and Blast We provide a fully operated

sandblasting

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

www.sandandblast.com

Web: www.sjcmontluc.fr Email: sjcmontluc@yahoo.fr

05 55 76 31 59 / 06 77 40 95 92

siret: 792.130.932.00017

SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

bobby@sandandblast.com steve@sandandblast.com

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

NEDWA - North Eastern Dordogne Women’s Association Come along and meet us on Tuesday 17th September from 10:30 am to 12 noon at our next Coffee Morning at Auberge du Pont, route de Lanouaille, 24390 Cherveix-Cubas. Always be sure of a warm welcome, good company and genuine friendship. For more information and details of upcoming events, see:

www.nedwa.com

NEDWA is a dynamic, multi-national group of around 100 women of all ages... Whether you are retired and feel like meeting some friendly faces, work from home and want to network, or just need to get out and attend some good monthly events, NEDWA fills the gap. Activities include a book club, sewing circle, coffee mornings, walks, lunches, speakers on topics which relate to you and much more.

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ SEPTEMBER 2019

ADVERTORIAL

New Forest Woodburning Centre

e have been selling the finest wood burning stoves for over forty years, and the ground-breaking Clearview Stoves since they first came to market thirty

years ago. Over that time, we have sold hundreds of stoves to discriminating customers in France and all over Europe, and in fact, our stoves have ended up in some of the furthest corners of the world! Clearview Stoves have a hard-earned reputation as the most versatile, clean-burning and user-friendly stoves on the market. They come in a variety of sizes to fit your heating requirements, and can all be fitted with boilers if required. We also carry excellent stoves from Chesney’s, Chilli Penguin, Contura and Barbas, which in our opinion represent the best offerings on the market, including the latest models achieving Ecodesign 2022 standards. Like everyone without a reliable crystal ball, we have no idea what the eventual repercussions of any eventual Brexit will be for cross-Channel trade, but for the moment, it’s business as usual, a situation that is likely to persist at least until the end of a transition period, so please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or orders.

If you would like one of our excellent stoves for your home in France, you have three options: • Buy and collect direct from our showroom in Lymington in the New Forest, conveniently close to many major ferry ports

nickb@woodburners.com

• Buy from us by phone and arrange

www.woodburners.com

collection by Jon Davis, who makes regular collections from the UK and delivers to the door: jon@safehandshaulage.com 05.53.79.26.48

0044 (0)1590 683585 New Forest Woodburning Centre, 280 Ricardo Way Lymingron, SO41 8JU

• For a full collection & fitting service, contact Wayne Fairbrass, HETAS and NACS-qualified: wayne.fairbrass@orange.fr 06.10.79.48.01

ADVERTORIAL

La Conciergerie

Taking the hassle out of your holiday home

ut simply, our goal is to help you to get the most out of your holiday home. We provide a variety of bespoke services, personalised to your needs and adapted to the season. Working from your home, our yearround caretaking service will ensure that your house is running smoothly in your absence, according to your wishes. Whether you own a large property or a small lock-upand-leave, we can take care of every aspect of home maintenance, from preparing the property for your arrival, handling rentals and changeovers through to managing the grounds

and arranging any necessary maintenance. With a network of reliable contacts and 24/7 assistance, we are on hand to take the hassle out of running a holiday home. For those who prefer to visit their holiday home during the warmer months, we also offer a wintering service, ensuring that your property is in perfect condition at the arrival of each summer. If you have a larger project in mind, we can act as intermediaries with local

artisans, pool installers, etc. and we can also help with related paperwork and red tape. Whatever your needs, give us a call to see how we can make owning a second home even more rewarding. ■

La Conciergerie, 24600 Villetoureix T: 06 42 67 94 50 - E: laconciergerie24@orange.fr laconciergerie-housekeeping.com/ www.facebook.com/La-Conciergerie-983664058478416/

ADVERTORIAL

Advertising with The Bugle

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.

T: 06 04 17 80 93 E: sales24@thebugle.eu W: www.thebugle.eu

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Computers, Satellites & Web Design Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais Solve your Internet, Wi-Fi and computer problems

Wi-Fi networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses. Outdoor Wi-Fi 4G Internet. Windows and MacOS.

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

Satellite TV Solutions Sky / Freesat / French TV Installation and Re-alignment Internet Installation & Repairs inc. Satellite Broadband Fast, Friendly Service 60km radius of Ribérac Call Dave on:

06 04 17 72 05

dave@satellitetv.solutions www.satellitetv.solutions siret: 794 461 293 00019

Food & Drink The Dordogne Chippy

Pest Control

Pools & Spas

FRENCH LESSONS

Central France Pest Control

Limousin Spas

Via Skype

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

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you All venues are in the evening between 6pm & 8.30 pm Wednesday: Mauzac, Le Barrage Thursday: Eymet 1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun 2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère Last Friday: Campagnac-lès-Quercy See our website for full details:

05 55 89 15 74 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

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

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Health & Beauty

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93 Handholding Services

Massage: Holistic + Hot Stone + Aromatherapy + Sports Clinical Hypnotherapy: + EMDR + NLP

HELP IS HERE!!

Fears, Phobias, Anxiety, Weight Control, Panic Attacks, Habit, Trauma PTSD, Smoking Cessation, Sport / Business Performance, Relaxation.

Struggling with the Complex French Administration?!

sales24@thebugle.eu

We are here to help! Call us or email us We will help you find a solution

06 04 17 80 93

helpishere24@yahoo.com

06.70.23.53.33

Language Services

Relax, Recharge, Release Mentally, Physically, Spiritually, Emotionally

Pete or Irene: 07 69 42 17 99 petehypno@gmail.com dordognetherapies.com Based near Verteillac 24320 SIRET 830 715 785 00010

Dératisation, Déinsectisation, Désinfection

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38 www.applicateur3d.com Email: info@applicateur3d.com Curative and preventative rats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm, bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets

La Petite Barre, 18210 Bessais Le Fromental SIRET No. 498 544 741 00024

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93 Property Maintenance La Conciergerie Taking care of your home all year round providing you with a wintering service, managing your summer rentals or organising a happy holiday for you.

www.laconciergerie-housekeeping.com

24600 Villetoureix laconciergerie24@orange.fr Tel: 06 42 67 94 50 siret: 840 556 228 00010 - APE 9609Z

The region's leading distributor of Spas, Swim spas, Saunas & Hot tubs

New for 2019

We are pleased to announce our new range of over 80 Spas, Swim spas, Hot tubs & Saunas from top European and U.S. manufacturers. *Platinum Spas* *Superior Spas* *Tuff Spas* *Zen Spas* *BeSpa* *Durasport* *Superior Saunas* *Baltic Hot tubs* *Baltic Saunas*

Prices from €2,000 Web: www.limousin-spas.com Email: sales@limousin-spas.com Tel: 05 55 63 26 20 Siret: 752 157 610 00011

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 CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93 Would you like to receive your copy of The Bugle by post each month? We can deliver a copy to your door, hot off the press

France €25 pa; UK and Europe €40 pa

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

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ SEPTEMBER 2019

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

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

together.

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

Retail & Commerce USED KITCHENS FRANCE Looking for a designer kitchen with granite worktops and premium appliances at a fraction of RRP? Pre-loved kitchens from brands like Poggenpohl and Bulthaup at usedkitchensfrance.fr 09 53 50 86 49

bookstop English second-hand books Tea room Art exhibitions

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

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93 Support

Dementia Support

Psychologist (MBPsS) looking for part-time work giving affordable care and respite to dementia sufferers in their own home / environment. Native English speaker. Please contact Catriona:

catcool61@aol.com Périgord Noir, will travel up to 45 mins from 24170. siret: 841 001 456 00018

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anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org

the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■ Units start from €490 TTC.

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

SOLARVENTI - Available in the Dordogne From Harlequin Developments Mobile: 06 06 60 46 97

sales24@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

Franklins Removals

A family business offering a quality, professional service since 1985

06 04 17 80 93

Contact Stephen or Ben: 0044 121 353 7263 sales@franklinsremovals.co.uk www.franklinsremovals.co.uk

Transport, Removals & Storage

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Man & Van Transport

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

09 82 12 69 73 87150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

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)1253 725 414

www.smartmovesremovals.co.uk

Pixie and her friends are waiting for you at

Acorn Cat Rescue Pixie will be vaccinated, microchipped and de-parasited upon adoption. Her adopter will be expected to have her sterilised when she is old enough. www.associationacorn.com Facebook: Acorn Cat Rescue

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

Local and European Removals France to France, Spain, Portugal, Italy etc We Offer: Removals, Storage, House Clearance, also Car, Caravan, Plant Transport. French Registered Business. Local Friendly Service.

+33 (0)6 73 96 38 39

www.dordognestoragesolutions.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

WHAT’S ON ♦ 19

SEPTEMBER 2019 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €12.50/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 30,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

For more information on any of our advertising options, please feel free to give us a call on 06 04 17 80 93 or send an email to sales24@thebugle.eu

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad

€100

€150

Large b&w Directory Ad

€130

€195

Small Colour Directory Ad

€140

€210

Large Colour Directory Ad

€180

€270

All prices exclude TVA (20%)

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

30 words max

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 (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months. Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

ADVERTS FROM €12.50 HT / MONTH

SALES24@THEBUGLE.EU

06 04 17 80 93 Saint-Cyprien Bridge Club

THE GREAT PHOENIX BOOK FAIR SATURDAY 5TH OCTOBER 2019

The Bridge Club, previously situated in Castel, has recently moved to a brand new room next to the “Boucherie de la Vallée”, on the left of the main road from St-Cyprien to Beynac. The President and the members of the Bridge Club wish to celebrate their installation in these new premises on Thursday 5th September when we are organising a short tournament from 2 pm to 5 pm, open to both members and guests. The tournament will be followed by a free wine tasting at 5.15 pm presented by local vineyard “Domaine de la Voie Blanche” situated at Les Caves as well as le vin de La Bachellerie. For more information, contact Christiane de Schwartz: 06 29 62 98 31.

30e Journée des plantes Sunday 6th October, Neuvic-sur-l’Isle Exhibition and sale of plants by specialist nurseries and craft for eco-habitat. From 9h30 in the grounds of the Château de Neuvic. Tickets €4; FREE for Under 18s.

If your book shelves are looking rather bare after a long hot summer spent reading, don’t miss the next Great Phoenix Book Fair on Saturday 5th October. What better opportunity to restock your shelves before the clocks change and winter arrives! The Book Fair will take place at Campsegret on the N21 just north of Bergerac (see poster - back page). You will find over 20,000 used books in excellent condition – fiction, non-fiction, children’s, French, Dutch, antiquarian, collectibles, cookery, history and many more. You’ll also find thousands of DVDs and CDs, jigsaws, children’s games, bric-a-brac, plants and cards. Many items for just one euro! The Phoenix Catering Team will be serving their usual, delicious home-made goodies, both sweet and savoury. The items are all donated by Phoenix members and animal lovers from the area. There will also be a chance to see some of the dogs who are available for adoption. They are adorable and looking for a fresh start and a new home. Doors open at 9.30 am (9.00 am for those with limited mobility) and close at 3.00 pm. Free parking is available. Children and dogs are very welcome. All donations of money, food, books, plants, etc. are welcome on the day. All the proceeds will go to the Phoenix Association to continue the work of caring for, healing and rehoming abandoned, abused and unwanted animals.

PLEASE COME AND JOIN US! PS If you interested in helping at the Fair or if you have a bit of free time to collect or sort books throughout the year, please contact Sandra Hall at sand.hall@orange.fr.

20 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ SEPTEMBER 2019

Exhibition Botanical Watercolours Liz Hansen 1st - 30th September 14h - 18h (closed Mondays)

Les Jardins du Coq Labreuille, 16390 Montignac-le-Coq 05 45 78 58 17

www.lesjardinsducoq.com

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/

Sunday 15th September at 5 pm Pianist Martin Cousin

Programme: Rachmaninov – Variations on a theme by Chopin Op.22, Prokofiev – Sonata no. 7 Op. 83, Liadov – Variations on a Polish Theme Op. 51, Liszt – Sonata S. 178 Martin Cousin is now regarded as one of the most exceptional pianists of his generation, having been awarded lst prize at the 2005 Ettore Pozzoli International Piano Competition (Seregno, Italy) and Gold Medal at the 2003 Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition (London).

Sunday 29th September at 5 pm

in the outdoor Payleyrac Théâtre de verdure, The Musical Union of Bergerac: Brass band of 50 musicians Programme: Winds on fire / Bert Appermon, Casta diva ( Norma) / V. Bellini arr. W. Hautvast, Les Demoiselles de Rochefort / M. Legrand arr. J. Brouquières, Johnny Halliday – principaux thèmes pour Orchestre d’Harmonie arr. J. Naulay, Aznavour Medley (“les plaisirs démodés”, “La Bohème”...) arr. R. Fienga, Starmania M. Berger arr. J. Naulay, Signé Gainsbourg arr. P. Poutoire ( Poupée de cire, Elisa, Couleur café, Harley Davidson), The Blues Brothers revue - Medley arr. J. Bocook 8€, members 6€, free for under 16s

The Journées européennes du patrimoine (European Heritage Days) take place this month on 21st and 22nd September. This is a popular event throughout France, which sees many state buildings and museums open their doors to visitors. There is not enough space in these pages to list everything going on so pop down to your local tourist office or visit www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr/ to find out what is happening in your area.