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January 2012 - Issue 35www.dordogneadvertiser.com

DORDOGNEADVERTISER

Healthcare crisis as 150 localGPs to retire in next 5 years

Giant catfishcaught in Dordogne

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2 News Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

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to three Dordogne business ownersabout how the rise in TVA couldaffect them.

William Penkeyman has been running his building company nearPérigueux for almost 20 years.

According to a recent DordogneChambre de Commerce report, about40 per cent of all British-run business-es in the Dordogne are related to thebuilding trade, so how will this riseaffect the industry?

“It will make a big difference – it is abig increase, but I don’t think we’ll seeany effect at first; people have alreadysigned up for work and will just haveto stomach the increase,” says MrPenkeyman.

“The TVA rise will kick in aboutMarch, when people who haven’t yetsigned up for work get their quotesand notice the price hike. I don’t thinkit will be as disastrous for the expat-riate building trade as for those businesses catering to the local market; expats will still go ahead andhave the work done, but maybe not tosuch a high specification. If they havea fixed budget, more of it will go onTVA than in our pockets.

“If I was working in England andthis happened, I’d be worried, becausepeople would probably defer orrethink their renovation projects, butpeople who have decided to make theleap and move here or invest in a holiday home won’t pack in their aspirations and dreams because theTVA has increased.

“I think we’ll be OK – although we’drather it wasn’t going up.”

Jo McIntyre runs the Fiddler’s Rest,near Chaleix, with her husbandRonan. A popular Irish bar, the couplemake most of their money throughsales of pub meals.

She spoke to the DordogneAdvertiser in 2009, when the TVA wascut, and said the reduction had “savedtheir business.” So what does she think

ONE of the only certainties for Francein 2012 is that there will be a presi-dential election, and either socialistFrançois Hollande will win or NicolasSarkozy will hold on to his position.

However, there are other contenderswho could complicate matters.

Both key contenders have talked ofthe need to get public spending undercontrol and Sarkozy has already intro-duced austerity cuts to prove he isserious in getting France’s deficitunder control.

Many measures, such as a tax ontop-up health insurance and a tax onfizzy drinks, came in last autumn, buta new raft of austerity measures takeeffect from January 1. So how willthese changes affect people living inthe Dordogne?

The new austerity measures areaimed at reducing France’s deficit tozero by 2016. This year will see afreeze on tax bands, bringing forwardthe retirement age of 62 to 2017instead of 2018, and linking benefits to growth rather than risingprices. This will effectively mean a cutin benefits such as family allowanceand income support.

One of the key changes that willaffect everyone is increased TVA(VAT), which took effect on January 1.

In 2009, TVA on things such ashouse renovation and restaurant mealswas lowered to 5.5% to boost thebuilding trade and housing marketand to keep bars and restaurants going.

Widely seen as a success, the TVAon building projects and meals willnow rise to 7%. Even more controver-sially, TVA will now apply to gîte owners and anyone running a B&B –a move apparently welcomed by hoteliers, who have been paying TVAfor years.

For the British living in France, theseTVA changes could be significant, asthey target businesses and activitiesthat are popular with expats. We spoke

Businessestighten beltsas austeritymeasures hitAs a new year dawns,along with a new roundof austerity measures, LUCY STUBBS looksat our prospects for2012, and particularlythe effect the increasein TVA will have onsmall businesses inDordogne.

Jo and Ronan McIntyre believe the TVA cut

President Nicolas Sarkozy faces an election

NOBODY has a crystal ball, butthere are one or two people outthere prepared to stick their neckout and make predictions for 2012.

Charles Gillooley, Dordognepresident of FNAIM (the Frenchreal estate association) spoke to theAdvertiser late last year, amidreports that the housing market inthe Dordogne was still stagnant.

He said he remained downbeatabout the Dordogne housing market in 2012: “It is impossible tosay for sure, but I’m not opti-mistic. Every time I turn on mycomputer, there seems to be more

bad news about the state of theeconomy. I’d say 2012 will be nobetter, possibly worse.”

The President of the DordogneChamber of Commerce andIndustry isn’t particularly positive,either, for the world of business.Christophe Fauvel, who is also thepresident of the Dordogne branchof MEDEF – The Mouvement desEntreprises de France, the largestunion of employers in France –said he was pessimistic for 2012.

“The situation is precarious,” hetold the reporters at a recent pressconference, saying that conditions

CharlesGillooleyis nothopeful

Things can only get better – but it’s unlikely to be this year

the TVA rise will mean for them?“It is a shame,” says Mrs McIntyre. “We knew

the low rate wouldn’t go on forever, and to becompletely honest, I’m just glad the VATincrease isn’t any bigger. We won’t be puttingprices up – customers can’t pay more rightnow – so the increase will just dig into ourprofits.

“That said, it won’t be catastrophic – whenthe rate was lowered it really did save us, as wewere looking at having to close the business.This time the rise will just mean we’ll be a lit-

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News 3Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

WITH money tight andbudgets squeezed, there arenot many planned changes orimprovements for theDordogne this year, but thereare a few:

Transport: Bergerac airportwill be closed from January 9to March 23, so that the 2kmrunway can be replaced.

Although this will causetemporary disruption, themove is being widely per-ceived as a positive move,signifying renewed enthusi-asm and commitment fromSMAD (who fund the air-port), who have invested€3.5 million in re-laying therunway.

The improvement shouldmean that the airport will bearound for some years tocome, offering reassurance toresidents, holiday home own-ers and all those who dependon the tourist trade.

Education: Whilst teacherscontinue to protest over a

reduction in teacher numbersand the closure of classes, aprogramme of regenerationof school buildings looks setto continue.

The conseil generallaunched a programme ofsecondary school regenera-tion projects in 2006 and in2011 spent almost €9 millionimproving and rebuildingcolleges in the Dordogne.

In 2012, it will be the turnof the college in Eymet whichwill be renovated at a cost of

€3.3 million.A programme of adaptingcolleges to provide disabledaccess has been ongoing andExcideuil college will beamongst the last to be adapt-ed, later this year.

The conseil general has alsoconfirmed that an ongoingprogramme of boostingeducational facilities, such asinstalling state-of-the-artinteractive whiteboards andnew computers, will continuethis year.

saved them in 2009, and although the increase will hit profits, they will be able to cope

Investmentin schoolsand airport

Owners of gîtes and B&Bs will now have to pay TVA, which could hit tourism in Dordogne

for small businesses – about 90per cent of Dordogne businessesemploy fewer than 50 people –were very difficult.

“I call for firms to unite to find away through the crisis,” he added.

According to Fauvel, it couldtake up to five years for theDordogne economy to get back ontrack and there are, he says, noquick fixes.

So, it seems the watchwords for2012 are caution and uncertainty,with the consensus being thatthings can only get better –although no-one can say when....

tle poorer, but we’ll live to fight another year!”There seems to be a lot of confusion over

how the new TVA rules will affect people running gîtes and B&Bs.

One gîte complex owner, who wished toremain anonymous, said: “We haven’t had anyconfirmation (from Gîtes de France) onwhether we’ll be affected. At first, we thoughtthe 7% TVA would only apply to businesseswith a turnover of over €80,000. Now we’veread it could apply from the very first Euro wemake. If that is the case, our business is in

trouble – and I can see a lot of other peoplegoing under too.

“In a department that relies on tourism, thisseems like a really silly move. I don’t knowwhere the government expects us to find themoney, but if we try to get it by putting ourprices up, we’ll just see trade plummet.

“Last year trade was poor, as everyone hadtight budgets. Fewer people staying with uswill have a knock-on effect on everyonearound us – from bakers and restaurant own-ers to supermarkets and tourist attractions.”

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A new runway will be laid at Dordogne airport, above, this year

Prospects for the property market in Dordogneare grim, according to Charles Gillooley

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4 News Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

Inheritance SolutionsFrench inheritance rules may mean that your worldwide estate will not be distributed according to your wishes.

Look after those that matter.Peter Wakelin, Regional ManagerTel French Head Office: 05 56 34 75 51Email: bordeaux.office@siddalls.net

www.siddalls.frFrench finance in plain EnglishSiddalls France SASU, Parc Innolin, 3 Rue du Golf, 33700 Mérignac - RCS BX 498 800 465. C.I.F. No E001669 auprès de ANACOFI-CIF association agréée par l’Autorité des Marchés Financiers et Courtier d’Assurances, Catégorie B - ORIAS 07 027 475. Garantie Financière et Assurance de Responsabilité Civile Professionnelle conformes aux articles L 541-3 du Code Monétaire et Financier et L 512-6 et 512-7 du Code des Assurances.

Jobless figuresshow over-50sare hit hardest

THE Dordogne is facing acrisis in its health system,a doctors’ group claims.

The Ordre des Médecins dela Dordogne is urging theConseil Général (the regionalauthority) to increase itsefforts to entice newlyqualified doctors to settle inthe area after figures revealedthat the number of generalpractitioners was falling.

The number of doctorsin the department is set todecline by a huge 150 over the next five years,as doctors reach retirementage. In Marsac-sur-l’Isle,the health centre has beenwithout a doctor for morethan three months, eventhough the post has beenwidely advertised.

A spokesperson at the townhall said: “The mayor hasbeen interviewing peopleand trying to get a locumat the very least. But forthe moment we still haven’tfound anyone, which makeslife difficult.”

Concerns over thequality of healthcare in theDordogne were first raisedin 2009 when MP ColetteLanglade and many otherpeople voiced concern about

Healthcare crisis asGP numbers decline

Plan set tolimit risksthis winter

Pupils stillin shockSCHOOLCHILDREN inTerrasson were left in a stateof shock after a classmate suf-fered a heart attack. The girl,16, suffered a heart attack inthe playground of the LycéeAntoine Saint-Exupéry inTerrasson and was givenheart massage by the schoolnurse before paramedicsarrived and re-started theteenager’s heart using a defib-rillator. A psychologist hasbeen assigned to the schoolto help children who weretraumatised by what they saw.

PLANS are in place to ensurehomeless and vulnerable peo-ple are protected against thecold this winter. The prefec-ture will provide emergencyshelters open till the end ofMarch. An emergency num-ber -115- manned by préfetstaff is also in operationwhich aims to ensure anyoneat risk can receive the helpthey need. Each year, around100 people die from coldon the streets of France.

FIGURES produced by theAquitaine unemploymentagencies reveal that thenumber of unemployed roseby 13% in the Dordogne lastyear. The rise was higher thanin neighbouring departmentssuch as the Gironde and theLandes - although Aquitaineas a whole saw its numberof job seekers rise by 10%.

Among the groups mostaffected were women andthose aged 50-plus. There arecurrently around 18,000 jobseekers in the Dordogne.According to a report pub-lished in Le Journal du Net,

the level of unemploymentin the Dordogne has risenby 50.6% since the start ofthe economic crisis in 2008- giving it the eighthhighest figure in Francefor joblessness.

While youth unemploymentremains a problem through-out the country, in theDordogne it is the increasein older job seekers that hasseen the biggest rise, with thefigure 85% higher than at thestart of the crisis. There arecurrently 4,000 people agedover 50 looking for jobs inthe department.

Virtual Lascauxdue to open

PREHISTORIC PROJECT: A virtual tour is to be added to the caves in a €50 million plan

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AFTER much negotiation between car park operators andBergerac Mairie, free parking at weekends and evenings hasfinally begun in Bergerac. Parking in the underground the Parcdes Calmes is now free on Saturday afternoons until 15 Juneand then free for one hour on Saturday afternoons fom 15 Juneto 15 September. Meanwhile, at the Parc Gambetta, parking isnow free every evening from 7pm until 8am. The Mairie hopesthat the free parking will encourage shoppers to come to townand get more people to attend evening events.

Park free in Bergerac

cuts in the number of doctorson call. According to DrSandrine Allaire-Sauquet,speaking on behalf of adoctors’ group, local GPsneed to work with theregional authorities toadvertise the advantagesof working in the Dordogne.

“Students shouldn’tbe afraid ofcountry practicesJean-Paul CouvyConseil Général

Jean-Paul Couvy of theConseil Général agrees.“It isn’t just a question oftelling students on campusabout our tax breaks andother advantages, we haveto deal with a whole rangeof preconceptions aboutworking in the countryside.”

New GPs moving into theDordogne are exoneratedfrom income tax and othercharges for the first 10 years -fiscal advantages whichcould amount to as muchas €300,000. But it is thought

that newly qualified doctorshesitate to move to Dordognebecause they feel they willbe working out in the middleof nowhere.

“So we have to go onto campuses,” says Couvy,“and tell them that living inthe countryside doesn’t meanliving in a cultural desert.We have to tell them thereare specialist medical serviceshere, the latest scannersand so forth, and thatthey shouldn’t be afraidof country practices.”

Most new doctors, he says,are from urban backgroundsand 70% of them are women,who prefer working in grouppractices because it meansfewer antisocial hours. “Wehave to set up pluridiscipli-nary health centres inDordogne,” says Couvy.

There are also otherapproaches under way.In departments such asthe Lot-et-Garonne, thereare schemes to encouragenewly qualified doctors towork there by providinginternships with establishedgeneral practitioners, duringwhich the council providesboard and lodging, and paysthe student’s expenses.

News 5Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

IN 2002, the mayor of asmall Dordogne communewas shown a photograph ofhis commune’s place nametaken by the photographerand writer Édouard Levé. Odd, you might think, after

all, the mayor, MonsieurGadaud, and the inhabitantsof the commune were allfamiliar with their com-mune’s name, but significantbecause the commune has apeculiar name. Angoissemeans anguish. The 600 inhabitants are so

used to the name that it bare-ly registers but to people out-side the commune the nameis a source of bemusement.

Levé’s photographs wererecently exhibited at theSalon Paris Photo, where hisphotograph of the sign at theentrance to the villagefetched €8,600 and hisAngoisse photographs drewmuch attention.

For city-dwellers, theDordogne is seen a tranquil,relaxed place, where angoisseshould be the last thing onyour mind. So how did thiscommune get its name? Theorigins lie a few hundred

yards from the centre ofAngoisse village in thehamlet of L’Hépital. OnceL’Hôpital - in the MiddleAges - it was the site of aleper hospital and the nearbyvillage of Angoisse was sonamed because it is said thatyou could hear the patients’screams of agony.

The leper hospital is longgone but more recently, awell-known contemporaryfigure experienced anguish -and joy - in the commune.

Best-selling crime writerIan Rankin lived near the vil-lage of Angoisse from 1990to 1996. With a couple ofnovels under his belt and

full-time writing impossiblein London, he and his wifeMiranda upped sticks andmoved to what Rankindescribed as “the leastsought-after corner of theDordogne”.

Whilst his wife cultivated avegetable garden and thecouple enjoyed deliciousmeals out, their Frenchdream was not always idyllic.

Rankin struggled with thelanguage and the isolationand money was tight. Hisfirst child, Jack, was born in1992 but his second son, Kit,born in 1994 was diagnosedwith Angelman syndrome - arare and incurable conditionthat requires full-time care -in 1995 prompting the fami-ly to return to Scotland.

Rankin has told interview-ers that he developed panicattacks while living inAngoisse and describes driv-ing around the countrysidein his 2CV “just shouting,shouting and screaming inthe dark”.

As for the photographerwho immortalised Angoisse,Édouard Levé committedsuicide in 2007, aged just 42.

Joy and fear aboundin a quiet commune

Did you know?

PANIC: Author Ian Rankin

PLANS for Lascaux IV have beenunveiled by the Conseil Général. Work onthe project, which will include a replicaof the world-famous caves, plus a virtualtour showing life in the cave at variouspoints in history, a museum dedicated tothe history of the caves and informationon prehistoric cave painting, will beginlater this year. Land has been bought atthe foot of the hill where the originalcaves were discovered in Montignacand the project is set to cost €50 million,with money coming from the state,the Aquitaine Conseil régional andDordogne Conseil général.

The Lascaux caves are believed to beone of the world’s finest examples ofpre-historic cave art with the paintingssaid to date back 17,000 years. The caveswere discovered in 1940 by four teenagersand their dog and were opened to thepublic after the Second World War.However, they were closed to the public

in 1963 after showing signs ofdeterioration, said to be caused, in

part by the carbondioxide being exhaled by the manyvisitors to the site. In recent years theoriginal cave paintings have been affectedby fungus - now believed to be undercontrol - and have been named asa UNESCO World Heritage Site.

An almost exact replica - Lascaux II -has become the Dordogne’s most populartourist attraction and brings more than300,000 visitors a year. Meanwhile,work continues on Lascaux III, whichconsists of a series of replicas of paintings that were found in theoriginal cave. These include depictionsof bison, deer and other animals notreproduced in Lascaux II. Later this yearthe Lascaux III artwork will be loaned togalleries and museums around the worldas part of a travelling exhibition.

Speaking at a press conference,Bernard Cazeau, President of the Conseilgénéral, said he hoped that Lascaux IV,due to open in 2015, would cement theDordogne’s position as a leadingauthority on cave art and furtherbolster interest in Lascaux.

BIG CATCH: Aloïs Marcelaud needed a friend’s help to bring in the gigantic 2.2m catfish

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A 20-YEAR-OLD has caughtone of the largest catfish everto be fished out of theDordogne river. Aloïs Marcelaud - along with

three friends, NicolasRoussel, Matthieu Moreletand Reny Servault, spent 20minutes hauling the 2.2metre-long, 70-kilo fish fromthe water. "It was a great moment," he

said. "It's a memory we'll alltreasure forever. I had theright equipment and ofcourse you need the righttechnique for a fish like that."Mr Marcelaud and his

friends are passionate aboutfishing. "We started when we

were 5 or 6 years old," hesaid. "I go almost every week-end." In fact, rivers and fish-ing are so central to his lifethat he is studying to becomea guide de pêche and expectsto qualify later this year. He will then look for a job in

the milieu he loves so much. "I love being near the water, I

love the tranquillity, I loveaquatic life, especially fish."Fishing is a sport, he says,

but it is also a way of inter-acting with nature.That iswhy he returned his monstercatfish to the river unharmed. “We always do," he said. “It's

the rules of our fishing club,The Carp Gang Périgord. "For me, fishing is a sport,

pure and simple. So wealways put them back. “People who say catfish eat

all the other fish in a river arewrong. They don't. They onlyeat the same as the others.We always put them back.”

Giant hauled from Dordogne

by LUCY STUBBS

Photo: Carp Gang Perigord

“It’s a memory we will all treasure foreverAAllooïïss MMaarrcceellaauuddFishing enthusiast

6 News Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

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France, in EnglishNews, interviews,practical info &

more

A DORDOGNE companyhas won the top prize ina regional competition fornew and technologicallyadvanced design.

Dynamika, based inPérigueux, is a companyspecialising in fitnessequipment which can beused in water. It sells itsproducts to fitness clubsand hospitals, wherephysiotherapists use themto help patients to regainmuscular strength aftera debilitating illness.

The winning product,Spa-Bike Tonic, enablesusers to cycle in a hydro-massage bath - ideal forpeople recovering fromillness or those with limitedbody strength - as it allowsgentle exercise withoutthe exertion of too muchpressure on the body.

Didier Roux, managingdirector of the company,which started in 2009, gavehis reaction to winning thefirst prize of €20,000. “Thedesigners - Ilo Creative -

deserve a lot of credit,” saidRoux. “Without good design,we would never haveachieved success.”

According to Roux, theprototype created two yearsago originally consisted ofa bathtub and a raised seatwith bicycle pedals.

“Over the next two years,we worked to make sure itwas portable and efficientand to make the seat heightadjustable. We’re verypleased with the resultand delighted to win a prize.”

Revolutionary designscoops up €20k tonic

Attack after sushi bar row

Cuts meanhostel closes

Campervanstop is tops

Jail term forstrike mum

TRAFFIC noise and the number of unpleasant and precariousexperiences for pedestrians in the commune of Payzac are setto be reduced, thanks to a scheme of resurfacing work. Foryears, the pretty town and its surrounding roads had been letdown by poor roads, but a makeover means that these are nowbeing resurfaced. Road resurfacing and improvements havealso taken place on the D70 out of Payzac towards the Corrèzeand on the road which leads from Angoisse to Payzac. The work in the town will be completed this spring.

Roads given a makeover

AN ALTERCATION ina sushi bar turned nasty,resulting in one personbeing hospitalised. Familymembers were eatingtogether in Esprit Sushiin Bergerac when the con-versation became heated.

Two men left the snackbar and took their argu-ment into the streets,where one stabbed theother with a knife. He fledthe scene, while theinjured man was taken tohospital, where his injurieswere described as seriousbut not life threatening.

MORE than 50 peoplehave been left withoutsecure accommodationand six staff have losttheir jobs after a hostelclosed in Périgueux.

The Foyer des JeunesTravailleurs helped youngworkers get establishedwith low rents and advice.But according to the Sud-Ouest, mayor MichelMoyrand decided tocut the centre’s funding.

CAMPERVAN owners arecelebrating after a newand long-awaited aire deservice was opened inTerrasson. The 21-placeovernight stop offerselectricity, water andwaste disposal facilitiesand is walking distancefrom town. Previously,campervan visitors toTerrasson had to makedo with parking placesin squares and car parks.

A WOMAN who wenton hunger strike whenher children were takeninto care has been sen-tenced to a year in prison.

Stéphanie Eymard-Lassagne, 35, was convict-ed by a court in Bayonneafter sending threateningletters to her mother-in-law, estranged husbandand an ex-boyfriend.

Dumps in line for overhaulRUBBISH tips across the Périgord Noir are to receivea makeover. Starting this month, several council-rundéchetteries will be renovated, enlarged and improved.First on the list is Rivaux, near Sarlat, which is 20 yearsold. Others scheduled for improvements include Cénac-et-Saint-Julien and Saint-Crépin-et-Carlucet. Work will beundertaken by the Syndicat Intercommunal de traitement desordures ménagères (SICTOM) and should be finished by 2013.

A LARGE motorbikefestival is set to returnto La Bugue this year.The Fête de la Moto hasrun every two years sincethe mid-1980s and thelast event in 2009 wasattended by 2,000 bikersfrom the region.

A lack of funds meantthat last year’s festivalwas cancelled and itsfuture was thrown intodoubt. However, festivalorganiser The Moto-ClubBuguois has now receiveda grant to stage thegathering, which willtake place on March18.

Date set forMoto diary

A BANK has been forcedto apologise after insistingthat a disabled pensionervisit the branch in personto close his account.

Édouard Duverneuil, 87,who is wheelchair boundand needs constant care, wastold, according to the Sud-Ouest, that he needed tovisit the branch in person tosign the paperwork andreceive a cheque for theremaining balance. In orderto reach his branch of theCaisse d’Epargne inPérigueux, the frail pension-

er had to get a privateambulance to transport him.The bank has since said thatthe incident was “regret-table”, but added that strictsecurity checks were inplace to protect customers.

Bank called to account

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Claire wins Miss Aquitaine

A DORDOGNE village hasbeen celebrating the successof one of its residents - eventhough she did not win thecompetition she entered.Claire Zengerlin was select-

ed as Miss Aquitaine in Oc-tober and took part in theMiss France contest lastmonth. Despite a polishedperformance, the 21-year-old business student did notwin. Top prize went insteadto Delphine Wespiser, MissAlsace, while her dauphines(deputies) are to be the can-didates from Pays de laLoire, Réunion, Provenceand the Côte d’Azur.

However, in Claire’s homevillage, Douzillac, residentsmet in the salle des fêtes towatch the contest on bigscreens and toast her per-formance.

It is not the first time thevillage (population 700) hasseen one of its residents takepart in the popular contest -two years ago Claire’s sisterAurélie also took part - los-ing out on that occasion toMiss Nice.

Residents said that, despitenot being placed, they wereproud of Claire and werelooking forward to givingher a hero’s welcome whenshe returns home.

For the second year run-ning a rival beauty contestwas also organised, associat-ed with Geneviève deFontenay, former MissFrance Commitee president,who had an acrimonioussplit with current ownersEndemol. Miss Cerdagne-Roussillon was voted “MissPrestige National”.

WINNING WAYS: The Dynamika team’s Spa-Bike Tonic allows stress-free exercise

News 7Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

A 37-YEAR-OLD builderfrom Milhac-d’Auberoche,Jérôme Chouly, has beennamed France’s best builder.

He was the only person tobe honoured this year in thebuilding category of the an-nual Meilleur Ouvrier deFrance awards - a prestigiousrecognition for trades andcrafts. He received a medalfrom President Sarkozy at aceremony at the Elysée.

He said: “I’ve always beeninterested in building but oldbuildings interest me most.We only use traditional tech-niques and materials, and wedo the maximum by hand,although of course we do usemodern machines when it’sappropriate.”Mr Chouly, who employs ten

people, set up his firm, LesRestaurateurs du Patrimoine,six years ago. He said: “We employ people

with a passion for restoringold buildings, but the onlyway you can learn this isthrough experience.

“It’s sad, but there just isn’tany formal training available.That’s what I’d like to do forthe long-term future - passmy knowledge down to futuregenerations.” Patricia Faurie,

49, a hairdresser fromPérigueux, has also won aprestigious business award, as

one of the recipients of thenational title MadameCommerce de France 2011.

Passion and skill atbuilding is rewarded

A SITE of historic interest has been officiallyopened in Bergerac. Until recently, 23-25 ruedes Fontaines was just the site of a house, butpartial demolition of the building revealedhidden treasures beneath the foundations.

It appears that the building was standingon top of the remains of the Dordogne’s firsthydroelectric plant. The plant was built in the19th century and was fed with water froma canal between Pombonne and Bergeraccity centre. The canal, which was created inthe 13th century, had initially provided thetown with drinking water. Later, water millswere built along its route to harness the power.

Initially, the plant in rue des Fontainespowered a factory, but by the 1920s it wasproviding electricity to more than 850 resi-dents. The plant closed in 1950 and all tracesof its existence were masked by building work.

Bergerac Mairie has joined forces withspecialist architects URBALYS to create anopen-air museum featuring the remains ofthe hydroelectric plant, including the turbine,plus information boards about the historyof the site and the people who worked there.The project has resulted in eight logementscollectifs and the restoration of 27 ruedes Fontaines to its 16th-century origins.

roud of its ‘Miss’

First hydroelectricplant unearthed

HIDDEN HISTORY: Under 23-25 rue des Fontaines is the area’s first hydroelectric plant

SUCCESSFUL STEP: Jerôme Chouly and some of his work

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8 Did You Know? Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

24 QUIRKY FACTSVisitors to the village of Tremolat, situated betweenSarlat and Bergerac, should keep a look out for its“murderous butcher” and the site of his deadlycrime. But the faint-hearted need to be reminded

that it was only a film. It was in fact the location for ClaudeChabrol’s 1970 thriller Le Boucher, in which the localteacher suspects the butcher of killing a series of women.The film was shot in the village using a number of localpeople. The site of the murder was the rocky outcrop over-looking the Dordogne river, near the Cingle de Trémolat.

At Tourtoirac in the Auvézère valley you will find ablue plaque on a house near the church. The plaquecommemorates the presence of Antoine Orélie de

Tounens, who died there in 1878. Who, youmay ask? He was a lawyer who travelled

to Chile in the mid 19th centurywith a mission to free the Indians

from Spanish rule. Twice hetried and twice he was

thrown out, his attemptsbeing of little interest toeither the Chilean

Government or theIndians themselves.

He was so persist-ent that he pro-

claimed himselfthe King ofThe Indians.In the endhe wasdeported.

A tour of the Dordogne will reveal that it has someof the most bizarre ecclesiastical buildings in France.There are more than 800 village churches and manyof them have a size and bulk quite disproportionate

to the size of the community they serve. Often looking likefortifications, they testify to a tumultuous past.

Ranging from medievalfortresses to beautifulRenaissance houses, theDordogne has more

châteaux than the Loire valley.There are more than 1,000of them and many are forti-fied, to resemble castles, alegacy of centuries of Anglo-French rivalry inthese parts.

It is said there is not a cavein the region that does notbear evidence of prehistoricexistence. The earliest cave

paintings date from about35,000 years ago. It is inter-esting to note that due to thevolume of human traffic moredamage has been done to theLascaux caves in 15 years than wasdone in their previous existence.Why, I wonder, did the cave painterschoose to paint animals and notpeople, as portraits of humansare almost absent.

The Dordogne départe-ment is in itself a geographicallandmark, in that the 45 degreeline of latitude runs through the

area, indicating that it is exactly half waybetween the Equator and the North Pole.

The story of Josephine Baker istruly a rags to riches story. Shegained notoriety by dancing the“Black Bottom” whilst wearing

only a string of bananas as part of herdance routine in Paris. Her rise to fameand fortune culminated in the pur-chase of Château Milandes, nearBeynac. She had started life in StLouis, Missouri, where it is said shewas so poor she slept in a box with

her dog. She went on to become the highest paid entertain-er in Europe.

Brantôme’s most famous abbot, Pierre deBourdeille, was appointed to the post at the age of15. Throughout his appointment he showed littlepiety, preferring to tour Europe pursuing his two

main interests – war and women. Following a horse-ridingaccident he turned to writing. Much of his work includingLes Dames Galantes is considered to be mildlypornographic. He died in 1614.

Rouffignac is something of a rarityin the Dordogne, in that it is theonly modern village in theregion. In March 1944, it was

razed to the ground by the Germanswho shot or deported the vil-

lagers. The only old survivingbuilding in the village is the church,

which was spared.

It is a custom within theDordogne to practise Faire Chabrol. Sitting in arestaurant you may see diners pour wine into theremnants of their soup. Taking the bowl in both

hands they will then drink the mixture from the bowl,exclaiming Chabrol. Somemay argue it’s a waste ofgood wine.

Sorges, inthe NorthEast of theregion, claims to

be the truffle capital of theDordogne. Suchis the extent oftheir claim thatthey have created amuseum, truffletrails around thetown and arrangedfor visitors to gotruffle-huntingaccompanied by thenecessary dog or

By Rodger Matthews.ABOUT DORDOGNE

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THE authoritative guide to buying a home in France

Available in English from The Connexion, priced €7.50 or £7 (plus postage and packaging)

Written by the Notaires de France and published by Conseils des Notaires.

See our website www.connexionfrance.com

sow. Such is their enthusiasm that those interested in truffi-culture can in winter tune into Radio Truffe, broadcast tothe world from Sorges. St Alvère, near Bergerac, is the firsttruffle market in France to go online.

Amongst the many attractions in the town ofBrantôme is the Abbey, which is alleged to havebeen built by Charlemagne in 769. Unfortunately itwas pillaged by the Normans and had to be rebuilt

in 1075. The belfry is the oldest in the Dordogne and saidto be one of the oldest in France.

Visitors to Périgueux might be excused for thinkingthey have seen the church of St-Front before. Thepine-cone lantern which was added to the bell towerwas cloned by the architect Abadie and added to

every dome and pitched roof on the building. To many, thework is overdone and seen as a riot of domes and cupolas.The designer liked them so much he used the same designon the Sacré Coeur in Paris.

Château de Biron,near Monpazier,was owned bythe Gontaut-

Biron family for morethan 800 years. LordByron, the romanticEnglish writer,was said to bea distant rela-tive.Unfortunatelythe 800 years offamily ownershipcame to an end when thelast owner lost all his money in the casinos of Paris. Thechâteau had to be sold to pay offhis debts.

Bergerac has clearlytaken advantage of thename of Cyrano deBergerac, the dramatist,

to assist in its tourist develop-ment. Statues exist in the townand the name appears onmany buildings. It is disap-pointing to learn thatCyrano de Bergerac didnot come from Bergeracat all. In fact he wasfrom Sens, nearParis, and mere-ly added the suf-fix to his name tomake it moreimpressive. It isquestionable whether hehad time to even visitBergerac as he is alleged tohave fought over 1,000duels in his time, mostlyover arguments about thesize of his nose.

Film-goers who have seen thefilm Chocolat from the bookby Joanne Harris will knowthat it tells the story of a

young mother who arrives in aninsular fictitious French village andopens a chocolaterie and enters intoconflict with the local curate. Whatthey may not know is that the filmwas filmed in part in the village ofBeynac in the Dordogne, perhapsmore famous for its château.

Each year the region seeks to maintain its traditionsby holding a Félibrée. This ritual inherited from thetroubadours seeks to celebrate and hold on to tradi-tions, including the lost Occitan language. Bands

play, flags fly, and dances, plays and songs inlangue d'oc complete the scene. Towns and

villages within the region take it in turnto hold the annual festival. Although it

attracts tourists, it is not thought of bythose who participate as a tourist attrac-tion.

Château de Montfort in BlackPérigord must be unique, inthat it was named not after theman who built it but

rather ironically after the man whoknocked it down. Simon de Montfort captured itand destroyed it in 1214. It was subsequentlyacquired and rebuilt by the Turennes fami-ly only to be captured bythe English during theHundred Years war.

A com-mon sightthroughout theregion are pigeonniers

or dovecotes. Raised aboveground level to keep out pestsand damp, they were used tokeep pigeons as a valuablesource of food and fertiliserfrom the droppings. It is notsurprising to find examples ofthe village bread oven locatednear the ground floor of thepigeonniers as at the time thedroppings wereeven used asan additiveto the breadto improvethe aroma.

Paris certainly, Nice probably, but surprisingly Sarlatis the third most used location in France for themaking of films. To date, 37 films have been madethere. This is perhaps as a result of it having one of

the highest concentrations of historic listed buildings inFrance.

We have to thank a Robot for accidentally findingthe world-famous caves of Lascaux in 1940, leadingon to the discovery of the 1,500 or so prehistoricpaintings within the caves. Robot was in fact the

name of the dog which disappeared down the holethat was later widened by its boy owner,Marcel Ravidat, revealing a large cave.

He and his two friends returned withtorches and the discovery was

made.

Rocamadour, the world-famous site in the east ofthe Dordogne, has been a centre of pilgrimage sincethe 12th century. Not all of those who arrived therewould have done so willingly. Although thousands

of pilgrims visit the site each year to venerate“Our Lady of Rocamadour” by ascending to the

shrine of the “Black Virgin”, in the mid-dle ages heretics were made to climb the

200 stone steps whilst on their knees andbound in chains.

The Dordogne river, alongwith the Garonne, is theonly river in Europe to behome to the eight species

of Western European migratoryfish, including salmon, sturgeon

and lamprey. Visitors toTuilières, near Lalinde, can see a glass-fronted

lift that has been erected to help fish climbthe 40-foot rise, cross the dam and contin-

ue up the Dordogne.

If you fancy pan-ning for goldyou need trav-el no farther

than the Château deJumilhac in the north eastcorner of the Dordogne,near Thiviers. Lessons in theart can be taken and youcan try your luck on thebanks of the River L’Isle.

There is a gold minenearby thatproduces 2,000kilos of pure goldevery year.

Did You Know? 9Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

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This column is sponsored by

UK changes ease travelling with pets

THE NEW year signalled changes tothe pet travel rules introduced bythe UK government agency DEFRA(Department for Environment,Food and Rural Affairs). These willaffect many of the estimated 100,000pet owners who travel to and fromthe UK with pets each year.

It is expected that the changes willbe greeted as a positive move asDEFRA estimates that they will save£7 million in fees and allow muchmore freedom to travel.

Readers who regularly travel withcats or dogs to the UK may alreadybe familiar with PETS (Pet TravelScheme) and hold a “pet passport”for each animal. These are mandato-ry for dogs, cats and ferrets.

The passport contains details ofthe pet’s unique microchip numberand corresponds with the chip thatis normally positioned between theshoulder blades of the animal,behind the neck. Dog owners whobought their pet in France may find

that it has been tattooed with itsidentification number instead.

Perhaps most importantly of all,every passport will contain confir-mation of an up-to-date vaccinationagainst rabies.

Until 2011 the most onerous partof using the PETS scheme was therabies procedure; the vaccinationwas given, this was then followed bya blood test four weeks later to con-firm that the vaccination serum wasin the animal’s blood.

Only when confirmation wasreceived could the animals travel,and even then it would not beallowed entry into the UK until aftersix months had passed from the dateof the blood test. Tick and tapeworm treatments, given by a vet,were also necessary just before eachentry back into the UK.

Last June DEFRA announced that

it was relaxing its rules on animalstravelling between EU memberstates – including France. The movecame because, since the inception ofPETS in 2004, there have been noknown cases of animals infectedwith rabies legally entering the UK.

Now the revised rulings mean thatwhile all pets will still need to bevaccinated against rabies, the bloodtest has been abolished and DEFRAhas also reduced the six-monthwaiting period to just 21 days.

Finally, pets will no longer need tobe treated for ticks before theirarrival in the UK.

DEFRA is still in discussion aboutthe continued controls on tapewormfor dogs so, for the time being, own-ers must continue with the tape-worm treatment.

Owners with puppies should beaware of the rules for anyone plan-

ning to take puppies into the UK:pets must be at least three monthsold and have reached the minimumage for vaccination – this can varyso check with your vet in advance asthis will be stated on the vaccinemanufacturer’s datasheet.

The pet passport and paperworkwill still be inspected on enteringthe UK but historic problems overtick and tapeworm treatment shouldbe vastly reduced.

These accounted for most animalsbeing refused entry; most oftenbecause the treatments were notgiven within the defined timeframe(the tapeworm treatment is required24-48 hours beforehand).

If you travel regularly with pets itis worth becoming familiar with thenew rules and checking up-to-dateinformation at: www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel

Pet Care

Welcome to a new column with advice onlegal, welfare, health andother issues concerningpets. SAMANTHA BRICKfinds out more about thenew rules on pet travel

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10 Business Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

FINANCESponsored by

Our main family home of the last 15 years in the UK ison the market and we are planning to move to theDordogne as soon as possible. Once the UK propertyis sold, we will start house hunting in Bergerac. Iassume it is necessary to register with the French taxauthorities and de-register with the UK ones at thesame time? K. T.

Make sure you get your dates right on paperwork

Why moving canbe so taxing . . .

Photo © PV - Fotolia.com

IT IS very important to define in your mind the date ofyour departure from the UK and arrival in France. This isbecause you will need to state this date in several places. Itis surprising the number of people who put different dateson different forms and, not surprisingly, end up in troublewith the tax authorities, often on both sides of the Channel.

The first form to consider is the P85 form from the UKHMRC. This notifies the UK that you are leaving, whereyou are going, from what date and offers them informationabout your income situation. This form is completed at thepoint of leaving.

The next form to complete is the UK HMRC “FranceIndividual”. This is generally completed with your firstFrench tax return, which will be the first May in the nextcalendar year after your arrival (so if you arrive on January1, there is nothing to do until May the following year).

This form is in English and French and will also ask youyour date of departure/arrival in France. This will be seenby both the French and UK authorities, and the French taxoffice must stamp this form. The French tax office mustdeclare that you have completed a tax return in France onthis form, which is why completion of this form must waituntil your first French tax return.

This form is vital, as it enables you to be reimbursed anytax overpaid in the UK, which you will have continued topay, despite living in France.

The next form is the French tax declaration, which willalso ask the exact date that you arrived. Once you havecompleted these forms, you have done all you need to getout of the UK system and into the French one.

I trust this answers your question; however, there is muchyou may need to know about the sale of your UK property,which I do not have space to cover here.

If you are planning to sell your UK property after yourmove (it is not clear from your question) there are some,potentially very costly, new rules to consider, which couldalter how you manage the sale and the assets in the inter-im.

If you do not intend to move until your UK property issold, then you can relax.

JUDY MANSFIELD has lived and worked in France fornearly nine years. She is an agent commercial, andworked at an estate agency for several years beforebranching out into business development,primarily for currency specialists First Rate FX andlatterly for small businesses.

A Happy New Year to allreaders. In this column we look at business resolutions for the year ahead.

SO, the festivities are over foranother year, the turkey isfinished at last, the tree is outfor composting and it is timeto get back to work.

Forget the gym, and ditchthe diet – they never last.Resolve instead to worksmarter than you did lastyear. Here are my top 10 res-olutions for every business.How many will you do?

1. Write up your BusinessPlan and review it everymonth. Ensure that every-thing you do relates to one ofthe targets in your plan, andif it doesn’t, ditch it.

2. Money Hour – Set aside anhour each week to deal withmoney stuff. Pay bills, sendout invoices, price up a cou-ple of jobs, check over yourbank account, review insur-ance renewals… Whatever itis, do your money-relatedthing then. Write it in yourdiary and do it at the sametime every week. (Mine is 5-6pm on a Monday evening,then I know it is done for theweek and out of the way).

3. Improve your businessrelationships. Review every-one with whom you comeinto contact. Look at whichones are, or could be benefi-

cial, which ones are too one-sided (ie all the effort andgiving comes from you), andwhich ones are frankly dam-aging to your business. Getrid of the damaging or drain-

ing ones, and then look at theones that could do with a bitof attention and TLC. Resolveto improve those relation-ships over the year. Yourbusiness will improve as aresult.

4. Get a good photo taken,and get it done professionally.There are professional pho-tographers in the NormandyBusiness Group who will takea portrait picture. YOU areyour brand, not your cat, northe kids. Use that same photoacross the internet, your web-site, your Facebook businesspage, your Twitter andLinkedIn accounts etc.

5. Social Networking –Resolve to either learn aboutit, or to use it better.Download TweetDeck orHootsuite to manage updatesto all your accounts. It willsave you time and be goodfor your website rankings too.We will be holding more ofour popular SocialNetworking MasterClasses in2012, for NBG members only.

6. SELL more! Sell, sell sell.After all, this is why you arein business, yes? Make sureyour business plan includes asales plan and resolve toincrease your top line (ieyour sales figures) at least toimprove on last year’s results.Identify your best prospectsand pursue those until youachieve the sales.

7. Remember, CASH isKING! Don’t let money slipthrough your fingers. Yourcash flow is what keeps yourbusiness alive and allows you

to order stock, to pay bills,and puts food on your table.Chase your customers foryour unpaid bills, negotiategreat (or better) terms fromyour suppliers. ALWAYS payyour bills on time – it avoidssurcharges and maintainsgoodwill with your suppliers.

8. Learn something new. Ifyou stand still, you will stag-nate. Resolve to learn a newskill. Check out AudioBooand YouTube and bring yourwebsite alive with somethingfor your clients and cus-tomers to watch or to read.Look out for future NBGMasterClasses on all sorts oftopics.

9. Prioritise your workload.Don’t fall into the trap ofdoing what you like andavoiding the boring or diffi-cult stuff. It will still be thereand will just become moreboring and difficult. Dealwith it. Start every day with aTo Do list, and make sure everything you do is linkedto your Business Plan objec-tives.

10. Join a business network-ing group! It can be welcom-ing, fun and friendly andshould have the aim of supporting one another.

Shake off that hangoverand make some businessresolutions for 2012

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Your top 10 resolutions

Bev James – Do It or Ditch It!ISBN 978-0-7535-3999-6Robert Ashton –Brilliant Checklists forEntrepreneursISBN 978-0-273-74080-3

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“Learn somethingnew. If you standstill, you will stagnate.

Spruce up your imageby getting a professional photograph done

Judy can be contacted through The Dordogne Advertiser at dordogne@connexionfrance.com

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Food 11Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

I HAVE been described as a picky eater.Actually, there are not many things I can’teat, but there are several things I won’t eat;and rapidly climbing that list is fish fromunsustainable sources.

This is not too difficult to do if I am buying

the fish myself. Most fishmongers and fishcounters are quite good – but could do better– at stating the origin of the fish they have onsale, and with some basic knowledge I oranyone else can make an informed choice.

In the UK, things are even easier becausemore outlets for fresh, frozen or canned fishhave the produce clearly marked. I havenoticed that the label in question (the MarineStewardship Council scheme) is beginning toappear on frozen and canned fish in France.

The problem for me arises when I am eatingout. In many restaurants in both countries Itend to be met with a blank look or a Gallicshrug if I enquire about the provenance of thefish on the menu. This is a pity, becauseI often prefer fish to meat.

In 2010, the EU Commission estimated that90 per cent of EU fish stocks were over-fished,and last year an agreement was reached prom-

ising sustainable stocks by 2015, and to phaseout the ludicrous practice of “discarding”, bywhich dead fish exceeding quotas are thrownoverboard. So, what should we be eating if wecare about sustainability, and what should webe avoiding? Here is a brief list of suggestions.

To avoid:Atlantic and North Sea cod (cabillaud) unlessline-fished, Atlantic halibut (flétan), dogfish(roussette), European eel (anguille), Europeanhake (merlu), bluefin tuna (thon rouge), plaice(plie/carrelet), sea bass (bar) (unless linecaught) and skate (raie).

To eat:Coley (colin/lieu noir), gurnard (grondin),lemon sole (limande), mackerel (maquereau),megrim (cardine), pollack (lieu jaune) andwhiting (merlan).

Then there is salmon. Wild or farmed,Atlantic or Pacific? Without doubt, wildAlaska salmon is the best choice, fresh, frozenor tinned. Atlantic salmon and many farmedsalmon – and other fish, incidentally – do notfall into the sustainable category.

Farmed fish can present all manner ofenvironmental concerns. All salmon arecarnivorous, and in order to feed farmedsalmon, wild fish have to be caught andprocessed. It takes three tonnes of wild fish toproduce one tonne of farmed salmon, and ithas been said that farming salmon is like rais-ing tigers for meat! There are also the prob-lems of disease and parasites, as well as theantibiotics and chemicals used to control them.

The best way of avoiding these horrors is tochoose organic (bio) farmed fish. Fortunately,such fish are becoming more widely availableto consumers in France.

After she was chosen asthe first BBC MasterChefin 1990, JOAN BUNTINGwas soon writing a foodcolumn and doing localradio for the BBC. Nowthe former advisoryteacher has retired andmoved permanently toher home in France, butshe is still keen to tellreaders about good food

Mackerel Fillets withDill and Lemon

Heat the oven to 180°C.

Wash and dry the lemons, then slicethinly. Put the slices in the bottom ofan oval ovenproof dish.

Mix together the chopped chilli, the dill

seeds and the chopped fresh dill. Add saltand pepper and rub this mixture overthe fillets.

Lay the fillets on the lemon slices andsprinkle with a little olive oil. Cook in thepre-heated oven for 20 minutes.

INGREDIENTS - SERVES 4

4 mackerel which must be as fresh as possible, filleted 2 tsp dill seeds 3 lemons

1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped Sprig fresh dill 3 tbsp olive oil Salt and pepper

METHOD

Caline Montfort, of Julien de Savignac wine merchants (www.julien-de-savignac.com), says: Bergerac sec 2010, € 5.95. This dry whitewine is refreshing and offers delicate fruit, citrus and herbaceous notes which willmarry beautifully the flavours of the fish with citrus and dill.

Which wine should I drink with this?

TRIED AND TESTED BY US

A Dordogne Advertiser team member has put this recipe to the test... “This recipe was deli-cious, quick and easy to make. Perfect for a mid-week meal or for busy mums who want tocook healthy food for the family. I served this with a simple green salad and all the familyenjoyed it.”

This easy to preparemackerel dish makesan ideal fish supper

Photo: © Joan Bunting

CUT OUT & KEEP!

Choose carefully if you want to avoid contributing to the depletion of our sea-life

Plenty more fish in the sea – or are there?

12 Exercise Dordogne Advertiwww.dordogneadvertiser.com

AT THIS time of the year, it’s tempting tococoon ourselves in front of the log fire, opena bottle (or two!) and plan DIY jobs and visitsfor the coming months. But actually, this is themoment when we need to get a grip on post-Christmas wobbles. Otherwise, that “comfort-able” paunch could become a big problem,leaving us less mobile, breathless and unableto cope with garden and household tasks.

After all, there’s no point in living in theworld’s most popular, (and arguably mostbeautiful) tourist destination, La Belle France,if you are too fat to have fun.

Here are eight easy ways to lose pounds,improve fitness and feel healthier:

Aim for a balanced dietIt is easy to overdo the bread, cheese, andcreamy sauces. You can eat them all – just notat every meal. In 1968 French nutrition expertMichel Montignac launched his “MontignacMethod” of eating for health: consume less fat,and choose foods with a low glycaemic indexsuch as wholegrain cereals, vegetables and

fruits. They takelonger to breakdown as energyin your bodythan high index“baddies” suchas chocolate,chips and beer. Itworks.

Plan meals like this: fruit and wholegraintoast for breakfast, a vegetable soup or saladfor lunch, and fish or meat with vegetables, alittle cheese and bread for supper. Enjoy pâtisserie specialities but for Sundays only.

When you eat at a restaurant, the plat du jouris often the healthiest item because it is simple,good food without expensive, high fat extras.

Drink good wineIf you live in a wine producing area, (or evenif you don’t), savour the best vintages.

Exquisite wine should be your goal; makesure you enjoy every mouthful. Sip slowly, andpour small amounts.

French apéro and digestif favourites such aspastis, Calvados, Armagnac, and eau de vie aredangerous – it’s too easy to drink too much.

Drink water before you switch to alcohol,throughout meals and especially during drinksessions with neighbours.

Discover walkingFrance has Europe’s best network of markedfootpaths so use them. Aim for an hour’s walkevery day, winter and summer, a longer expe-dition at weekends. Style should be brisk, armsswinging, with good shoes. A stroll round themarket doesn’t count. Extend your range byusing walking poles, they help your knees.

Go localAsk about leisure facilities at your mairieor tourist office. Even if there’s no poolor tennis club near you, a school maywell open its gym or courts to residentsduring evenings or holidays.

Check out municipal gym and swim-ming facilities (expect a charge of about€100 a year, or less) before lookingthough the Yellow Pages. You could payup to €1,000 a year for a private gymmembership, so do your research anddon’t be tied down to an annual contract.

Find somewhere you can swim awayfrom the crowded coastal resorts.

It is the best all-over exercise of all andmunicipal pools often run aqua-fit class-es (cours collectifs) which are great fun.

Plan your daysLife here can easily centre on food, so

shift the balance toaction. Do some-thing that getsyour heart pump-

ing. You are nevertoo old to take up canoeing, raft-ing, sailing, cycling, horse riding

or even parapente. Playing bridge,poker or dominoes does not burncalories. Do some research beforethe warmer weather and takeadvantage of the many activitiesyour area has to offer.

Drive lessIf you live miles from the nearesttown, you need your car, but vélois best for local journeys. Load

the bike on the car, and exploreyour area properly. Use the net-work of voies vertes, the “greenroutes”, which often follow old rail-way lines.

Dress à la modeUnless you are a farmer, there isno excuse for wearing jeans and T-shirts all day. Keep a few smartoutfits, and go posh in theevenings. Check waistbands care-fully. No, that skirt did not shrinkin the wash!

Find a fitness friendYour French copains will bedelighted to accompany you onhikes, bike rides and coastal orcountry walks. You’ll learn aboutthe terrain and wildlife andimprove your language skills atthe same time.

8golden rulesto stay fit forFrench life

We move to France for a better way of life but too many of us get carried away with thewonderful food and wine, forget to exercise andbecome flabby and unfit. SALLY ANN VOAK reports.

8 Aim for a balanced dietDrink good wineFind a fitness friend

Go localPlan your daysDress à la mode

Ditch the car for ordinarytrips – dustdown the bicycleand get it dustyagain on theextensive rangeof paths

Drive lessDiscoverwalking

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MANY of us, particularly following therecent festivities, are going into the newyear with a resolution to lose the weightthis year and keep it off forever.

Before you embark on another diet, askyourself the following questions:

When do you find yourself reachingfor food?

What are the foods that you mostwant to eat?

What is most often the reason thatyou give up on a diet?

Are your present eating habits result-ing in an illness such as diabetes or heartdisease?

Most people begin a weight loss pro-gramme with good intentions only tofind themselves losing a few pounds, butthen quickly being drawn back to old eat-ing habits.

Research has shown that we not onlyeat when we are hungry, but also whenwe are lonely, stressed, bored, unhappy,angry, disappointed or depressed, and soon. These are some of the feelings that may be undermining your goodintentions.

Further research shows that eatingstimulates the pleasure centres in thebrain and there is no doubt that foodbrings us pleasurable feelings, which may

be at the heart of many failed diets. It isan interesting fact that even when some-one knows that their eating behaviour ismaking them ill, they still find it difficultto change.

In order to lose weight and keep it offforever we need to examine when andwhy we eat the way we do and find otherways to deal with the more negative feel-ings that send us searching for the choco-late or having that second helping ofdessert.

There is no secret to losing weight.There are no pills or potions that willkeep the weight off us forever, suchremedies will only ever give temporaryresults. Moreover we cannot lose weightto please someone else. The decision tochange our eating habits must be oursalone, but it helps if friends and familyare supportive. We may already know

that we need to eat the right foods in theright quantities and also that we need toexercise more, but becoming aware ofwhat issues may be behind our eatinghabits is an essential place to start.Dieting is a lonely process often filledwith failure, perhaps it is time to trysomething different.

Glenys Forrester of MGF CounsellingServices is not a dietician and is notoffering a diet programme, but has manyyears of experience in cognitive behav-ioural psychology, in relation to health,particularly in the field of eating disor-ders, such as binge eating, anorexia andbulimia. Exploring the reasons behindyour eating habits with her might be thefirst step to resolving your weight problems and to a healthier, happier life.

05 53 50 07 28mglenys.forrester@gmail.comwww.mgfcounselling.comwww.relationshiprecover.com

Glenys Forrester at MGF Counsellingbelieves that understanding why youeat is the best strategy for achievinglong-term weight loss

ADVERTISING FEATURE

Are you overweight?Have you tried everydiet and failed to keepthe weight off? It maynot be what you areeating, but what is eat-ing you, says GlenysForrester

A different strategy for keeping weight off

Exercise 13www.dordogneadvertiser.comser January 2012

CHEF Mike Allen and his French wife Soniakeep fit by cycling, walking – and working 120hours a week.

Mike, 39, faces the temptation of greatFrench cooking every day because for the last18 months he has owned and run La Fermedes Mares, a guesthouse, restaurant and cook-ery school in Saint-Germain-sur-Ay, nearLessay in the Cotentin, Normandy.

He has good advice for other Brits and saysthat the apparent ability of French people totuck into good food with-out gaining weight isn’treally so puzzling.

“They enjoy smaller, reg-ular meals, allow time to letit digest (so they feel satis-fied), and drink less thanpeople do in the UK. Half-bottles of wine betweentwo people are quite usual,especially at lunchtime.

“I kept my weight incheck when I first camehere by converting an oldstables into this business.Now, I stay in shape easily.”

Mike, Sonia and theirfour-year-old son Evanenjoy cycling along thevoies vertes and walking on the nearby saltmarshes, gathering edible wild plants such assamphire and seakale, which feature on Mike’smenus along with local vegetables, fish andmeat. He says: “Another tip is to change yourmenus regularly. We do that at the restaurant,so clients have a chance to enjoy variety.

“If you just eat lots of cheese, butter,baguettes and tartes aux pommes, deliciousthough they are, you will pile on weight.”

Alex Charles’s waistline expanded when hemoved to Roujan, in Languedoc-Roussillon,eight years ago.

The former “Essex boy”, now 44, runs aproperty and tourism website, web designbusiness and guesthouse with partner GregTaylor, 41.

Both men had been working in advertisingbefore making the move to France. “I quicklyrealised that my lack of fitness was caused bysitting for hours at my computer, guzzling

cheese and drinking lots oflocal wine,” says Alex.

“When you get up at 6.30every morning to startwork, it’s no fun if you startthe day feeling bloated andgroggy. It’s beautiful here,so why waste time nursinga hangover?

“We decided to try theFrench way of keeping fit.

“We live just 20 minutesfrom the coast, and planour days around activitiessuch as swimming, sailing,tennis, kayaking and walk-ing. We prefer this kind ofoutdoor exercise to work-ing out in a gym.

“We didn’t have a clue about the little markson the side of the road indicating the networkof footpaths here, so we learned about it.

“The Topo-guide books show lots of routesand the website of the Fédération Francaise dela Randonnée Pédestre (see below) has somuch information. They are brilliant.

“Also, I no longer feel obliged to match ourguests drink for drink. After all, they are onholiday, but we live here.”

www.weightwatchers.frWeight Watchers’ French website has useful cookingand exercise ideas and French recipes – free to every-one. You can also join this slimming club online and gethelp with your fitness campaign.

www.ff-hatha-yoga.comVisit the Fédération Française de Hatha Yoga websiteand type in your numéro de département for the name ofyour nearest qualified teacher. These exercises andbreathing techniques beat stress and firm up your body.

www.ffrandonnee.frIf you fancy any kind of walking the Fédération Francaisede la Randonnée Pédestre has hundreds of suggestions,backed up by maps and links to 3,350 member clubs.You can also sign up to help maintain the network of180,000km of signposted paths or learn how to navigate

www.mountainpassions.comRun by mountain expert Roger Moss, this site combinesthe best of summer and winter leisure in the Frenchmountains with tips, routes and lots of advice

FITNESS TIP: Look for websites that can help you shape up. Here are some we recommend

If you just eat lotsof cheese, butter,and baguettes youwill pile on weightMike Allen

“

I no longer feelobliged to matchmy guests drink for drinkAlex Charles

“

Walking is the simplestform of exercise – notraining require

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Alex Charles takes his petdog to help keep him goingwhen the going gets tough

Mike Allen and hisfamily take to thecountryside to keep fit

THE Dordogne is full of local sporting associations to help youget in shape. Below is a list of associations and contacts across arange of sporting activities.

Ufolep is France’s leading multi-sport association and UfolepDordogne has an informative website covering a range of sportsfrom swimming and aerobics to cycling and pétanque. Visit their website www.ufolep.laligue24.org

The Dordogne is at the forefront of promoting Nordic walkingin France with the conseil general subsidising and supportingthe sport. Nordic walking is said to be good for everyone fromthe young to the very old and is especially recommended forthose recovering from illness or trying to tackle obesity. Visit: Nordic Walking Perigord:http://sites.google.com/site/nordicwalkingperigord/ for further details.

The Comité de judo Dordogne provides information on judoand classes across the department. Judo is popular in theDordogne and there are numerous clubs so finding one nearyou should not be difficult. Visit: www.judo-dordogne.fr ortelephone the Dojo Départemental, Avenue Winston Churchill,24660 Coulounieix Chamiers on 05 53 08 47 18

What better place to ramble than in the beautiful Dordognecountryside? La randonnée is the Dordogne’s third most popu-lar pastime and many communes have rambling associations.The Comité Départemental de la Randonnée Pédestre deDordogne provides information on rambling events and associ-ations across the department. Visit: CDRP 24 at 362 AvenueWinston Churchill 24660 Coulounieix Chamiers or call05 53 53 71 46 or visit: http://rando24.com/.If you would rather ramble alone, tourist offices should be ableto provide you with maps showing local footpaths.

Cycling is a big Dordogne favourite with many residents beinginspired by the Tour de France. The Comité Départemental deCyclisme de la Dordogne has a list of clubs as well as plenty ofinformation on cycling. Visit: http://cdc24.e-monsite.com/ Ifyou fancy going solo, your local tourist office should be able toprovide a map of cycle routes - les voies vertes - in your area.

From football to roller skating, a list of sporting venues andassociations can be found on this site, just click sport on themenu: www.guide-du-perigord.com

If none of the above tickle your fancy or if you simply want tofind out what is available near you, ask in your local mairie -they should be able to provide you with a list of local sportingassociations, facilities and details of local fitness classes.

Join a local club- there are plenty to choose from

Sport

Walking

Judo

Rambling

Cycling

More info

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Fight the flab by keepingactive and watching diet

14 What’s On Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

notice board

A CHARITY golfing event hasraised an impressive €2,500 forlocal charities.

The event at Souillac Golf andCountry Club was held in aid ofCancer Support France(CSF) anda local church fund.

A total of 72 players took part inthe shotgun tee-off. Amongstthem was the Captain of Briverugby club, Antonie Claassen andfellow players Petrus Hauman,Scott Spedding and Pat Barnard.

In the evening, more than 100people attended the dinner whichwas followed by the presentationof prizes. Anne and Mike O’Harawere presented with best team

prize – a remarkable achievementas the couple only took up golf ayear or so ago!

During the evening, guests wereentertained by a local ice sculptorwho created a golfer.

There was also a raffle and auc-tion, with donated prizes includ-ing Brive rugby memorabilia andtwo return flights to the UKdonated by CityJet.

Susan Evans, the country clubboard secretary and the club staffwere delighted with the success ofthe event, which raised more than€2,500 with €1,500 going to theDordogne Est and Lot branch ofCSF.

Golfers who play around for charity

FAMILYPérigueux

Périgord BlancJanuary 11 Vibrations by the

Compagnie 14 : 20 – thisshow full of new magic willentertain the whole family.

The performers will fly, defydeath, change identities and

disappear as if by magic.Theshow brings together dance,

circus acts, shadow theatreand art.White balls dance atan abnormally slow pace and

seem never to touch theground, mysterious images

trick the senses and theactors are constantly

changing throughout theshow. Suitable for children

from eight years old. ThéâtreOdyssee, Périgueux, 20.30.Adults €20, Children €8.

Call 05 53 53 18 71www.odyssee-perigueux.fr

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PérigueuxFAMILY

January 18 Clowns – The Boudu familylive in a cave, and Zig and Arletti go to visitthem. Arletti adores the theatre, so whenhe finds a piece from King Lear he decidesto try and act it out.The adventures thatfollow are in true slap-stick style and willhave the whole family crying with laughter.20.30, Centre Culturel Agora, Boulzac.Call 05 53 35 59 65

January 29 National Bordeaux Aquitaine Orchestra – Andris Poga willdirect the orchestra in this homage to nature and open spaces.Theatre L'Odyssée, Périgueux, 15.00.Adults €22, Children €8.

Call 05 53 53 18 71www.odyssee-perigueux.fr

MUSICPérigueux

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GGeettGGeettIInnvvoollvveedd!!IInnvvoollvveedd!!

IT IS easy to feel glum as the coldweather persists, and many of us arefeeling the post Christmas blues – butnow is the perfect time to catch up onyour reading.

If you need an excuse to get out ofthe house, then joining a book club orgoing to a book swap may be the verything. Buying English books in theDordogne isn’t easy and it certainlyisn’t cheap either, but there are a num-ber of ways to get hold of them with-out breaking the bank – and you mayjust make friends at the same time.

The Fiddler’s Rest in Chaleix, nearThiviers, has a permanent book swapfrom 17.00, Tuesday to Saturday andfrom 12.00 on Sunday.

The Star Inn holds a book swap on aWednesday, from 12.00-15.00 and alsohosts a reading club at 14.00 on thesecond Wednesday of each month.Contact tania.rogers@live.com.

NEDWA (North East Dordogne’sWomen’s Association) have alsorecently started up a book club, whichmeets in the Kitsch Café in Excideuilat 10.30 on the second Monday of eachmonth. Visit www.nedwa.com

Meanwhile, for a small fee you canjoin Thiviers library – details of open-ing hours are on their website:http://thiviers-bibliotheque.over-blog.fr/pages/Nos_coordonnees-2052847.html – or visit La BibliotèqueAnglaise in Meyrals. It is open from14.00-16.00 on Monday and 10.00-12.00 on Wednesdays. See their web-site for more details: http://carmen-sac.com/english_library_01.html

If you fancy testing your French thentake an unwanted book or two withyou and stroll around Bergerac andSarlat till you find the communitybook exchange boxes dotted aroundthe town.

If you like a good bookwhy not join the club?

Promote your community event, send details to dordogne@dordogneadvertiser.com

Susan Evans presents a cheque to Margaret York, President of CSFDordogne Est & Lot, watched by Anne and Mike O’Hara

What’s On 15Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

January

Périgord VertLa-Rochebeaucourt-

et-Argentine

January 15 Concours de cavage (truffle hunting competition) – Goalong to see demonstrations of how truffles are found. 8.00-13.30Call 05 53 56 44 55

FAMILY

January 31 Musique en bibliothèque – Teachers fromthe Dordogne Conservatoryof Music have organised sessions to help peopleimprove how they listen tomusic. Each session will be on adifferent theme; the history ofmusic, musical training, a specifictype of music.They narrate andoffer extracts to listen to as well aspresenting instruments. Sessions areon Tuesdays, Parc municipal, Salle duboulodrome 14.00-15.30,Entrance is FREE.Call 05 53 62 0882

ThiviersMUSIC

Périgord PourpreCULTUREBergerac

January 28 Burns Supper – Aquitaine Langues is getting together with Gite dans le Jardin tocelebrate the famous Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Set in the grounds of the tobacco institutein Bergerac, Domaine de La Tour on the Route Ste Alvère will open the doors to its GrandSalon and put on a meal that will will make all local Scots proud.The menu includes cock-a-leekie soup, Haggis chappit neeps and tatties, a wee dram Scottish trifle and tablet.Tickets cost€40 per person, payable on booking.For enquiries and tickets Call 05 53 74 17 85 or email admin@aquitainelangues.fr

BergeracCULTURE

January 19 The Rhythm of the Seasons inPre-Historic Art - Denis Tauxe, Eminentlecturer in charge of training theLascaux II guides, will be giving a lectureabout the rhythm of the seasons which regulated everyday life and movement ofcavemen and will question whether theartistic animal representations in thecaves are a reference to a particulartime of year? The lecture will be in clearand accessible French,Aquitaine Languescentre, route Sainte Alvère, Bergerac,19.00. Price €7 which includes a lightbuffet and wine.Please book in advance.Call 05 53 74 17 85or email admin@aquitainelangues.fr

January is the month for music in Eymet, with three concerts taking placethis month.

January 14 Le Free du Hazart – This young trio from Toulouse will introduce you totheir new-jazz style as part of Le Off winter festival, organised by Maquizart. Salle desFêtes, Eymet, Price €10.Call 05 53 23 82 37 or visit www.maquizart.com January 21 Concert by Lily Justine – As a guest of the Mairie of Eymet and theDepartmental Cultural Department, Lily Justine will sing her latest songs from her albumDes Bouts de Contes. Salle des Fêtes Eymet, 20.30.Adults: €5, Children €2, family ticket€10.For information and to book, call 05 53 22 22 10January 28 Anne Pacéo Jazz Quintet – Again part of Le Off festival, the Anne Pacéo jazzQuintet will be playing at the Salle des fêtes in Eymet.Call 05 53 23 82 37 or visit www.maquizart.com

Eymet MUSIC

Sarlat OUT AND ABOUTJanuary 14-15 Fête de la Truffe.This international,gastronomic festival always attracts lots of visitorsfrom connoisseurs to passionate truffle lovers.Theprogram for the weekend includes cookery courses given by Sarlat's Catering school, tasting sessions, culinary & truffle weight contests, workshops on how to identify truffles, markets and much, much more. Place de la Liberté, Sarlat.Call 05 53 31 45 45

Périgord Noir

January 28 Carmen, Ballet Antonio Gadès - Ballet adapted from works by Mérimée and Bizetwhich became known to the public when it was made into a film by Carlos Saura. It tells a dramatic story of a husband and toreador and his predictable death.The story unravels withbrutality worthy of an ancient tragedy. Salle Paul Eluard, Sarlat, 21.00.Adults €37, reduced rate€25. Call 05 53 31 09 49

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16 Directory Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

Find registered tradespeople quickly and easily

English-speaking firms near you

DORDOGNEADVERTISER

For your security, we check that the French businesses in this section are officially registered with the authorities

PLASTERING POINTINGRENDERING &

GENERAL BUILDING“Quality & Reliability” 35 Years Experience

Tel : 05 57 47 48 19Email : pessacweb@yahoo.co.uk

Areas 24,33 Other areas Considered. Based St Foy La GrandeSiret: 482 710 175

GARDEN SERVICESCreation of Garden Maintenance & Tree surgery

High quality in respect with naturePhilippe Brulé -30 years experience

Tel. 05 65 34 09 91Working dept: south 19, 46

Email: brule.philippe0346@orange.fr

BOIS D'ARBRE CONSTRUCTIONSpecialists in Oak frames, Timber houses

and carpentryTel: 06 72 01 11 06

web: www.boisdarbreconstruction.comemail: info@boisdarbreconstruction.com

Siret 4899 5394 30011

ArchitectRenovation - new construction.

Projects, all phases of construction.Sarl d'Architecture

David Besse Architecte dplgGrange Neuve 24140 Saint Martin des Combes.

05 53 82 44 75 - 06 17 51 26 00besse_archi@yahoo.fr

PARKES et DUCELIERArchitectes

UK and French RegisteredArchitects

Dossiers for Permis deConstruireInterior and

Landscape designOrdre des Architectes No. 1867

Tel: 05 53 09 33 45E: mail@parkes-ducellier.comW: www.parkes-ducellier.com

Depts: 16,19,24,33,87 Siret: 488 165 564 00011

Landscape ArchitectFREE CONSULTATION

Site analysis, schematic designs,construction plans, cost estimates

construction observation, Contact Michael Stanton

Tel : 05 53 54 63 65www.landplan.fr - E-mail: mike@landplan.fr

De Ryck ElisabethInterior ArchitectRenovation or New Construction

* Private Homes * Shops * Offices *

20 years experience

Tel: 06 30 63 20 40

deryck.interiors@gmail.comDepts 19,24,46,47,82

Languages spoken: English, French, Dutch

Le Colombié, 46600 Montvalent

ABP SASURenovation and construction of buildings and

swimming pools. New timber framed constructions. Negotiation of diverse products

Tel Alan Fisk: 05 53 56 68 87Email: abp.sasu@orange.fr

GOLDENWAYINTERNATIONAL PETS

& LIVE ANIMALS

World Wide PetRelocator

Ministry approvedNo. 61195004 – 61195001Offices CDG Airport Paris

Offices and Kennels Normandy

Tel: 01 48 62 87 25 CDG ParisTel: 02 33 38 41 32 Normandy

www.goldenwaypets.comSiret: 397549551

ANIMAL COURIERSExperienced couriers specialisingin pet travel between France / UK /

Spain or within France. Pet passport advice.

Tel: 0044 (0) 1483200123Email: animals@animalcouriers.com

Web: www.animalcouriers.com

Ad No. 10862

THE DORDOGNE CATTERY

PENSION POUR CHATS NEARSARLAT, OPEN-AIR, INSULATED

AND HEATEDCONTACT ANNA MASLEN

05 53 31 95 88 / 06 86 94 85 78p.maslen@wanadoo.fr

www.dordognecattery.com

The Cats InnLuxury Cattery - Cales near Lalinde - Very

Spacious - Lots of Love and Attention

Tel: Paula 05 53 24 14 42www.thecatsinncattery.com

paulaL24150@aol.comSiret No.520 980 269 00010

La Creme de la CremeSmall, Caring, purpose

built DOG FREE catterynear Nontron.

Tel: 05 53 56 05 17email: colfi.day@gmail.com

www.la-creme-de-la-creme.comsiret 51963554400017

WAGS AND WHISKERS

British owned boarding kennelsand cattery 35 years experience

Tel: 05 65 35 46 51www.wagsandwhiskerskennels.co.uk

Dept 46, near Cazals SIRET: 500607858

CLOS FLEURILuxury Cattery

Between Bergerac and BordeauxIndividual Love Care and Attention Given

Tel: 05 53 24 16 08Susan.fairweather@sfr.fr

www.closfleurionline.comSiret: 524 348 596 00015

Chenil Les Mille CalinsEnglish Run

5 Star accommodation for Dogs/Cats

Underfloor heated kennels Qualified staff Top Quality food and exercise Only 45 minutes south of Caen Convenient Ferry Access

www.goldenwaypets.comTelephone 02 33 37 49 19Emergency 02 33 38 41 32

Fax 02 33 38 44 16

By advertising in our directory youget the chance to run advertorials (thearticles you see on these pages.) 1/3page, maximum 500 words plus photo,

€200HT

2/3 page, maximum 1,000 words plusphoto, €400HT

We will keep you up to date with

features and special events in yourarea of France in all our publicationswhich could help to boost your busi-ness.

Your ad included in our online

directory for FREE.Want to advertise in our national

paper The Connexion or sister papersin other regions? Get 50% off yoursecond directory advert.

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Directory 17Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

AXA INSURANCE

J. LECLUZEST HILAIRE DU HARCOUET - 50600

HOME - CAR - HEALTHWe insure UK registered cars

ENGLISH SPOKEN(call Angeline) - 02 33 49 12 34

englishspokenlecluze.e-monsite.com

SAPEG expertiseet conseil

Registered Chartered Accountants

- Business set up and registration - Business accountancy

- Income tax,Wealth tax- Payroll and legal services

Contact Alain: 05 53 92 50 00Email: a.clisson@sapeg.experts-

comptables.frwww.sapeg.experts-comptables.fr

EXECO PARTNERSCertified Accountants (FR)

Serving English Clients in France

Accounting, Payroll, Business Setup and

registration, Individual& Business Taxation

and more...Please feel welcome to contact:

Mr Pierre CHERON(Expert-Comptable)

on Tél: 05.53.54.48.91Email: contact@execopartners.com

www.execopartners.eu

HOUSES ONINTERNET

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Our fee is only 2.5%Find out how on:

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Tel: 05 55 65 12 19

For all your electrical requirementscontact

AK Electrical30 years experience/Fully insured

ak-electrical@hotmail.co.ukTel 06 32 31 61 85

siret: 494 064 322 00014

Brian Macey - Electricianmaintenance, breakdowns, renovations,

rewires, new build, interior & exterior30 years experience

Tel: 05 55 97 18 10Email: brimacelectrical@supanet.comSiret: 517 566 196 00013 Regions Covered: 19,24,87

ALL ELECTRICAL/PLUMBING WORK

Underfloor Heating/ AerothermiePremiere service guaranteed

St Yrieux / Brive / Perigueux / SarlatTel: 06 37 09 55 13

Website: http://eurolec24.com/Email: james.gunn@club-internet.fr

Siret: 489 542 589 00010

Kennedy Electricite ServicesInstallation, rewires and repairs.

20+ years experience.Fully insured. No job too small.

Contact Justin or Melissa Kennedy.Tel: 05 55 56 37 36

Email: justin.kennedy@orange.frRegions 87/24 Siret 503 417 04000014

LE FRANCAISCHEZ VOUS

Tailor made tuition in French at yourhome or Castel-Merle, 24290 Sergeac.

Amanda and Emilie MillinshipTel: 05 53 50 04 68

www.lefrancaischezvous.comDordogne

CERTIFIED TRANSLATIONSAll legal transla-tions by French-English speaking sworn translator

Property-legal-birth cert.,driving licences

Administrative helpExpat assistanceValid everywhere

with 25 years of experienceRegions : All FRANCEKaren RENEL-KINGTel: 06 18 03 18 38

Email: karen.king@wanadoo.frWeb:

www.certifiedfrenchtranslation.comFast and affordable

Siret: 38058374000028

LLaa PPeettiittee MMaaiissoonn ddeess LLaanngguueess

38, rue Jean Jaurès, 24800 THIVIERSTel: 05 53 52 49 91

E: lapetitemaisondeslangues@orange.frW: www.lapetitemaisondeslangues.comLearn French and feel at home again !

Small groups, 1to1, weekly orintensive courses and translations

French WithoutTears

One to OneLanguage Course.

Tuition with Accomodationwww.cours-a-cucugnan.com

Tel: 06 78 15 19 29Siret: 521701474 - Ad No. 17685

Tailor Made French LessonsIn Your Home

By an experienced French teacherALL LEVELS

Group, Individual or ConversationTel: 06 83 48 82 05

Siret : 530585181

alan keenan

ti lingall wall & floor tiling, pool surrounds, terraces,

concrete & sand / cement work, plasterboardingTel: 06 19 50 34 28 or 05 53 23 24 54

Email: alankeenano@gmail.comRegions Covered: 24,47 Siret: 47794615600015

MGF CounsellingServices

English Speaking Counselor. M. Glenys Forrester

(B.Sc.psych.) (M.Sc. psych.)

Offering individual /couples counselling.

(Depression, Stress, illness,bereavement etc).

Tel: 05 53 50 07 28Mob: 06 47 17 60 78

Email: mglenys.forrester@gmail.comWeb: www.mgfcounselling.com

Regions Covered: All - Siret: 520 314 824

Internet by satellite, Streamedand satellite TV on computer,

Networking and network streaming, Cloud computing.

Mob: +33 (0) 6 44 01 70 63

Tel: +33 (0) 5 53 51 87 53 / +33 (0) 9 70 40 82 31

E-mail: John@JohnAin.org

WEBSITESBoost your business with anaffordable, high-performance

website that you can edit yourselfwww.rob-tomlinson.com

Tel: 05 62 67 39 98rt@rob-tomlinson.com

Regions: All France Siret: 419 490 297 00027

Penny Graphicsquality

websitesProfessional, bespoke design,

websites you can edit.Hosting and domain name

included.pennygraphics.net

Tel: 02 33 90 92 15

PC-TECHNICASolutions to all your computing needs...

PC Support/Sales & Website Design

Tel: 05 53 59 48 54 Email: contact@pc-technica.fr

www.pc-technica.fr

Voilà!Web Solutions

Exclusive multilingual websites competitively

priced. PersonalisedFacebook, Twitter and

blogs part of a completeservice to make your

business highly visible onthe Internet.

www.voilawebsolutions.cominfo@voilawebsolutions.comTel: Harvey 05 53 81 03 78

CCAARRPPEENNTTRRYY - BBUUIILLDDIINNGG - RREENNOOVVAATTIIOONN

Excideuil - Hautefort - TerrassonRob Hayward

TTeell:: 0055 5533 5511 9900 8800 MMoobb:: 0066 7700 8899 7722 0066hhaayywwaarrdd..aarrttiissaann@@ggmmaaiill..ccoomm

Siret: 45340867600022

JUST PLASTERINGCeilings, walls, floors

Time served tradesman24, 33, 47, other regions possibleContact Mike Tel: 05 53 58 17 19

Mob: 06 67 03 30 48Email: thewebbsonweb@free.fr

Siret no: 42424381400011

SMALL BUILDING WORKS Repointing, Plasterboarding, windows,

doors installed.Translations, planning permissions.

Tel: 05 53 56 36 89 Email: daveindordogne@sfr.fr www.dordognedave.webs.com

Regions Covered 24,16,87 - Siret: 51913926500010

GENERAL BUILDERChris Danaher

20 Years ExperienceFREE ESTIMATES

Tel: 05 53 05 80 17 Mobile: 06 71 40 35 39danaherone@aol.com Siret:51064303400018

BergeracRenovation & Building

From groundwork, fosseseptiques, masonary,interiors, to rooves.

Free estimates & adviceTel: 05 53 81 60 73

christopher.jarrett@wanadoo.fr

3D CONSTRUCTIONFamily run building company with

over 30 yrs experience

All construction worksundertaken large orsmall incl. masonry,

carpentry and roofingBased nr. Sarlat

Free estimates - References availableTel: 06 31 21 32 04

Email: simon.dobson@neuf.frsiret: 505 346 676 00016

Team of English artisansfor all your renovation needs

in the Perigord NoirEmail: creation.ex@gmail.com

Telephone: Simon - 06 37 21 24 02Glen - 06 71 85 43 24

Siret: 5045 8000 2000 13 - 5206 6045 7000 18

BÂTI-TOP SARL

CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATIONMEDIUM/LARGE PROJECTS

UNDERTAKEN10 YEAR INSURED GUARANTEE

www.bati-top.com05 53 73 02 88 - Siret: 9868562700016

C&C CONSTRUCTION SARLQualified Builder

15 Years Experience10 Years Insurance Guarantee

All Building/Groundworks undertakenTel: 05 53 62 13 38 / 06 63 84 79 99Email: cc-construction@orange.fr

www.cc-construction.fr

RON HARRISONGeneral Builder

City & Guilds qualified, 35yrs experience, reliable, ALL WORK GUARANTEED

Tel: 05 53 80 42 91 Mob: +44 759 286 5010

Email: angelaharrisson@orange.fr25km radius Mussidan(24) Siret: 51352715000017

Paul GentFully Qualified & Insured Builder

including:• Renovation • Masonry

• Plastering • Plus Hard LandscapingTel: 05 53 29 08 86 Mob: 07 60 52 43 40

email: barbgent@gmail.com30km radius Sarlat ( 24 ) Siret : 513 209 189

ADVERTISING FEATURE

DESPITE the repercussions of the on-going financial crisis, St Pools Piscineshas experienced an increase in salesthroughout 2011 across its range ofswimming pools.

“When I returned from my summerbreak this year my inbox was full withenquiries from new customers who hadbeen recommended by previous clients,”said company owner Stuart Roberts. “Byearly September we were near on fullybooked for the 2012 summer season formy AquaVerre pools (GRP lined) andthere was only one of the AquaPierre(Pebble Tec) pools left.”

The company also has one indoor poolbooked for autumn 2012 and another forsummer 2013. Relining pools is anotherpart of the business and Stuart is nowconsidering taking on more GRP lami-nators to assist his son (also called

Stuart) with the extra demand on bothnew pools and refurbishments.

“It is possible still to do one or twomore pools, as plans are now on courseto increase the company’s manpower,”said Stuart. “But I would advise anybodywanting a pool to contact us soon so asto guarantee a finish before July, espe-cially if we have another wet summer.”

He added: “We fill our order booksevery year by Christmas or late January,but orders for 2012 have been phenome-nal and I will seriously have to up themanpower if this trend continues.”

Stuart, a qualified civil engineer, wasformerly employed by Gloucester City Council where he managed infra-structure projects, which included highways, sewers, bridge works and balancing lakes.

“I cut my teeth as a young engineer

working for the London Borough ofRedbridge, where I was involved in thedesign and implementation of anythingthat landed on my desk, including therefurbishment and repairs of the Ilfordbaths, which are a bit bigger than youraverage garden pool,” he said.

Stuart has been designing and buildingpools for over 30 years. “Although mypools are traditional steel, reinforcedconcrete and finished in superior gradeliners, they are not over-designed struc-turally,” he said.

“This makes a high quality pool thatcompetes well in terms of cost with thesame structured pool with a plastic liner.In addition, the design is limited only byyour imagination as the fluidity of thefinishing waterproofing is not restrictedas it is with flat sheet plastic liners.”

The Hubert is currently his best-selling

pool. “It is popular with gîte owners as itis designed for all ages and includes anintegral toddler pool that can double as ahydro massage area.”

To discuss your swimming pool needscontact Stuart directly or visit his web-

site, which also contains a gallery featuring some of the many pools he has constructed over the last ten years.

05 53 91 45 18www.aquapierre.com

Stuart Roberts of St Pools Piscines has been building pools for over 30 years

Swimming pool demand defies economic crisis

18 Directory Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

HEATHROW LEFT HANDDRIVE CENTRE LTD

Rear Of 55 Cowley Road,Uxbridge UB8 2AE

Tel: +44 (0)208 8487407Tel: +44 (0)1895 81 23 23

Mobile: +44 (0)7811 784766We Specialise in buying

and selling Left HandDrive quality vehicles.

We have a variety of cars mostly onFrench/Spanish and English registrations.

We have over 11 years of professional experiencein the motor trade.

Web: Heathrowlhdcentre.comE: info@heathrowlhdcentre.com

LANDROVER*MG*ROVER*JAGUAR*

AUSTIN-MORRIS PARTSELECTRONIC DIAGNOSTICS &

GEARBOX REPAIRSWWW.LANDYPOINT.NET

0545622720

''MMaassssaaggeess aanndd wweellll bbeeiinngg aatt CCaasstteellnnaauudd llaa CChhaappeellllee''

With

Sophie NALIN, massage practitioner- Relaxing massage with organic oils

- Wave and vibration massage techniques- Energising massage- Shiatsu Amma Assis

Tel: 06 79 67 38 06

Souillac Golf &Country Club

Play golf all year round in the

Dordogne Valley.

Challenging 18-hole course, driving range, pools, tennis, bar,

restaurant, accommodation

www.souillaccountryclub.com

Tel : 05 65 27 56 00

DDiissccoovveerr aallll 77 GGoollff CCoouurrsseess

RReedduucceedd ffaarreessbbeettwweeeenn 2200 -- 3300%%

GGoollff PPaassss DDoorrddooggnneeAvailable on line

wwwwww..ggoollff--ddoorrddooggnnee--ppeerriiggoorrdd..ccoomm

G. W.Makeovers & Design

English Kitchens/ Bathrooms/appli-ances direct from UK manufacturersFull range of French kitchens sup-plied Free design/planning service

Installations/Makeovers/Installations Only/Tiling

Granite and Stoneworksurfaces available

Areas: 24 33 47Call 05 53 58 09 32 or

06 58 92 09 97siret: 510 011 554 00019

One stop for all your renovation works. Specialistsin kitchens and bathrooms.

Free devis/quotes.Contact details.

Phone: 05 53 61 77 28 / 06 85 16 35 69e-mail: renovation4u@hotmail.com

Siret: 50281715800012

LIMEUILCHURCH

(at Limeuil Haut)ANGLICAN SERVICES

EVERY SUNDAY10.30am Christmas Carol service

Thursday December 15th, 6.00pmEveryone is warmly welcomed

TEL: 05 53 31 18 04www.churchinaquitaine.org

EExxcclluussiivveeHHeeaalltthhccaarreeYour Helping Hand to the

French Health System

+33 (0) 4 94 40 31 45www.exclusivehealthcare.com

Café ChurchBergerac

An English speaking approachto contemporary Christianity

Tea and Cake from 5pmCafe Church from 5.30pm for an hour

Sundays January 22 February 26and March 25

Sponsored by and held at L'Eglise

Evangelique Libre de Bergerac, 5 Rue Durou

For more details contact Reverend Derek & Pam Cook

derekcook3@sky.com or Peter Shire

05 53 22 74 08www.christiansindordogne.com

Ad No. 2467

Garden Design Service by professionalLandscape Architect/Garden Designerfrom conception to supervision of installation

Virginia Fletcher BA, Dip (Hons) LA, MLA

Tel: 05 53 62 51 94Mob: 06 24 92 82 57

E-mail: virginia.fletcher@aliceadsl.frSiret: 44943716900013 - Ad No. 17855

Prêt à Plonger Piscine installation, repairs &

maintenance. Bespoke pools, noproject too big or small.

Complete package includinggroundwork, terracing/decking and

pool security.Simon & Julia Holt

0619 071121 or 0553 620152or Julia: 06 32 10 39 92

simon.holt@wanadoo.frwww.pretaplongerpools.com

Siret: 49397835700017

MOLE CATCHERNO MOLE - NO FEE!

Call johnthemoleman

tel 05 53 22 07 32 mob 06 06 40 92 97e-mail johnthemoleman@aol.com

siret 51249460000012

IN DEEPPISCINES

Maintenance, leak detection, servicing, repairs

tel: 05 53 22 79 18 / 06 84 68 84 92email: indeeppiscines@gmail.com

regions: 47, 32, 82, 24, 33 - siret: 504576802100020

TIP TOPGarden &

Property ServicesGarden Maintenance

Hedge Trimming - TreesCutting - Strimming

General Property MaintenanceProperty checks/Keyholding

Photo updatesContact Barry OnTel: 05 53 29 03 52

Mobile: 06 24 07 31 14E: paula.grainger@wanadoo.frDept 24 - Radius 50 kms Sarlat

Siret: 49372365400015

PISCINE AMBIANCEMore than 20 years

as regional leader in reinforcedconcrete pools.

Thanks to exclusive technologyand no outsourcing, 98% of ourclients readily recommend us!

With PISCINE AMBIANCEinvest in happiness!

PISCINE AMBIANCE - ZAC du Mazaud19100 BRIVE - + 33 (0)5 55 18 98 18

contact@piscineambiance.comwww.piscineambiance.com

24 SERVICESComplete Home and Garden Maintenance

Bourdeilles 24310Tel: 06 02 34 85 38

www.24services.frSiret: 52841725600013

Jardins du Périgord- Design - Creation

- Garden management

High quality work by qualified gardeners

www.jardinsduperigord.com

pools-piscines.comSwimming pool construction and repairs

Natural pools - Replacement liners standardand liner 'armé' 150/100

NW Dordogne/South Charentetel 06 89 46 15 08 / 09 77 90 94 51

www.pools-piscines.comsiret 322 963 190 000 36

Roots & ShootsProfessional tree surgeryCall Mark for a free quote

05 53 75 05 48 - 06 89 79 05 02rootsandshoots.fr@gmail.com.

www.roots-shoots.frSiret number 452-803-539-00017

St Pool PiscinesConcrete Piscines. Cost effectively

engineered. No expensive overdesign, expertly constructed

Order now for 2012.stpoolsfrance@gmail.comStuart Roberts B.Sc (c.eng)

Phone: 0553914518www.aquapierre.com

€€ £U RR AR NE SN FC EY R

PIONEER FRANCEBest rates from the market leader

info@pioneerfrance.comwww.pioneerfrance.com/currency

Tel: 05 53 07 06 27

€€ £U RR AR NE SN FC EY R

PIONEER FRANCEBest rates from the market leader

info@pioneerfrance.comwww.pioneerfrance.com/currency

Tel: 05 53 07 06 27

FRENCH INSURANCE - IN ENGLISH

For people who live in/ own property in

FranceStraight-forward, honest advice onthe best house, car, life & health

insurance policies for youOver 15 years experience inFrench insurance markets

English, Dutch & German spoken.Philippe Schreinemachers

www.insurance.frTel: 05 62 29 20 00

Email: cover@insurance.frRCS Auch B479 400 657 - Regions: All France

ADVERTISING FEATURE

THE winter is upon us: cold nights, darkmornings, comfort food is a must, andthose leaves in the garden still need rak-ing up.

With spring just around the corner wecan look forward to getting really activein the garden, but even at this time ofyear there is work on your trees, shrubsand hedges that needs to be done.

We cannot all be climbing up andswinging from trees like Mark Wilson

from Roots & Shoots, so what can theaverage home owner do to help theirtrees throughout the winter?

“Ivy is a slow killer to your trees,” saidMark. “Just cut out six inches of ivy atthe base, but always be careful not to cutinto the bark of your trees. Aeration ofthe soil around the base of the tree isalso important and can be achieved byforking the soil and feeding the rootssystem.”

What else can be done at this time ofyear? “Now is the time to be proactiveregarding the trees in your garden,” saidMark. “Most of the leaves have fallen soyou can clearly see the skeleton of a tree.You should be looking for dangerousdead wood and hanging, broken or splitlimbs. Canker or decay can also be a loteasier to spot at this time of year.”

Mark and his team at Roots & Shoots

are busy all year round and winter is noexception. “Right now we are very busyas it’s a good time for shaping and prun-ing trees,” said Mark. “This is becausethe sap has stopped rising. We can alsosee the overall shape of a tree when theleaves have fallen.”

Mark added: “Don’t forget that winteris the best season for taking out trees asthe rest of the garden is dormant, sothere will be less disruption to existingplants and shrubs.”

For further details of what Roots &Shoots can do, visit the company’s newwebsite or call Mark for free advice anda free visit to your home.

05 53 75 05 4806 89 79 05 02www.roots-shoots.frinfo@roots-shoots.fr Mark Wilson runs Roots & Shoots and offers free tree surgery advice to clients

Tree surgery for winter and the new yearWhat work can you do tothe trees in your garden atthis time of year? MarkWilson of Roots & Shootshas some winter gardeningadvice to share

Directory 19Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

REFLEX MOODYS LTDSALISBURY

REMOVALSUK - FRANCE - UK

• Weekly Service • Full & Part Loads• Container Storage

• BAR Members• On-line Quotation

• Internet Shopping Deliveries00 44 1722 414350

info@reflexmoodys.comwww.reflexmoodys.comCompany Regn No: UK 5186435TVA / VAT No: UK 864 7217 04

SELF STORAGEDOVER

Convenient Flexible Consolidation PointWorking with the Movers Tel: +44(0) 1304 822844

doverinfo@aandsselfstorage.co.ukwww.doverstorage.co.uk

All France

MOVE IN EUROPEThe removal company even the furniture recommendsUK - Europe - Europe - UKwww.moveineurope.com

contact@moveineurope.comTel: +44 121 3503111

Home Tel: 05 53 93 75 52

AAccccoommmmooddaattiioonn MMaannaaggeemmeennttSSeerrvviicceess

SSeerrvviicceess IInncclluuddee::

• CCoommpplleettee pprrooppeerrttyy mmaannaaggeemmeenntt

• CChhaannggee oovveerrss

• PPrrooffeessssiioonnaall llaauunnddrryy sseerrvviicceess

• GGaarrddeenniinngg//PPooooll SSeerrvviicceess

• KKeeyyhhoollddiinngg

• SSeeccuurriittyy cchheecckkss

wwwwww..aaccccmmoonnlliinnee..ccoommTTeell:: ++3333 ((00))555533779933556644

EEccooPPoowweerrThe World's

Leading SolarSystems

Tel: 05 53 62 31 35

www.ecopower.eu.com

SECURITY SYSTEMS

Alarm calls up to 4 numbers ifactivated.

NO ANNUAL CONTRACTSOR MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

Wireless or wired.Cameras with 24/7 recording +

Internet access. Security lighting.Tel: 06 27 76 95 91

E: contact@aquitainealarmes.comW: www.aquitainealarmes.com

Regions Covered: 24, 33, 17, 16SIRET 50793843900019

LOCKES GROUNDWORKS& LANDSCAPING

Digger / driver hire Fosse septiquesExcavations, Building, Renovations

Driveways, Fencing, Decking, Pergolas Tel: 05 53 79 77 61 or 06 42 86 85 31

Email: lockes@orange.frWebsite: www.lockes47.com

DIGITAL INSTALLATIONSWe do not only sell & install

We also repair digiboxesNOW!! All freesat systems available

WITHOUT CARD For more information call00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37

FINNINGER & HELBACH GmbhLe Petit Fouine, 16210 Curac

Tel/Fax: 00 33 (0)5 45 98 25 37email: FinnHans@aol.com

www.digitalsatellitefrance.comSiret: 400 415 246 00026

General BuildingRoofing, loft and barn conversion andproperty renovations. Depts 24, 19, 87

Full team of skilled registered tradesmencharles@hautefortrenovation.com

www.hautefortrenovation.comTel/fax: 05 53 50 12 39Mobile: 06 84 53 08 39

Mini digger hire from100 Euros per day HT

Hammer, auger, dumper,roller etc available

Sarlat, Gourdon and Souillac areas

SARL MaximaTel April on 0613232249

or 0553312115see rates at

www.maximalocation.comSiret no. 498 524 032 00022

SURFACESPolished Concrete Floors, Walls, Worktops

Sinks & Furniture

STONE & TILERestoration, Colouring, Sealing.

Web: www.surfaces24.comEmail: info@surfaces24.com

Tel: 06 82 38 21 12 Siret 51500573400014

SAND AND BLASTSandblasting service for Wood,Metal and Stone. Floor sanding

service / hire available. Tel: 05 55 78 43 71 /

06 67 81 63 46www.sandandblast.com

Areas: 87, 16, 24 Siret: 488 522 921 00029

Balcony & Stair Railings

Window & Door Grills.

Manufacture/Repair/Installation.williamsonsteel.com

williamson_steel@yahoo.com05 53 90 20 17

Experienced and registeredCeramic floor and wall tiler

For a professional Service / QuotationContact 2447 CarrelageTel: 05 53 57 12 19

Email: occitane6@orange.frRegions 24/47 and surroundingSIRET: 4844699200014

Phil B EntrepriseAll Building Works Undertaken

Inc Electrical, Plumbing and HeatingBased 47, 24

Email: enquiries@stoves.frTel: 05 53 84 36 81

Mobile: 06 72 02 88 29

www.swansolar.euSupply & Installation of :

• Solar domestic hot water systems • Solar swimming pool systems

• Wood boiler stoves • Plumbing services Tel : 05 53 63 43 87 / 06 06 41 08 85

Email : maswan@live.co.ukAll depts covered Siret 50406233200011

E B CreationsMetalwork

All interior and exterior ironwork.Dept 47,33,24 covered.

www.ebcreations.net.Tel: 05 53 83 68 15

email: edward@ebcreations.netSiret No. 452 215 403 00018

Signs, vehicle lettering etc.Free advice and quotes, based in the

Dordogne, covering all of France.Tel: 05 53 52 45 82 or 06 32 83 35 97

Email: mark@signsetc.frWeb: www.signsetc.fr

Siret: 491205035 00026 - Ad No. 17751

Plastering Servicesover 20 years experience in france

we undertakePlastering - Partitioning - Plasterboarding

COMPETITIVE PRICESTel: 05 53 56 27 58

Mobile: 06 02 26 17 75Siret: 381 076 967

STAR SATELLITEBritish TV in France

BskyB Qualified - For All Your Satellite NeedsTel: 05 53 80 63 93

Email: contact @starsatellite.frWeb: www.starsatellite.fr

Regions: Dordogne and surrounding DepartmentsSiret: 50196266600019

ASBESTOS ROOFINGALERT!

Act before EU forces removal andbans DIY disposal

Save up to 75% contractor costs

Contact SiteClear for Cheap, Safe, Legal Solution

FREE CONSULTATION

Tel: 09 62 27 94 39email info@siteclear.eu

Siret no. 51438447800012

Dordogne-Correze-PropertiesProperty Finder Service helping the buyer

find their dream home.

Telephone: 06 45 10 21 54 john@dordogne-correze-properties.comwww.dordogne-correze-properties.com

Siret 508 891 983 00019

Clark Property ServicesGarden, Pool and property maintenance

small projects undertaken reliable service

TTeell.. 00003333 ((00))55 5533 5588 6666 3366EEmmaaiill.. sstteevvee@@ccppss2244..ffrrWWeebb.. wwwwww..ccppss2244..ffrr

Siret. 493688626

PLUMBING & HEATINGINSTALLATIONS

SERVICING & REPAIRSRENOVATIONS, AIR-CONDITIONING SOLAR

SYSTEMS - TOTALGAZ APPROVED INSTALLERContact: Wayne MerryMob: 06 85 58 64 65Tel: 05 53 64 34 05

Email:wayne.merry@sfr.fr

ADVERTISING FEATURE

IF YOU are moving to or from south-west France, George White Europeancan transport household goods, vehiclesand almost anything else at surprisinglylow prices.

Having started international drivingover 30 years ago, and obtaining anaward from the International RoadTransport Union for three million kilo-metres of safe driving along the way,George White offers an experienced and reliable removals service to and fromFrance.

In recent years, growth through word-of-mouth recommendations has led tothe business evolving into a close-knitnetwork of like-minded owner-driverswith the same traditional values, backedby secure storage and goods receiving at their Sutton-in-Ashfield base, which is shared with Storage City andTranspakship.

The team now comprises of George,David, Mark and Keith, who run theregular international services, with Leeoperating the low loader.

The team uses a range of large, multi-purpose vehicles, and typically operatealong routes to and from the south-westof France. This allows costs to the cus-tomer to be kept low as the vehicles canbe filled with a variety of other goods formuch of the journey, and typically returnto the UK loaded with freight.

“With smaller or less flexible vehicles,you may be paying the whole cost for thedriver, fuel, Channel crossing and returnjourney,” said George, “but by using partof a larger vehicle these costs can usuallybe shared.”

This can work out many times cheaperthan dedicated full service removalsfirms, and as one customer said: “Georgegives great service at a great price. Donot be fooled into thinking that he is toocheap – he is just honest.”

Prices have been held for two years,but now come with a floating fuel surcharge (which is 8% from November2011).

For those with more to move, there arealso great advantages. “If you have cars,boats, tractors or machinery that needsmoving with you, usually you wouldhave to hire another firm with specialistequipment. But George White Europeancan offer covered articulated trailers withramps and these can be carried on thesame vehicle as your other goods,” said George.

Though a packing, unpacking and car-rying to the trucks service is not offered,the team can put you in touch withtrusted companies at each end who spe-cialise in this service. This means clientsdo not have to pay to transport a team oflabourers to or from France. As Georgepoints out: “These firms are often sub-contracted by the big name movers any-way – but of course with a mark-up tothe customer.”

As a result the team at George WhiteEuropean are left to focus on what theydo best, which is carefully packing thegoods on to the vehicles, delivering themsafely to the destination, and offering advice, contacts and reassurancethroughout.

“By doing so much volume into south-west France over the years, we have builtup a great network of happy customers,most of whom are happy to help newmovers settle in, and, indeed in manycases, to help you unload or unpack.”

It may surprise some to find out howsmall a consignment can be handled,and for what price, using this model.Depending on the areas being collectedfrom and delivered to, the minimumload could be as little as 2 linear metresof removals (which is 2.6m tall and 2.4mwide, so almost 12.5 cubic metres or 440

cubic feet), from as little as £400 +VAT.

George added: “If customers can meetus en-route at either end, then the mini-mum could be reduced further. If thisisn’t practical we offer the option to havethe goods delivered to Storage City, orwe can arrange collection using aSprinter Van.”

Palletised transport is also offered,which is even cheaper, reflecting the easeof loading and packing. At the other endof the scale, a full 13.6m (45ft) long load(max 24 tonnes) of domestic removalscan be handled for around £2,500 +VAT, depending on the locationsinvolved. The firm can also quote for fullloads to or from places other than south-west France. A low loader is also avail-able for larger jobs.

Whereas house moves (especiallyinternational) are usually considered tobe a very stressful experience, many ofGeorge White European’s customers findthe process so smooth and cost-effective they continue to use the service for years afterwards for smallerdeliveries.

George gives examples: “Many peoplerenovating in France ask us to bring overBritish building materials, and we alsosource or ship a lot of furniture to peo-ple in France – the storage facility isinvaluable for this.

“Other items shipped to customersinclude fencing, horse feed and rangecookers, to name a few. “You can sourcethe goods yourself, or we can takeadvantage of accounts held with manysuppliers to purchase goods at very com-petitive prices for you.”

People with last-minute or pressingdelivery needs should also get in touchwith George. “We are well-connectedwith couriers should clients have urgentrequirements,” he said.

Using large multi-purpose vehicles allows George White European to cutcharges and pass on the savings it has made to customers

Make the White move to cut removals costs

+33 (0)6 23 03 85 59 +44 (0)7768 867360george@georgewhiteeuropean.co.ukwww.georgewhiteeuropean.co.uk

20 Directory Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

January 1 - BergeracJanuary 2 - HautefortJanuary 7 - QueyssacJanuary 8 - Saint-Astier, VerteillacJanuary 10 - Sourzac

January 14 - Neuvic-sur-l'Isle January 21 - BergeracJanuary 28 - Montpon-MénestérolJanuary 29 - Eymet, Périgueux, Sarlat-la-Canéda

Alcoholics AnonymousPérigueux. Ewen: 05 53 05 76 62info@aafrancesud-ouest.com www.aafrancesud-ouest.com

Anglican Church of AquitaineServices: Bertric Burée, Chancelade, Limeuil Haut,Ste Nathalène and Sorges, also in 47, 33. ChaplainRevd Dr Paul Vrolijk 05 53 23 40 73aquitainechaplain@gmail.com

Association Culturelle Franco-Anglaise AquitaineFrom French lessons to bridge, plus monthly socialget-togethers.www.acfaa.com

Association Culturelle Internationale du PérigordACIP aims to promote integration.

Lycette Schouten Hoogendyk: 05 53 29 27 96 louisa.schoutenhoogendyk@orange.frwww.acip24.com

Association Française des SolosMonthly meetings after divorce, bereavement orseparation. Social events for members.Corinne: 05 53 22 68 52 (evenings) or Claire: 05 53 08 55 13 (evenings) afs.bergerac@orange.frwww.asso-des-solos.fr

Bergerac Photo ClubMeets Wed at 20.30, Maison des Associations, PlaceJules Ferry, Bergerac. photoclub-bergerac@orange.frwww.photoclub-bergerac.com

Bibliothèque Anglaise Meyrals

English books and DVDs. Mon 14.00 to 16.00 and Wed 10.00 to noon in 24220 Meyrals.Em Boiling: 05 53 30 30 23bibliotheque.anglaise@gmail.com

Cancer Support France Dordogne Est/LotMargaret York: 05 65 22 96 37 or 06 35 90 03 41 (24 hrs)csfdordognelot@yahoo.com

Cancer Support France Ribérac (Charente Southand Dordogne West)Valerie Wareham: 06 43 67 86 11csfriberac@gmail.com

Chabrelle Computer ClubCharlie Nott: La Roche Chabrelle24320 St Just 05 53 90 50 39

Centre de Golf BergeracoisPhilippa Thornton: 05 53 58 87 18centredegolfbergeracois@orange.fr

Golf Public de Périgueux

05 53 53 02 35 golfpgx@wanadoo.frwww.golfdeperigueux.com

The Interesting Gardening ClubCarol Temple: 05 53 91 34 96carolawt@aol.comwww.theinterestinggardeningclub.org

Maquiz'Art05 53 23 82 37maquizart@maquizart.com

Dordogne Clubs and Associations

Car boot sales around the area thismonth

ADVERTISING FEATURE

CUSTOMERS of Finninger & Helbachcan expect help with satellite television,from making the decision about whichsetup is best for them, to repairs andafter sales care in case something goes wrong.

“Our company’s policy is to listen toyou, the customer, to find out your exactrequirements. We will then recommendthe best possible economic, practical,solution taking things such as the size and placement of dishes into consideration,” said company partner

Hans Finninger.“Many of our clients’ properties are

period buildings and the discrete posi-tioning of satellites without spoiling thelook of the house can sometimes lead tosome innovative solutions,” he added.

The systems he installs are set up tocater for upgrades (such as Sky contractsor Free To View cards). After sales care isparticularly important to the company.

“Even in this modern day and age,equipment can still go wrong,” saidHans. “This is when you need a reliable,efficient repair service. Reliable, in thesense that you must be sure the adviceyou are getting is the best and mostappropriate, and efficient, meaningrepairs are carried out with the mini-mum of fuss and quickly.”

Finninger & Helbach offer a complete-ly free advice service aimed at fixing

problems over the phone but, shouldthings go wrong, a free courtesy digiboxcomes as standard to keep you viewing.The company promises a seven-day turnaround via post to fix equipment.

Finninger & Helbach is based near thesmall town of Chalais in the Charente,and covers a 200km radius around thetown, taking in Poitiers to the north,Aurillac to the east, Toulouse to thesouth-east, and Dax to the south-west,but can arrange installations and helpfurther afield if you give them a call.

The company also specialises in com-mercial installations, including hospitals,apartment blocks and offices. Moredetails are available on the website.

Finninger & Helbach GMBH05 45 98 25 37www.digitalsatellitefrance.com

Reliable and efficient satellite installation serviceAfter nearly 30 years in theindustry, Hans Finningercan offer repairs to digiboxesas part of his service

Hans Finninger is experienced at putting up dishes in discrete locations

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Directory 21Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

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WOODBURNERS.FRTraditional cast iron

multifuel and woodburningstoves. Option for fireback boilers on most

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www.anglofoods.comCome and stock up on all your

Christmas needs includingCrackers, Chocolates and Turkeys

Tel: 05 46 48 32 44

DESIGNERDÉCOR

direct to the Dordogne- curtains, fabric, soft

furnishings, wallpaper- made to measure- delivered direct- top UK brands- competitive pricing- friendly, expert advice

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Web: simplybritish.frREGION: Shop 09, mail order throughout France

Loca PlastowTrading Since 2005

Tool & Plant HireFrom Diggers, Dumpers Rollers

To Small DIY ProjectsFloor Sanders - Rotavators

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REMOVALS & STORAGEMurray HarperEuropean transport

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EUROMAN and Van is an independentdelivery and courier company that isbased in south-west England.

It is owned and operated by three part-ners, Paul, Jeff and Mark, who offer apersonal service with over 30 years ofexperience in the business.

“Whether it is a bed from Bordeaux, a Fiat 500 from Italy or a machine from Madrid we are able to help,” said Paul. The company covers the wholeof mainland Europe and the UK, and

offers a fully insured service.“We can deliver anywhere in mainland

Europe within 72 hours of collection andwe use XLWB Transit Jumbo vans with aload capacity of 13 cubic metres and aweight limit of 1200kg,” said Paul.

Euroman and Van offers customers thechoice of two options. The first is a dedi-cated service where the client has totalcontrol of the van and driver. “So youpick the date and time of collection anddelivery will be made within two days to mainland Europe,” said Paul.

The other option is a part-load servicewhere clients can buy space from 1 cubicmetre upwards. Paul added: “Your con-signment will be transported along withothers being delivered en route or to thesame destination.”

Euroman and Van prides itself onoffering a first class personal and stress-

free service that keeps the clientinformed at all times.

Contact Paul, Jeff or Mark for furtherinformation or visit the website for fulldetails of all the services offered byEuroman and Van.

+44 (0)7977 473498 (Paul)+44 (0)7794 698372 (Jeff)+44 (0)7970 642937 (Mark)euromanandvan@live.comwww.euromanandvan.co.uk

Euroman and Van offers a fast, first class and stress-free delivery service

Company offers fast deliveries across EuropeBoth big and small deliveries can be collectedand dropped off anywherein Europe, within 72 hours,when you use the Euromanand Van service

“Whether it is a bed fromBordeaux, a Fiat 500 from Italyor a machine from Madrid, weare able to help

22 Property Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

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D I Y t i p s

A FEW changes to yourhome can not only helpthe planet, they can also cutyour household expenditure.

“Reducing your impact onthe environment is first andforemost about reducingwaste – water, energy,packaging and food,” saysLaureline Bourit at FranceNature Environnementassociation. “This can oftenalso mean saving money.”

Nearly half of a home’senergy consumption is takenup by heating and cooling it.

At the moment, your housecould be losing energy – andcosting you money – becauseit is letting heat escape.

You should also make surethat your loft is insulated and,if possible, the walls. Half theheat lost from uninsulatedproperties is lost through theroof or the walls.

Environment and energymanagement agency ADEMEsays 30% of the heat is lostthrough the roof, 25%

through walls and around 10-15% through single-glazedwindows. That makes it easyto see which area should betargeted first if money is tightas loft insulation brings bene-fits quickly and cheaply.

It is simple enough to do ifyou are fit but anyone layingglass-fibre wool should weargloves and goggles as it cancause skin irritation.

Costing between €3 and €8a roll, it is recommended tohave at least 200mm thick-ness for best performance.

Bubble-wrap can be a quickand easy source of insulationfor the likes of skylights as itwill still allow light to shinethrough.

Elsewhere, ensuring yourboiler is properly maintainedcan cut energy consumptionby 8-12% and turning downyour heating thermostat byone degree centigrade cansave 7% on your energy bill.

Old appliances can also be adrain on your house’s energy

and the fridge is the mainculprit.

If yours is more than 10years old, consider replacingit with a more energy-effi-cient model but if that isn’tpossible then make sure youare using both fridge andfreezer properly. Keep themfull and not just cooling “air”.

Look for the Energy Starsymbol on fridges and otherkitchen appliances as theyoperate more efficiently. Newwashing machines controlhow much water is used bymeasuring the water level andtumble-driers have humiditydetectors that stop themachine automaticallyas soon as the clothes are dry.

You can also opt for energy-efficient light bulbs which,although they are moreexpensive to buy will reduceyour electricity bill and lastmuch longer than traditional– and now obsolete – types.

However, remembering todo the little things can helpthe environment just as muchas the grand gestures – andyou do not need to spendanything while doing it.

Switch appliances off ratherthan leaving them on standbybecause leaving them onstandby means you are pay-ing for not using them... and

the total can mount up.Studies have shown standbycan add up to about 13% ofyour total electricity usage.

When it comes torecycling, the first rule iswhat – and how much – youbuy. “90% of people say theydon’t waste food, but inFrance seven kilograms ofstill-wrapped food is thrownaway by each person a year,”says Bourit.

Instead of throwing outfood or garden waste you canput it in a compost heapwhere it will rot down tomake a natural alternative tousing synthetic fertilisers.

Take the food out of itswrapping before putting it inthe compost bin and if thewrapping is cardboard orpaper it can be recycled too.However, do not put meat orcooked food on the compostheap.

Plastic bags cannot be recy-cled – only reused – so it isbest to reduce the numberyou use or swap to cloth bagsor a shopping trolley. “Theseseem like small gestures buttogether they can have a bigimpact,” says Bourit.

One of the biggest yet sim-plest things you can do is tobe aware of how much wateryou use – turn off the tapwhile brushing your teeth orwhile shaving and take show-ers instead of baths.

That has been especiallyimportant over the past yearwith France having had oneof the warmest and driestautumns in living memory.

Water levels in aquifersacross the country have fallenbelow normal and are notbeing replenished quickly soyou can make a difference inthe future by putting a waterbutt in your garden to collectrainwater.

Use this “free” resource towater your garden or for thefirst wash of your car.

Spend a little to save alot on your heating bills

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What a waste! Every person in Francethrows out seven kilos of food still inits packaging each year and outdatedhome appliances and poor insulationmean higher energy costs. REBECCALAWN looks at going green to cut bills

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omFRENCH environmentalists highlighted a UK studyfrom 2009 that showed that of the food that isthrown out each week by families around 80%should not have gone in the bin.

Just 18% of the food waste was “real” waste such asmeat bones, egg shells, pineapple skin, tea bags;another 18% was “avoidable” – food and drink thatsome people do not eat, such as bread crusts or thatcan be eaten when a food is prepared in one way butnot in another (potato skins) – and 64% “totallyavoidable” waste such as bread, apples or meat.

In addition, 54% of the food that was thrown outhad not been used in time and just over 40% was theresult of too much food being cooked, prepared orserved.

The food we waste

Wine spills need not be a nightmare to clean up

Photo:© K

elpfish - Fotolia.com

CHRISTMAS and New Year celebrations often leave lingering souvenirs with carpet stains either from the feetof visitors or the dreaded spill of red wine. You can usesimple non chemical cleaners to get them clean and keepthem clean. You will also be helping the environment.Get out the vacuum cleaner!This might be an obvious statement but vacuuming is thefirst important step. It removes the deeply embedded dirtwhich over time can wear out the carpet fibres. Do it everyweek – but if you can do it more often then all the better!Removing stainsThe most basic natural stain remover is the following:

½ cup salt ½ cup borax ½ cup vinegarMix the ingredients together to form a paste. Apply to

stains using a clean, white cloth, rub in and leave for a fewhours. Vacuum when dried.

If you have young pets you will know how difficult it canbe you remove urine stains and smells. This natural mix-ture works on both the acid and alkaline components. 1 cup vinegar 1 cup water ½ cup baking soda

Mix ingredients together and put into a spray bottle. Blotany urine patches with paper towels then spray on the mix,blot off excess and let dry. Repeat until odours disappear.Dried-in StainsUse this mixture for more ground-in stains. Use with careand test on a hidden area to ensure it does not discolour: baking soda white vinegar liquid glycerin soap (or washing-up liquid) bleachMix equal amounts of water and vinegar and rub into the

stain with a cloth. Blot and leave to dry. Cover stain withbaking soda. Mix ¼ cup of bleach and ½ tspn liquid soap;pour this on to the baking soda so the soda dissolves intothe carpet. Rub well into the fibres, blot and leave to dry.Once dry vacuum the residue. Repeat if necessary.

Do not be tempted to scrub your carpet with a brush asthis will only damage the carpet's fibres.Precautions Keep cleaning solutions out of reach of children and

pets – even if they are natural . Do not let children or pets near the treated areas until

all residue has been thoroughly vacuumed up. Follow manufacturer’s instructions for all carpets and

always test cleaners on a hidden patch first.

Natural andcheap cleaners

Property 23Dordogne Advertiser January 2012 www.dordogneadvertiser.com

Sponsored by

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PROPERTIES IN DORDOGNE

REF: BVI0005317

€€128,000

ENERGY RATING = G

VerteillacThe bright living area benefitsfrom a newly fitted kitchen.There are 2 double bedrooms onthis floor and a modern wetroom. There is also aconvenient utility area and WC.

REF: FP-23254CF24

€€162,752

ENERGY RATING = Not given

BrantômeThis property offers a large covered terrace, large salon, fullyfitted kitchen/dining room, 2 double bedrooms (one with ensuite bathroom) and furtherbathroom.

REF: FP-22965SHL24

€€250,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

SarlandeCharacter stone house with 3/4bedrooms. Great location bordering a small river withtrout and overlooking a smalllake. Great charm with originalfeatures built around 1812.

REF: 6528133

€€303,500

ENERGY RATING = Not given

BrantômeWell maintained home of 6 mainrooms including 4 bedrooms,living room, kitchen, pantry, 2toilets, terrace. A second building of about 75m² serveslarge garage and workshop.

REF: FP-P956AC

€€449,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Nanthiat3 bedroom beautifully renovatedproperty with character set on6000m2 of attached land withopen views including a house ofprox. 125m2 and several outbuildings and 2 wells.

REF: FP-23258CF24

€€205,377

ENERGY RATING = Not given

BrantômeThe house offers large salon,fully fitted kitchen/dining room,4 double bedrooms (3 on firstfloor and one on second floor)and 2 bathrooms on the firstfloor (one being en suite).

REF: FP-22865AI24

€€418,700

ENERGY RATING = Not given

BergeracPerigord style house offers a spacious 3 bedroom main houseand a 1 bedroom flat internallyconnected through staircase butwith independent access on theopposite side of the building.

REF: 12241

€€355,100

ENERGY RATING = Not given

AllemansModern 4 bedroom style housewith tower and excellent condition. This superb familyhome has a wonderful countryside location with nonear neighbours.

REF: 3557G

€€239,000

ENERGY RATING = F & D

Sarlat-la-CanédaThe property though habitable,is in need of updating.Comprising of 6 bedrooms, 1bathroom, 2 shower rooms,lounge with fireplace, kitchen,plus loft space for converting.

REF: DOM1338

€€340,800

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Les Eyzies-de-Tayac-SireuilThis 130m2, 3 bedroom househas a lovely reception room withstone fireplace, a very spaciousoutdoor covered terrace, a10x5m swimming pool, garage,gardens and woods.

REF: FPBH2275M

€€598,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

MonpazierThe house comprises: entrance,lounge, kitchen, 6 bedrooms, 2bathrooms, 2 WC, laundry andgarage. Heated swimming pool10x5, wooden garden shed set inan enclosed garden.

REF: BVI0006458

€€222,600

ENERGY RATING = F

ThenonFeatures of this ensembleinclude: A main residence, withconverted outbuildings, barnand stables that centers around awalled courtyard offering 2/3bedrooms and a feature kitchen.

REF: BVI0006425

€€424,000

ENERGY RATING = E

Issigeac4 bedroom property. Largekitchen, terrace, 2 spacious livingrooms, separate dining room, 4en suite bedrooms, swimmingpool with terraced surround, distinctive architectural features.

REF: 8351

€€369,000

ENERGY RATING = Not given

Ribérac4 bedroom property composedof 2 fitted kitchens, tiled utilityroom and boiler room, bathroom with shower, diningroom, lounge with chimney andunderfloor oil central heating.

Buying or selling a property in oraround Dordogne? We can help.

Our website www.connexionfrance.comcarries details of more than 14,000homes for sale across France.

We also feature properties for sale in thisdedicated section of the paper eachmonth. To find out more about any particular property, go to www.connexionfrance.com and enter theref: code shown under the property.

For sellers, the adverts are also displayedacross a range of popular English-speaking websites and are seen by thousands of potential buyers EVERYday. Our 3+3 package costs just

€200TTC and gives you three monthsonline advertising as well as a printadvert in three editions of TheAdvertiser. Our 6+6 package is best valueat €330TTC and provides the same, butfor six months via each channel.

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More details on all these properties - and how to contact the seller directly - can be found in the property for sale section of

www.connexionfrance.com Simply enter the code under each home to find out more

New Consumption and Emission Chart- e.g. Energy rating C & F refers to C for Consumption and F for Emissions

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The adverts above cost from just €200TTC for three months of web advertisingand three months of print advertising in the Dordogne Advertiser.

Let our distribution get you a sale.Contact our sales team on 0800 91 77 56 (freephone in France) or email sales@connexionfrance.com

Phot

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Fot

olia

.com

Now is the time to harvest cabbages and spinach

Sow the seeds ofa successful springYOUR garden is probably looking pretty dormant at thistime of year so now is the time to prepare so it will lookat its finest when spring does arrive. During January,gardeners can prune, sow certain seeds and make all thepreparations necessary for the warmer days that lie ahead.

In the vegetable patch, protect your leeks and artichokesfrom frost if you are in more northerly climes, and harvestyour chicory heads. If you did not sow your onions onChristmas Day in keeping with the tradition, Januaryis a good month in which to do so. Shallots can also beplanted now – use planks to avoid compacting the soil.

You can plant fruit trees in January, avoiding days whenthere is frost, as this will damage the roots. Prune all fruittrees, particularly red fruit varieties and trees trained alonga wall, such as apples and pears. Add manure or maturecompost and remove any slugs and snails. Cabbagesand other members of their family can be harvested andperpetual spinach (beet leaves) and chard will be readyfor the table. On a sunny day, empty your potato sacks,throwing away any potatoes that are rotten to prevent the rotfrom spreading.

Keep the plot tidy and check that tree supports are stillsolid in the ground. Ensure greenhouses are secure duringwinter bad weather and wash the glass, so that your plantsreceive maximum light. If temperatures fall, insulate yourgreenhouse with bubble-wrap, taking care not to restrictventilators, as your plants will need good ventilation atthis time of year. Check any heating sources, making surethere is adequate fuel for paraffin heaters and sufficientventilation for gas heating.

In the flower garden you can still plant and prune rosesduring the winter, if you haven’t yet done so. Protect youngrose bushes from frost using straw and do the same forfragile plants such as camelia, which will be particularlyvulnerable if it snows. There will be a chance to see the fruitof your labours as the first bulbs push through the cold soil.

House plants will not need much water during this season,but they will probably be suffering from a lack of light. It isa good idea to group them around natural light sources, orprovide them with artificial light.

Most plants such as hibiscus should be kept in a cool room(around 14C) during the winter months, to ensure that youwill go on to have prolific flowers in the summer.

Happy New Year, gardeners!

24 People Dordogne Advertiser January 2012www.dordogneadvertiser.com

In praise of PérigueuxDORDOGNE novelist and poetMichel Testut has been in love withPérigueux for more than 60 years –and his latest book aims to persuadepeople to take a closer look at thedepartment’s capital.

A retired advertising executive andformer president of the town’s touristoffice, Mr Testut has written morethan a dozen books in as many years– many of which have focused onthe Dordogne and the author’s longassociation with the area.

Le Bonheur à Périgueux (Happinessin Périgueux), which was publishedlast month, is a personal piece ofwork, reflecting on his years growingup in the town, discovering its secretsand hidden treasures and meeting hisfellow residents.

It is an ode to a town that he is fas-cinated by and looks at howPérigueux can make people happy,encouraging readers to slow downand pay more attention to the littlethings in life, rather than rushingfrom one place to the next.

Speaking to Radio Périgueux at theSalon du Livre in Sarlat, shortlybefore Christmas, Mr Testut said: “Ispent my childhood years inPérigueux and, once again in thisbook, I’m looking back at that time.

“This was Périgueux back in thefifties, when there were very fewcars, when the Allées de Tourny wasan actual park and not a car park.

“I’m telling the tale of Périgueux ina sentimental, poetic way. I’m not

approaching it as a historian. It’s anintimate walk through Périgueux.’

He added: “Happiness for me isvery important in all my books –how to make life happy. You onlyrealise what happiness is whenyou’ve lost it.

“Périgueux is a town that hides itstrue face. It’s not a place whereyou’ll discover everything on yourfirst glance. You need to learn toopen your eyes on the world and letnothing pass you by. There are somany pretty things in Périgueux ifyou just take the time to stop. That’smy idea of happiness.”

One online review likened MrTestut’s long-term love of the townto a human relationship, saying:“[Périgueux is] at the same time amother, lover and friend to him.”

His walks through the town takein not just the historic centre, butalso the canal, Le Toulon, le Tour deVésone and the historic Barnabé

guinguette on the bank of the river.The tale is accompanied by picturesfrom local librarian and photogra-pher Karine Bernard.

Writing has always been a part ofMr Testut’s working life. The 68-year-old, who lives in Razac-sur-l’Isle, enjoyed a long career at majoradvertising agencies includingHavas and Euro RSCG, which sawhim playing with words, devisingslogans for products and places,including several campaigns for theDordogne and Périgueux itself.

But it was not until he retired thathe found the time to properly putpen to paper and produce somelonger work.

In another radio interview lastyear, he said: “Writing for me is theaccomplishment of a childhooddream. When I was in school, Ifound authors extraordinary, writinghundreds of pages. At the time, Istruggled to do four page essays.”

Some of Mr Testut’s previous workon the Dordogne has been translat-ed into English by Peter Hackett, aradio broadcaster, actor and Englishteacher at Bordeaux University.Glimpses of the Dordogne, whichcame out in 2005, was widelypraised for capturing the essence ofthe Dordogne lifestyle, and all theintellectual and emotional pleasurethat comes with it.

Le Bonheur à Périgueux ispublished, in French, by EditionsLaLauze, priced €14.Michel Testut, with an earlier book on good eating in the Dordogne

“There are so manypretty things inPérigueux, if you justtake the time to stop.That’s my idea ofhappiness

Photo: Jacky SCHO

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