February 2016 - Issue #32

Dordogne

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The Bugle Business Directory 4- pages of listings for local English-speaking business-es - your essential guide to finding just what you’re looking for >> Pages 15-18

As the country battles against the recent outbreak of bird flu that has swept

across south-west France, poul-try producers in the Dordogne have been ordered to halt duck and goose production. The Min-istry of Agriculture said farmers would be allowed to continue raising birds they already own, but may not take on new duck-lings and goslings until farms are totally cleaned and disinfect-ed. The order concerns all the departments of Aquitaine and Midi-Pyrénées, as well as the Haute-Vienne and Corrèze. After the first case of bird flu was reported at a Dordogne farm near Biras in November, the virus quickly spread across the region. In response to the growing crisis, the government created a “restriction zone”, within which the movement of

poultry - the most common way for the virus to be spread - was restricted. Authorities also began implementing strict cleaning and disinfection programmes for the premises and equipment of all poultry farms. The new moves go one step further, however, and will come as a major blow to the industry. The process of specially fat-tening geese and ducks to pro-duce foie gras takes 12 to 15 weeks, and once the current stock has been processed, the farmers must halt production while their farms are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. This means that the latest order will effectively shut down produc-tion of the controversial delicacy until early summer. One con-solation to farmers will be that, if all goes well, they should be able to increase their stock levels in time for Christmas and New Year - peak season for foie gras

>> continued on page 5

As the bird flu crisis worsens and more countries place bans on French poultry imports, the government has forced duck and goose farms across south-west France to close. The move will cost the industry hundreds of millions.

Government shuts down poultry farms

A local historian has revealed that Queen Elizabeth II holds the title of Dame de Bergerac >> Page 4

NEWS - Terrestrial TV goes HDFrom 5th April, French terrestrial TV will only be available in high defini-tion. Not all TVs are com-patible, so are you ready for the switch? >> Page 3

Lascaux IV exhibition nears completionAfter three years of painstaking work, the Lascaux IV recreation of the world famous cave paintings is nearing completion >> Page 4

FRENCH LIFE - No more AZERTY?After driving generations of French speakers to mad-ness, the government has announced it is to review the layout of the AZERTYkeyboard >> Page 11

NEWS - Toulon in shock Premiership bidFrance's most successful rugby club of recent years has unveiled a shock bid to join England's Aviva Premiership. >> Page 7

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 20162 ♦ IN THIS EDITION

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INSIDEthis edition

3-5 Local News6-10 National News11-12 French Life13 Practical14 Bilingual15-18 Directory18 Games18 What’s On19 Community

Welcome toThe BugleOne downside of

unseasonably warm weather is that it often

seems to coincide with bugs and viruses. I confess I don’t know if there is any science behind it, but it seems logical to me that nasties will find it harder to survive and move between hosts if it’s minus 10 outside! I supposedly live in one of the colder parts of the country, but I literally spent 5 minutes the other day considering whether it was jeans or shorts for the school run. We’ve also had a daffodil and at least one crocus appear in the garden... in mid-January!! The price to pay for us was in the form of the gastro bug that has been rampaging across France (see page 6). I suppose with three young

children it was inevitable. For us, it was quite a violent but short-lived bug. The symptoms came and went in around 12 hours, although it did take a few days to fully bounce back. The problem was that it seemed to have a 48-hour incubation and all 5 of us took it in turns to go down, one after the other, all of which added up to well over a week of constantly washing, cleaning and disinfecting. I’m going to taunt the cosmos by saying at least, on the plus side, we’ve all had it now for this year... go on fate, do your worst! There was a lot of talk in the media this month about bringing in state subsidies for the country’s struggling cafés. This is a very hot topic, especially in rural areas, where the local bars

are so often the focal point for a community; much like the pubs are (were?) in the UK. Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that small, local businesses like pubs and cafés struggle in modern times, but the number of businesses that have closed over recent decades is staggering. I live in a very small, isolated, farming community. My commune has around 250 people in it, although I suppose that this would have been higher “back in the day”. In that day, my house was the local bar (in a hamlet of 3 or 4 houses!), the village 800 metres away had one (as well as a bakery) and the village at the centre of the commune had at least 3 cafés in it. Today, the commune has just one café left, next to the mairie and this has passed through 4 sets of hands in the 10 years I have been here - the numbers just don’t add up to make it financially viable. It is no surprise that the demise of the rural café in France coincided with the toughening of drink-driving laws. I’m told that 30 or so years ago, the bar that used to be in one room of my house

got through a staggering 5 litres of Ricard a night!! And let’s just say that there aren’t many houses within walking distance. It is of course right and proper that drink driving is so heavily policed and the reduction in road death figures is undeniable. But the inevitable result was that rural communities became less close. I remember listening to a discussion on Irish radio a few years back, where the topic was the legalisation of drink-driving after midnight on Friday and Saturday nights. It was being put forward as a solution to the closure of so many rural pubs in isolated areas and the subsequent loss of community spirit. The argument went that for many, the pub was the only place where they would interact with other people on a social level, and the psychological benefits of this outweighed the dangers of drink-driving. Those who did not want to take their chances could just avoid the roads after midnight. I think the debate was more focussed on raising the general issue of rural

isolation and I don’t believe that many people thought that allowing drink-driving was a sensible or viable solution, but it is interesting that such a left-field idea should be discussed at all. It is a shame that so many small establishments are closing. I do not know probably half of the people that live in my commune... if I had a café within 5 or 10 minutes walk, I’m sure I would know everyone much better. We are losing a way of life. For better or worse is another question, but it is undoubtedly changing.

Until next month!

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3 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu LOCAL NEWS ♦

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French TV to go fully HD Archangel follows Napoleon statue to the DordogneAs an expat, one of the best ways to learn French is to

listen to the radio, talk to your neighbours or watch the television. This latter option may require you to make a change soon, however, as the Dordogne mi-

grates to a fully HD signal. During the night of 4th/5th April, the old signal will be dropped in favour of a high definition beam, at which point, anyone who does not have a compatible TV will lose all their current channels. France has already made the move to a fully digital system – TNT (télévision numérique terrestre – terrestrial digital televi-sion). It is this digital signal that will now be converted into a high definition one. Authorities have been running a number of information cam-paigns in recent weeks and you may well have received a leaf-let through the post. Gilles Brégant, managing director at the Agence nationale des fréquences (ANFR), has been touring the country to raise awareness of the upcoming changes and answer some common questions. Most importantly, do people have the choice? “No, everyone must make the change,” explained Mr Brégant. “Those that are saying that they will wait and see are wrong to do so. Everyone needs to be prepared if they do not want to be staring at a blank screen on the 5th April.” So what does need to be done? If you currently receive your terrestrial television via cable or the internet, then you do not need to do anything. If you receive your television signal through an aerial, however, which is still the case for 57% of us, then you will need to check whether you are HD ready. The quickest way to do this is via Arte – channel 7 or 57. If you can see an HD logo in the corner of the screen, then you are ready

for the change; if not, then you will need to invest in an adapter. These are currently available for around €20-25 and those aged 70 or more can request help installing the new equipment from a service provided by La Poste (call 0970 818 818 for more infor-mation). In general, televisions bought since 1st December 2009 with a screen greater than 26 inches are HD-ready, as are all televisions purchased since the end of 2012. “The move to high definition will obviously allow us to im-prove the quality of the picture, but also give access to more channels; there are currently six channels that are only available in HD,” explained Mr Brégant. “Plus, removing the old signal will free up a number of frequencies that can then be used to improve mobile reception and coverage.” ■

Regular Bugle readers may recollect the Bugle’s report

last autumn on the renova-tion in Périgueux of Cher-bourg’s equestrian statue of Napoleon Bonaparte. This month as the emperor leaves for home, the same company is set to give a makeover to yet another iconic statue. The world-famous UNESCO site of Mont Saint-Michel on the border between Normandy and Brittany is sending its magnificent Saint Michael to Socra in Marsac this month. The statue, by Emma-nuel Fremiet, was installed on the spire of the abbey in 1897, the focal point of the mount and its bay. The abbey, however, is

a truly ancient monument. Founded in 709 AD it was one of William the Con-queror’s properties and fought over by the French and English for centuries. Like Cherbourg, Saint-Michel has a hostile lo-cation because of the corrosive sea air. Addi-tionally the Mont Saint-Michel Bay has one of the world’s biggest tidal ranges of 15 metres. While the archangel is with us in the Dordogne, Socra’s 30 specialist re-storers will see that over the next three months he will be thoroughly cleaned, have any corro-sion treated, be regilded and be back home to greet the millions of visitors to the prime tourist site. ■

by Brian Hinchcliffe

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 20164 ♦ LOCAL NEWS

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The iconic World Heritage site of the Lascaux caves is set to turn another page of its long history as a fourth incarnation gets ready to open. The

original cave was discovered in Montignac, Dordogne, by four boys and a dog in 1940 and became an important tourist venue after the war. Scientists have estimated the works to be about 17,000 years old. Visitors from across the world came to mar-vel at the beautiful cave paintings and etchings, which have an extraordinary beauty and delicacy that speak of humanity itself. The Dordogne’s emblem is the buffalo head reproduced from that cave wall and its logo “Le pays de l’homme” (Land of Mankind). Between 1943 and 1963 visitor figures were over a million. More than the population of the entire planet when the paintings were done! That number of viewers was beginning to cause dete-rioration of this hyper-ancient monument, how-ever, and in 1963 the cave was sealed. Following pressure from scientists, anthro-pologists, prehistorians, geologists and millions of ordinary people fascinated by their ancestors’ works, a replica was created, finally opening in 1983 - Lascaux II. There have since been 10 million visitors to Lascaux II, situated close to the original. A third version, Lascaux III was created as a touring interactive exhibition and has been seen world-wide across Europe, North America and Asia. After three years of painstaking work, the latest interpretation, Lascaux IV, is now near-ing completion. The meticulously faithful copy of what has been dubbed the “Sistine Chapel of prehistoric art” is ready to be transported one segment at a time - 46 altogether - and installed just down the road from the original at a site

semi-buried in a hillside in Montignac, in eastern Dordogne. The newest incarnation consists of a faithful reproduction of the original cave, equipped with a battery of hi-tech devices to provide an authen-tic experience of cave art. Lascaux IV aims to offer an insight into life in Cro-Magnon times, into the development of aesthetics and represen-tational media and to create the subterranean at-mosphere of those moments when the paintings and etchings were first created 17,000 years ago. With its theatre and 3D cinema elements, it is destined to be a major attraction for the general visitor but also a serious and advanced centre for specialists. Visitor groups are to be limited to a maximum of 32, with no more than 4 groups at any one time, with electronic guides in a range of languages. Once Lascaux IV opens to the public this au-tumn, Lascaux II will take on a special educa-tional role with a more restricted footfall. To find out more about the International Cen-tre for Cave Art, Lascaux IV, go to: http://las-caux.fieldmuseum.org/ ■

by Brian Hinchcliffe

An Anglo-French group from the Dordogne is planning a petition to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth. The “So British” association,

based in Brantôme, has discovered an ancient direct, personal link between the Dordogne and the monarch herself. Jean-Luc Nicolas, So British president and a well-known and respected historian in the town, has discovered an ancient title that the Queen has inherited from the time of the Hundred Years’ War. That conflict was a series of campaigns waged from 1337 to 1453 by the House of Plantagenet, rulers of the Kingdom of Eng-land, against the House of Valois, rulers of the Kingdom of France. In 1345 Henry of Grosmont, known as the Earl of Derby, stormed Bergerac with his small force of 2,000 English troops, backed by local Gascon allies. The devastating fire from English and Welsh archers and the fe-rocity of the cavalry defeated the French army and within days Bergerac fell. For the English, and especially Derby, the spoils and ransom payments for prisoners were fabulous - the Earl of Derby himself pocketed around £34,000. Derby was now Lord of Bergerac and in 1351 was made the first Duke of Lancaster.

This title expired when he died in 1361, re-verting to the Sovereign of England. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has therefore inher-ited that title of “Dame de Bergerac” through the Duchy estate. The Duchy of Lancaster has survived and prospered, now estimated to be worth £472 million and as Queen Elizabeth is the present incumbent, it is the principal source of Her Majesty’s income. Prince Charles is heir ap-parent to the Duchy of Lancaster and Lord-ship of Bergerac. Jean-Luc points to Brantôme’s unques-tioned role in the war. He has discovered that the Black Prince himself stayed in Brantôme on the west bank of the Dronne river. His French foes camped on the east. Interestingly, Jean-Luc is the owner and operator of the Brantôme pleasure launch on that same river that separated the two nations. Celebrated French historian, Jean Barthe (1901-2001) also traces the “Dame de Berger-ac” connection in his tome, “La Victoire de Castillon”. Founded on these very real links, Jean-Luc Nicolas and his colleagues in the Brantôme group plan to petition the Queen, as Dame de Bergerac, to become the patron of their association. John Beynon, vice-president of So British told The Bugle: “This association promotes

Franco-British understanding, social and cul-tural links. We aim to promote and celebrate the British role in this part of France, one that has such profound links to British and French history. We need hundreds of signatures to get our petition started. Both French and British may sign to support our request to the Queen to be our patron. She is already patron of over 600 organisations. We hope that the strength of our existing ties, going back to 1345, plus support from British and French petitioners,

will bring about this honour for Brantôme and the Dordogne.” The association will be celebrating those ties in 2016 at their annual So British week-end in June as well as celebrating Her Maj-esty’s 90th birthday. To join the petition or find out more, call John on 05 53 54 81 19 / email jobelix@wanadoo.fr (ENG) or email jean-luc.nico-las24@orange.fr (FR) ■

by Brian Hinchcliffe

Latest Lascaux cave to open in 2016

Dordogne association to petition the Queen

John Beynon (l) and Jean-Luc Nicolas (r) from the So British association

5 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu LOCAL NEWS ♦

consumption. It has been estimated that the closures could cost the industry up to €300 million in lost revenue and could see some farmers go out of business if state aid is not made availa-ble. “It’s catastrophic for many small produc-ers who had run out of stocks over the New Year and hoped to build them back up again in time for the summer tourist influx,” said Isabelle Daugreilh, a producer in the Landes department. “Now we can’t start fattening geese again until June so we won’t have any-thing to sell.” The agriculture minister Stéphane Le Foll assured the industry that government help would be made available. “Of course there will be aid for producers and slaugh-ter houses. The EU has also indicated that it will help our government to eradicate the virus. The State will be there to help pro-ducers,” the minister said, speaking at the National Assembly. Local MPs were keen to stress that any help should not just be made available to producers, but also to the secondary indus-tries that will be impacted. “There are 650 producers, but we should not forget the pro-cessing and packaging firms, the transport-ers and the retail outlets,” said Germinal Pei-ro, president of the Conseil départemental. French foie gras producers group CIFOG described the ban as a “brutal yet necessary

evil”, but said that it could not shoulder the loss in production alone. “State compensa-tion to farmers will be essential to support this very heavy burden,” the group said in a statement. Another blow to the industry came as sev-eral key export markets such as Japan and China introduced bans on French poultry imports until the current crisis is resolved. Last year France exported 4,934 tonnes of foie gras, earning more than €86 million, mainly through sales to Asia. According to a French industry group, Japan was the top global importer of foie gras during the first eight months of 2015. Avian influenza, or bird flu, is an infectious virus affecting birds that is highly contagious. It can be introduced into a farm through ve-hicles, equipment, people, manure, livestock and waste, or via wild or domestic birds. The term bird flu covers a number of variants of the virus and they are not necessarily danger-ous to people, although some strains can be transmitted to humans. According to the health and food safety agency (ANSES), the strain currently pre-sent in France does not have the combina-tion of genes that would make it transmissi-ble to humans. The Ministry of Agriculture has repeatedly stressed in its press releases that “avian influenza is not transmissible to humans through the consumption of meat, eggs, foie gras and more generally any food product”. ■

Footwear has been a speciality of the Dor-dogne for centuries and the industry’s renown

has spread far and wide. Shoes are part of the area’s history and heritage. There was bad news at the end of 2015, however, when traders and shoppers were saddened to hear of a favourite footwear brand in trouble. The family firm of Marquet, based in Villars, was in danger of liquidation, despite its exciting “Souts” range of footwear, a sneaker-espadrille hybrid, and its record on export-ing and mass brand supply. Marquet found itself trapped in a cash flow vacuum as its biggest customer, shoe giant André, cut its order by 50% in a rebranding exercise. In a bold move, Marquet created pop-up shops, selling direct and ap-pealing to fashion conscious bargain hunters in Brantôme and Périgueux. Customers were attracted by generous discounts on the Marquet styles. The strat-egy succeeded and the company, as well as its 24 employees, are putting their best foot forward in 2016.

A dozen kilometres away in Thiviers the high end of the leather trade is developing a training institute. Financed by the region and based in the Lycée Professionnel “Portes d’Aquitaine” in Thiviers, the centre caters for over 100 com-panies in the leather industries, representing round 5,000 em-ployees. Courses are presently being followed by over 250 trainees. Big names in the South West’s shoe industry include Wes-ton (Haute-Vienne), Ferrand (Charente), as well as Repetto and Hermès in the Dordogne. In Nontron, highly special-ized training is being delivered for top quality leather saddler, CWD. After their linking with Biarritz-based Devoucoux, CWD chief Laurent Duray is looking towards growth and the success of their investment in Pôle d’Excellence Rurale (PER), a training and develop-ment organisation for the entire leather industry, not least the farmers who produce the raw material. Hides are also import-ed from Ireland and Germany, before being locally tanned in

St-Pardoux-la-Rivière. CWD, established in Nontron in 1998, export their saddles and associated products worldwide, a fact testified to by the number of internationally-acclaimed rid-ers who choose this Dordogne craft product. A new designer footwear studio is launching its products from its base in the same town. Chamberlain is the creation of Sophie Engster and Franck LeFranc. The team currently numbers 8 operatives plus an ex-Weston manager and Sophie and Franck aim to have produc-tion and distribution well under way before spring. Benefitting from the training opportunities funded by the region and OP-CALIA, a joint-management training consultancy, Chamber-lain is aiming to serve the top end of the market. Sophie said, “We were think-ing about setting up in Cholet on the Loire, but here with the Portes du Cuir organisation we are so much at home already”. To find out more about Nontron’s art and creative sharp end go to: www.metiersdartperigord.fr ■

by Brian Hinchcliffe

>> continued from pg 1

Poultry farms to close Leather goods on the up

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 20166 ♦ NATIONAL NEWS

France in the grip of gastroenteritis epidemicA s many readers will no doubt

be all too well aware, France has been in the grip of a “gastro” epidemic. In the

two weeks leading up to 24th January, 286,000 cases of acute diarrhoea and sickness were reported to doctors, ac-cording to Sentinelles de l'Inserm, a net-work of GPs that collates anonymous real-time data on the spread of commu-nicable illnesses in France. The incidence rate of acute diarrhoea reported by French GPs was 219 cases per 100,000 inhabitants during the pe-riod, which is well above the epidemic threshold of 194 cases per 100,000. “This is the second consecutive week

exceeding the threshold, confirming the arrival of an epidemic in France,” Sen-tinelles said in a statement. GPs were also reporting that the epi-demic would most likely worsen before it improved. Although you may not agree if you have been on the receiving end, the re-port added that the strain of the sickness currently doing the rounds was not too serious, with just 0.4 per cent of all re-ported cases requiring treatment in hos-pital. Gastroenteritis, or “gastro” as it is commonly referred to in French, is a common condition where the stomach and intestines become inflamed. It is

usually caused by a viral or bacterial in-fection. The two main symptoms of gas-troenteritis are diarrhoea and vomiting. There is usually no need to see your GP if you have gastroenteritis as the symptoms are typically short lived. Most people don't need any specific treatment, but it's important to make sure you drink plenty of fluids to reduce your risk of dehydration. If symptoms persist, or if there is a risk of you be-coming significantly dehydrated, you may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment; severe dehydration can be-come serious and even potentially fatal in rare cases. As gastroenteritis is highly infectious,

it is also important to take steps to pre-vent it spreading to other people. These include:

• washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water or an antibacterial hand wash after going to the toilet and before eating or preparing food

• cleaning the toilet, including the handle and the seat, with disinfect-ant after each bout of vomiting or diarrhoea

• not sharing towels, flannels, cutlery or utensils with other members of your household

• not returning to work until you have had no symptoms for at least 48 hours ■

The French government has announced that it has declassified thou-sands of documents

from one of the most controver-sial periods of recent French his-tory: the Vichy regime's collabo-ration with the invading Nazis. The archives include documents from the foreign, justice and in-terior ministries as well as from France’s provisional government after liberation. While the Nazis occupied the north of France, General Philippe Pétain - a hero of World War I - led Vichy France in the centre and the south of the country. The Vichy government was named after the city of the same name where the collaborating “govern-ment” was based. Despite having autonomy from German policies, Pétain passed legislation that saw the country's Jewish population - around 150,000 of whom had fled to the south believing it to be safer - subjected to severe discrimina-tion similar to that in the Nazi-occupied north. It is believed that as many as 76,000 Jews were transported from France to the infamous death camps in the east of Europe. This event has become known in France as la rafle, or the round-up. More than 200,000 police and

government files will now reveal the inner workings of the Vichy government, something that could provide answers for the descend-ants of Holocaust victims, but that will also make uncomfortable reading for numerous others. “Time has passed. The genera-tions who were involved in World War II are no longer around. This isn't a hot political debate any-more, so it can be reopened with-out any risk,” argued the historian Annette Wieviorka, who special-ises in the Holocaust. However, particularly in rural communities which have low levels of popula-tion migration, there remains the fear that the archives could reig-nite old family rivalries. A handful of files remain clas-sified, but historian Gilles Morin told French television that he believes the archives now in the public domain will provide new insights. “So far we’ve relied on witness accounts and they’ve been our main source, but now we’ll be able to read the minutes of meet-ings, police memos and Resist-ance documents seized by the po-lice,” said the historian. “There is also a demand from the children of deportees, and of those who were executed, who want to know - and that’s a legitimate demand.” Former French Resistance fighter Lucien Guyot told the

New York Times that the Pétain government “went far beyond the Germans' expectations, in particular with the deportation of 'foreign' Jews, including children, to concentration camps, and they chased us down with a venge-ance”. President François Hollande, who was born after the war, an-nounced on the 70th anniversary of the end of hostilities in Europe on May 8 that the archives would

be thrown open, which he said would guard against “these evils which threaten us, of revisionism, the altering of history and forget-fulness”. Previously, only researchers and journalists could see certain archives and only then with spe-cial permission. However, under French law, now that 75 years have elapsed since the Vichy re-gime was formed in 1940, the au-thorities are obliged to open them

to the public. La rafle remains a controver-sial event in French history and it was not until 1995 that President Jacques Chirac officially recog-nised the French State's responsi-bility in the deportation of Jews. “These dark hours forever sully our history and are an insult to our past and our traditions,” he said. “Yes, the criminal folly of the occupiers was seconded by the French, by the French state.” ■

Government declassifies wartime files

Phillipe Pétain (left) meeting Hitler during the war

7 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu NATIONAL NEWS ♦

France in shock over drug trial death

Toulon in bid to join Aviva Premiership

A man in his 20s has died and five others have been hospital-ised after a clinical drug trial went tragically wrong in Janu-

ary. The five hospitalised men were said to be “in a stable condition”, but doctors fear three of them may have suffered ir-reversible brain damage. The incident is the worst of its kind in French history. A total of 108 volunteers initially took part in the trial, 90 of whom received the drug in various doses, while the re-mainder were given placebos. It is be-lieved that the 6 people worst affected were given the drug in its highest doses. Pierre-Gilles Edan, head of the neurology department at the Rennes hospital said that three of the men were suffering a “handicap that could be irreversible” and another also had neurological problems. The sixth volunteer had no symptoms but was being monitored. The hospital con-firmed that the other 84 people exposed to the drug had been contacted. Ten of them reported back to the hospital to be examined, but did not have the “anoma-lies” seen in the hospitalised patients. The drug at the heart of the trial was an “FAAH inhibitor” that acted on the

body’s endocannabinoid system, which controls pain, the health ministry con-firmed, adding that the drug had been ap-proved for trials in June of last year. It was being tested for the Portuguese phar-maceutical company Bial. Three separate investigations are under way to try and find out what went wrong, specifically whether the cause of the ac-cident was the drug itself, or the way in which the trial was administered. Bial said that it was fully cooperating with the investigations and vowed that it had followed international best practice in developing the drug. “Our principal concern at the moment is taking care of participants in the trial,” Bial said in a statement. Serious accidents of this nature are in-credibly rare during the development of a drug, which begins in the laboratory, be-fore being tested on animals and then in three phases of human trials before it can be brought to market. France’s public body Oniam, which is responsible for compen-sating the victims of medical accidents, said it only had around ten cases of acci-dents during drug trials over the past 15 years, and all “with consequences infinitely

less serious” than the recent tragedy. Although rare, there have been prec-edents in other countries. A comparable accident took place in London in 2006 when six people taking a drug for Ger-man drug manufacturer TeGenero fell seriously ill, with one suffering multiple

organ failure. Every year, thousands of volunteers, often students looking to make extra money, take part in such trials. Partici-pants were to be paid €1,900 for taking part in the most recent trial, which was scheduled to run from 4 to 18 January. ■

Much has changed in Rugby Un-ion in recent decades as the

sport has embraced the pro-fessional era. Top flight play-ers were once to be found be-hind an office desk during the week, but now you will more likely find them in a hyper-baric chamber or an ice bath. Along with professionalism has come money, and few rugby clubs have more money than Toulon, in the south of France. In recent years, the lure of passionate fans, huge sala-ries and a warm climate has tempted a series of galác-ticos to the Mediterranean port town, including Jonny Wilkinson, Jerry Collins, Vic-tor Matfield, Tana Umaga and

Leigh Halfpenny. In a surprise move, Tou-lon’s president Mourad Boud-jellal has announced his plans to quit France's Top 14 and apply to join the Aviva Pre-miership in England. Pre-miership Rugby officials confirmed that they received a letter from Boudjellal, who insists he is “serious” about joining a league he regards as better run than the French Top 14. “This is not just a provoca-tion,” said Boudjellal, whose side have won the European title for the past three seasons. “The economic future is bet-ter in England than in France, given how the two leagues are run. The English make good decisions. For them, besides [being] a big first, it would be

a huge added value.” “It is too early to give a for-mal response but we will give it due consideration and we will respond,” said a Premier-ship Rugby spokesman, re-fusing to rule out the switch. “If it’s not possible next season, maybe the one after that,” Boudjellal told French newspaper L’Équipe. “I’m se-rious. Monaco compete in the French Ligue 1 and no one finds that incongruous.” Boudjellal is a controver-sial figure and has endured an often strained relationship with the French Rugby Feder-ation. He has regularly com-plained publicly about the Top 14’s tighter salary-cap regulations, specifically the rules introduced last summer regarding bonus payments to

players. They are now con-sidered to be part of the cap if they amount to more than 10% of a player’s salary; a problem for a team created largely thanks to the deep pockets of its owners. Although many believe that Boudjellal is simply stirring up controversy and

that switching leagues is highly unlikely, others do feel that the future of north-ern hemisphere rugby lies in a pan-European league. There is also precedent: in Rugby League, France's Cat-alan Dragons, based in Per-pignan, currently play in the Super League. ■

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F rance is set to become the latest country to outlaw disposable plastic bags when a ban comes into ef-fect on 1st April this year.

The change, which concerns the type of plastic bag typically distributed at supermarket checkouts and is part of France's 2014 energy transition bill, was originally due to come into force on 1st January, but its introduc-tion was delayed when the European Commission called for clarification of the text legislating the ban. “The European Commission re-quested clarification concerning the decree on the bags,” environ-ment minister Ségolène Royal told Le Journal du Dimanche newspaper. “Brussels wants to approve a meas-ure that concerns the free movement of these products.” According to the ministry, the Commission wanted more information on the size, weight and type of bag covered by the law. The executive body also wanted to know whether the French ban could hurt businesses that manufacture the bags. When Italy passed a similar law in 2013 banning non-biodegradable bags, Britain formally requested that the Commission block the law, claiming that it created obstacles to the free movement of goods in the EU’s internal market. From April, only reusable or bio-degradable bags - which cost more to produce - will be allowed in France. According to the French en-vironment ministry, 17 billion plas-tic bags are used in France every year, 6.5 billion of which are sin-gle-use plastic bags. Almost all of them are made from non-recyclable materials, which is why the French government has set out to hasten the transition to reusable or biode-gradable bags, ahead of EU targets. Some large retailers in France al-ready charge customers for plastic

bags, but the new law will go a step further. In a second step, all disposable plastic fruit and vegetable bags will be banned from French supermar-kets from the beginning of 2017. Instead, retailers must use biode-gradable bags made from paper or bioplastics. France has already drastically re-duced the number of plastic bags handed out by large retailers over the past decade, thanks largely to a voluntary agreement; the number dropped from 10.5 billion in 2002 to 700 million in 2011. Today, the av-erage French person gets through 79 plastic bags per person, compared to an EU average of 175 bags per citizen. The EU hopes to reduce this number to 40 by 2025. In a recent survey, Estonia was at the bottom of the class, with each resident getting through an impres-sive 450 single-use bags annually. As is so often the case, Scandinavian countries led the way: residents in Denmark and Finland use only four plastic bags on average each year! A number of countries around the world have already imposed out-right bans on plastic bags, which are blamed for polluting country-sides and marine ecosystems. In 2012 Haiti outlawed all plastic bags and packaging in a bid to protect its coastal mangrove swamps as did Bangladesh, where they are blamed for blocking sewage systems and ex-acerbating extreme flooding events. Also included in the same bill are proposals to ban disposable ta-bleware, including cups, mugs, and plates (but not cutlery) by 2020 as well as plans to promote the devel-opment of electric cars, recycling and moves to prevent “planned ob-solescence” in consumer goods; a practice where products are given an artificially-limited life and become unusable after a given time. ■

France to introduce ban on plastic bags

9 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu NATIONAL NEWS ♦

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French thirst forlotteries on the riseEurope may still be in the grip

of an economic crisis, but it would appear that the aver-age person does have at least

a little disposable income, according to figures published in Le Parisien. The newspaper has revealed that the coun-try spends a whopping €13.7 billion on games of chance each year – enough to buy 35 Airbus A380 airplanes, 40 mil-lion Sony Playstations or 3 billion Big Macs. The French have steadily been increas-ing the amount they spend on lotteries and scratch cards over recent years; the figure has more than doubled from €6.5 billion in 2004 to €13.7 billion last year. According to figures from the national lottery operator La Française des Jeux, 2015 was a record year for revenue and saw 149 participants winning €1million or more. One recent scratch card player got lucky twice after he dropped his winning €15,000 scratch card. Maurice Desnoy-

ers had been in a newsagent in Agde when he saw the elderly man celebrating his win on a Solitaire scratch card. After leaving the shop and later returning to his car, he found the winning ticket lying on the floor. “I tried to run after the man, but I couldn’t see him. I didn’t think, I put my shopping in the car and took the ticket back. I had seen the man, he was happy. It was the first time he had won. He was an elderly man, he probably had more need of it than I did.” When the lucky winer later returned in a panic to find that his ticket had been handed in, he was understandably de-lighted... and probably more than a bit relieved. “It was a nice gesture at this time of year. It shows that there are still honest people,” said the newsagent Alain Col-let. “The chances of someone bringing back the ticket were infinitesimal. This type of ticket is bearer only, it’s the per-son who has it in their hand who ben-efits.” ■

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France falling out of love with AZERTY

H ow many people have typed out a sentence on a key-board and looked at the screen only

to see a curious stream of com-mas and “q”s: you forgot that you're using an AZERTY key-board. When you choose to live and work in France, there are many things that you need to adapt to. Most people eventu-ally learn to speak the language, drive on the right and not try to buy anything on a Monday. But one thing many never overcome is the French key-board. “You have to do what to get a full stop?!”... “How do I get a pound sign?”... “What the heck is that behind the exclama-tion mark?!”... not to mention that you need to be a concert pi-anist to generate an “@” symbol on many keyboards. So you may feel slightly bet-ter to hear that the French them-selves share your frustration and

the government has now said that it will act. The much-ma-ligned AZERTY keyboard (the French version of the QWERTY keyboard and so named after the positioning of the first six keys) will be getting a make-over af-ter it was announced that the culture ministry has commis-sioned Paris-based consultancy AFNOR to draw up a list of rec-ommendations by the summer. Ultimately, the aim is to pro-duce a new standard keyboard that will gradually replace the many varieties of AZERTY cur-rently on the market. The move even has the sup-port of the change-fearing Aca-démie française - the notorious-ly tough guardians of the French language. “Today it is practically impos-sible to write French correctly using a keyboard that has been bought in France,” the minis-try said in a statement. “More surprisingly, certain European

countries like Germany and Spain respect French writing better than the French are able to - because their keyboards per-mit it!” The French language under-standably requires a more com-plicated keyboard than English as there are more accents (like é, è and ç) and “ligatures” (such as æ and œ). However, it is the priority given to the various numbers, characters and sym-bols that has so frustrated gen-erations of French speakers. For example, in order to write a full stop you need to hold down “shift + semicolon”, even though a full stop is far more common than a semicolon in any language. Another example is the letter ù (u-grave), which has its own key, even though it is used in only one word in the entire French language - où, meaning 'where'. Other, more common, ac-cented letters are harder to com-

pose and accented capital letters require manoeuvres of which, according to the ministry, most people are unaware. This ig-norance has led to the growing disuse of accented capitals, to such a point that there is a wide-spread belief that good French does not need them; most people think that ignoring an accent on a capital letter is acceptable. This is not the case, insists the culture ministry, point-ing out that both the Académie française and the National Print have issued guidelines urging the use of accents on capitals. The same goes for ligatures. Correct French says you should spell “eye” and “egg” œil and œuf respectively, but the æ and œ ligatures are so hard to ac-cess that you are far more likely to see oeil and oeuf in printed French. “The idea is not to impose anything, but simply to make it possible for people to obey the

rules,” says Philippe Magna-bosco, who is running the pro-ject at AFNOR. “Right now, there is a big discrepancy be-tween French grammar and the possibilities offered by the key-board.” Despite all of this, one thing that the recommendations are unlikely to change is the AZER-TY configuration itself - this de-spite the fact that most agree it is ergonomically disastrous. Whilst the numbers, accents, ligatures and symbols will all be over-hauled, the layout of the letters themselves will remain the same. The original QWERTY key-board was first introduced in the US in the late 19th century and was designed to avoid jams on typewriters by placing letters that are commonly used togeth-er, such as “st” or “th” on sepa-rate parts of the keyboard. This helped to avoid the arms carry-ing the letters from clashing and jamming the writing machine. ■

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 201612 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

A look at the wines of Bergerac

How Brits lose out in Brexit referendum

by Martin WalkerDenis MacShane

One of the great pleasures of being in this part of France is the chance to pot-ter around the wine country, calling in at vineyards to taste the wines and buy

directly from the producer. Winemakers enjoy these visits, and not only because they get the full price for their wine rather than sharing it with various middle-men. The best place to start is at the Maison des Vins de Bergerac on Quai Salvette on the riverbank in the heart of old Bergerac. They offer tastings and sell wine but the real prize is their Carte touristique du vignoble, the map that shows (almost) all the vine-yards and gives phone numbers and addresses. To be listed in the guide, vineyards have to be open to the public and offer tastings (dégustations), but it’s best to check opening hours, and more and more of them have modern tasting rooms and even English-speaking staff. So armed with this wine-lover’s bible, I set off reg-ularly with my friend and neighbour, Raymond, a re-tired gendarme officer. Usually we have at least one destination in mind; to try a wine we came across on a restaurant’s wine list or to visit a vineyard recom-mended by a friend. But we usually manage to call in at one or two more places, attracted by the name or the look of the place or simply to admire the view. We happened upon one wine that is now a firm fa-vourite at the Monday night market in Beaumont, the Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure near Colombier, just off the N21 road from Bergerac to Agen. The place is owned and run by Christian Roche, who proudly calls himself ‘a peasant winemaker’. Like more and more of the Bergerac vineyards, his property is run on strictly bio and organic lines and he is positively missionary in his fervour for making wines that ex-press the terroir of his land. He offers wines at three price levels. The Jour de Fruit is the cheapest at around 7 euros, the Abbaye is mid-priced at around 10-12 euros depending on the year and the top-of-the-line Extase was well worth the 20 euros we paid. If you can find an example of his 2005 Monbazillac, snap it up. Another wine we really enjoyed came from a visit to Chai Monique, the charming wine bar in Le Bugue (with good food turned out from a tiny kitchen by the friendly Monique). She was offering Château Montdoyen white wine by the glass, and it was a real discovery. It tasted fresh and clean, with at first a touch of flowers and just a hint of sweetness before

the characteristic dry flavour emerged and lingered in the mouth. Then Monique asked if we had ever tried the same vineyard’s Divine Miséricorde, a vine only made in years when the conditions are just right. It retails for 22 euros but it is a rare and noble wine that we reserve for special occasions. The vineyard is in the Monbazillac region, and it also offers very good rosé wines for 4 euros a bottle, and the Bergerac sec dry white wine I first tasted sells for 6 euros. But try their mid-priced white wine at 10 euros called Ainsi soit-il (which can be translated as ‘this is how it should be’). Their reds range from 6 euros to the spectacular l’imparfait at 40 euros. Raymond and I have a routine. Each week with another friend we each put in ten euros to play the national lottery and while we have yet to have a big win, we usually get back about half of our money in small prizes. This goes into a pot which we use to buy wines on our explorations of the region. We usually buy at least one or two bottles wherever we go, but if we really like the wine we buy a small case of six. But when we call in at our friend Sean and Caro Feely in Saussignac, at Terroir Feely (formerly Châ-teau Haut-Garrigue) we usually end up buying more. We first met Caro in the Bio tent at the Vinexpo wine fair in Bordeaux a few years ago, liked what we tast-ed and arranged to visit. Originally from South Africa, they moved to Ire-land and by selling their house and amassing their savings thought they had enough money to finance their dream of owning a French vineyard. They didn’t. In tears because she did not have enough mon-ey to buy shoes for her children, at the last minute an order arrived from America that saved their bacon. Now with their wine tours and wine lunches and the really excellent wines they produce (and Caro’s highly readable books on their adventures) they are making a living and doing what they love. So one of the extra pleasures of our wine tours is that we meet some interesting people and make some delightful new friends. ■

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

You might call it the luck of the Irish or the curse of the Euro-Brits. David Cameron’s Brexit referendum - whenever it is

held - will forbid hundreds of thousands of true-born Englishmen and women, as well as Scots and Welsh holders of UK passports from voting on their fate while allowing 400,000 Irish passport holders living in the UK to help decide the fate of Brits living across the Channel. Moreover EU citizens who do not hold British passports can vote if they come from Cyprus or Malta as part of the contingent of 1.6 million Commonwealth but not British citizens who live in the UK and who have the right to vote in parliamentary and local elec-tions. So a vote by Irishmen and women or a vote by Canadian, Australian or Indian passport holders temporarily resident in Britain may make the difference between staying in or leaving Europe, if the result is narrow either way. The real losers are the 2 million British citi-zens who live and work in Europe including an estimated 750,00 in Spain and many set-tled in regions of France like the Dordogne. They are the most likely to be directly affected by a vote in favour of Brexit as British with-drawal from the EU would mean the loss of automatic residence rights plus access to all local amenities on a non-discriminatory basis along with local citizens of the host country. Jean-Claude Piris, who served for 22 years as the European Council’s chief lawyer and is acknowledged as the best brain on EU law states: “At the date of Brexit British nation-als would lose their EU citizenship. It is not legally possible to build a theory according to which British nationals would keep as ‘ac-quired rights’ some of the rights attached to EU citizenship.” As EU law expert, Helena Wray, notes: “The price (of a Brexit vote) will be the loss of innumerable business, educational and cul-tural opportunities as movement from Europe becomes more difficult and likely increased difficulties for UK citizens who may no long-er take for granted their own privileged access to Europe for work, education, holidays or retirement.”

Unlike the United States or France and most democracies which expect their expat citizens to remain active in deciding the lead-ership and policy of their nations Britain puts every difficulty in the way of allowing their own citizens to exercise democratic rights to vote. British citizens lose all their democratic rights to vote once they have spent 15 years outside the UK. Even within that period the British citizen is expected to remain registered in a constituency and there are increasing dif-ficulties being placed in the way of registering to vote. But the Brexit referendum is completely different. It is not about electing an MP or councillor. It is a single national ballot paper with a simple Yes or No vote. It should be perfectly possible for the government to allow every British citizen registered at a consulate in Europe or further abroad to come and get a ballot paper. It is bizarre that Commonwealth passport holders who are not British can vote in the referendum but not British citizens, especially those living in Europe who will lose. ■

Denis MacShane is the former Minis-ter of Europe who writes regularly about France and broadcasts on French TV and radio. His latest book Brexit: How Britain Will Leave Europe is published by IB Tauris

Mon JardinGardening essentials and giftware

www.mon-jardin.co.ukmon-jardin25@hotmail.com

- Tools- Garden Essentials

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In the garden - jobs for FebruaryIn between the downpours (and latterly

rare snow flurries), we can see that the days are starting to get longer - great!! - and that we are heading towards the

start of the growing season, made even more pronounced by the unseasonal winter weath-er so far. Thoughts pleasurably turn to seeds and sowing, and the garden in general. So the first thing to do is get organised. Look through your seed box and make a note of what you've got and what you need. May-be you can divide it up into early, mid and late sowings if you don't want to be placing one large order all at once. Then you'll have a list of 'I'm looking for' things - useful to be able to ask friends and contacts for specific varieties, and know what you can offer them in return. You can also see what you have too much of (if you've harvested your own seed) and too little of to spare. Then think about where your seeds are go-ing to germinate and grow. If you have an electric propagator, give it a thorough clean and leave it open to air fully. Compost invari-ably seems to spread around as you transfer pots and trays in and out of the propagator, so put it down on a sheet of plastic or a wipeable surface if it's going into your living space. The end of the month is probably about right for sowing, but not yet for the sun lovers like chillies and tomatoes, unless you can grow

them on under warm conditions. If you're going to sow in a tunnel or greenhouse, en-courage it to heat up in advance. You can either lay a piece of plastic on the ground, if you're sowing direct into a bed/the floor, put some large containers filled with water in the space, or make a hotbed with manure. Even just putting a reasonable sized pile of fresh manure in the greenhouse should warm things up. Really organised people would make a sketch of their veg beds and list what they're going to sow where, with the successional crops noted - I mean, am I going to sow a quick catch crop of radishes round the on-ions, etc? This can help organise the order of sowing, because once you get going space very quickly seems to fill up! Much better, fi-nally, than just sowing in abundance and then a few weeks down the line asking yourself where you can plant things. With the recent cold spell it gives us a timely reminder that the weather so far this winter has been really mild. Be cautious about pruning and clearing too early in case we have a return to the cold. Looking into Winter Gardens for the gar-dening club talk of January, I find myself quite surprised that there are not more of them around here, where many gardens have enough space to have a dedicated area devot-

ed to winter colours, textures and smells. Why aren't the local councils doing something in-teresting? Looking at websites for places like Anglesey Abbey or Cambridge Botanical Garden, it seems that you can make really impressive winter borders with a relatively limited cost, especially if you propagate your

own plants. How gratifying is that?!! So, heads up and gardening gloves to the ready - lots to do when the weather is OK, and also inside when it's not. The season is starting up soon!! Good gardening! ■

by Michelle Pierce

13 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu PRACTICAL ♦

Spring is on the way and as we know, the British are very fond of gardening. This article provides tips on what is legal when it comes to your land.

Anything can start a quarrel between neigh-bours (persistent noise, leaves in your garden, an extension being built…); it is important to know your rights and remain calm.

Minimum distances to your neighbour

In this area, two set of rules apply: national rules applicable to the whole of France and lo-cal ones (for local regulations, seek advice from your mairie). The basic rules to keep in mind with regards planting are that if a tree or bush is going to be higher than 2 metres, it needs to be at least 2 metres away from the property boundary. If the tree or bush is going to be smaller, it has to be at at least 50 cm from your neighbour’s property. If the tree grows higher than expected you can keep it but you will have to keep an eye on it and make sure you prune it.

How to measure distances correctly

You need to measure at ground level and measurements should be taken from the middle of the trunk to the boundary between the two properties.

Can my neighbour complain about my trees or shrubs even if he does not suffer any

inconvenience?

Yes, your neighbour can apply the law “to the letter” as we say in French and annoy you by asking you to prune the plant or tree if it is above the legal limits stated previously, or even request that you remove it altogether.

What if it has been like this for as long as I can remember and no one ever said any-

thing until a new neighbour purchased the property next door?

If a new neighbour starts to complain about the regulations not being respected and asking for trees to be pruned or cut down, be aware that after between 10 to 30 years you might acquire a right if no one puts forward a concern. So if, for instance, your neighbour never complained about a tree that has been on the boundary for more than 30 years and after this time lapse his successors start asking for the tree to be cut down, you could in theory tell him/her that there is a “prescription acquisitive trente-naire”. To make sure that this is the case, I would advise that you seek legal advice first, as some legal analysis needs to be done.

Roots and branches on my property,what are the dos and don’ts?

If roots from your neighbour’s tree encroach upon your land, in theory you could cut them until they are on the other side of the boundary. I would advise against this, however, as the tree or plant might die, causing further problems down the line. You cannot, however, cut down any branches on your land as they not your property. If a tree annoys you for valid reasons, ask your neigh-bour to either cut it or prune it. You cannot pick any fruit from trees that overhang your land, but any that falls on the ground then belongs to you.

Will I receive compensation if a treebelonging to my neighbour falls on

my land and causes damage?

In theory, damages caused by a fallen tree should be covered by your neighbour’s home insurance contract. If your neighbour states that the insurance

will not cover the damages because the insur-ance company states limits within the contract, ask your neighbour for a copy of the insurer’s response and contract and seek legal profes-sional advice as there is no standard answer. An analysis of the insurance contract needs to be done to check if the provisions in the con-tract are legal or if the provisions are unfair and should be ignored to discard the limitations in the insurance contract. A letter before action might do the trick to get damages.

Do I have to maintain my garden?

No, you do not if you do not want to. It is different for the boundary though. In theory the mayor can intervene to clean your garden if public health, pollution or a danger to others are involved. In practice this is very unlikely. Bear in mind that in the south, as the weather is drier, you have to be careful not to start a fire and to maintain your garden to prevent fires. You need to have a look at the “code forestier” at your local mairie or at the prefecture with re-gards to regulations on the risk of fires in your area.

What if my neighbour takes me to court or if I wish to solve my problem in court?

Stay calm. Help is at hand. If you receive any document from the court and you do not understand it, do not wait and see if you can manage to translate the document. If you see a date and a time and a document called “CONVOCATION” seek legal advice imme-diately, even if the date of the hearing is several months away. Legal matters in this area depend on the Tri-bunal d’Instance which is the British equiva-lent of the county court. In theory, you do not need to be assisted (if you turn up at court) or to be represented by a French lawyer (avocat). Even though the French procedural code does not make it mandatory to get a French lawyer, you need to ask yourself if your French is good enough to explain the matter to a French judge, in the middle of a French court, with a lot of people present.

Secondly, you need to know that even if you decide to deal with the matter yourself, your opponent might not be as courageous as you and might have a lawyer who will turn up at court and you might not know about this until the last minute. Ask yourself if you are able to fight against a legal professional who speaks French fluently, who studied for 8 years and has a few years of practice behind him/her in civil procedural law using rules and words you have never heard be-fore. If you have tried to handle the matter yourself and you find out at the court hearing that you are not going to be able to, there is no shame in that. Please note that you still have the possibil-ity to ask the judge for a time extension and get a new court date to seek legal represen-tation. The judge CANNOT refuse it to you. You should maintain your request even if you see your opponent’s lawyer moving about and protesting. Before you consider legal action, I would recommend that you draft a letter before ac-tion if you wish your neighbour to complete some work on his trees or if you wish to ask that something is done to the boundary hedge or wall (“limite mitoyenne”, “mur”). I think it is key to remain as calm and polite as possible and to maintain communication with your neighbour, especially if you do not wish to move anytime soon. ■

For more information on this or any other topic, please do not hesitate to contact:

Prune CALONNE,Avocat au Barreau de Toulouse,117 route d’Albi31200 Toulouse

Phone: 05 34 30 51 33Mobile: 06 74 16 11 12Email: scpcalonneadouedugast@hotmail.frWeb: www.cad-avocats.com

My firm can arrange appointments inCAHORS at our correspondent’s offices. Please do not hesitate to contact us for more details.

Regulations in France regarding boundaries and gardensPrune CALONNE gives advice on the law surrounding shrubs and trees near the borders of your property. To avoid conflict with your neighbours, there are several rules to keep in mind.

Are you up to date with the latest developments in France and in-ternationally that affect you? Do you have a considered, strategic

tax and wealth management plan in place? Spending a little time now will help you pro-tect and preserve your wealth over the long term.

Tax planning

Make sure your investments and wealth are placed in the most suitable arrangement to limit your tax liabilities. Take advice from someone who is well-versed in the nuances of French taxation, otherwise you could see your investment returns slashed by French taxes that could have been avoided or miti-gated. The right tax efficient arrangement can keep most of your investments in one place and help you legitimately avoid paying too much tax. It is important to ensure your tax planning is up-to-date and designed to take advantage of tax planning opportunities in France. Another major incentive to review your tax affairs now is that the Common Report-ing Standard (CRS) went live in January. The French tax authority will receive information on every resident of France, without having to ask for it. There has never been a better time to consider your tax planning and, more importantly, the use of a fully tax compliant structure in France, to ensure peace of mind.

Social charges

In February 2015 the European Court of

Justice ruled that social charges on unearned income paid by French residents working in another EU Member State, and subject to the social security in that Member State, were discriminatory. This decision applies to:

• French residents subject to the social se-curity of another EU member state (Form S1 holders), on unearned income.

• Non-French residents living in another EU Member State, on French unearned real estate income (capital gains and let-ting income).

If you fall into either of these categories and unduly paid social charges on unearned income in 2013, 2014 and 2015, you can make a claim to recover the tax. Contact your French lawyer or accountant for help in filing the claim. The 2016 social security budget amends the social charges legislation to be in line with EU rules, which mean they will be due on unearned income again from 2016, for everybody, but in another form.

Estate planning

Estate planning is about ensuring that the right money is in the right hands at the right time, to give you peace of mind. The first step is to establish your goals:

• Who would you like to benefit from your estate?

• Do you want them to have control over the money or not?

• How quickly would they need to be able to access the money?

• What impact will tax have?

• Would you like to try and avoid probate on some of your assets?

There are major differences between UK and French succession law. For example, in France children are protected heirs, inherit-ing up to 75% of the parent’s estate, even in preference to the spouse who is generally not protected. However, the new EU succession regula-tion, known as “Brussels IV”, that came into force in August 2015, allows you to choose between French or UK succession law to ap-ply to your estate. French succession law will apply by default, unless you have a will say-ing otherwise. This is a new, complex area and you need to carefully examine how the law works for your personal circumstances. Seek specialist advice. Brussels IV does not cover tax laws. French succession tax continues to apply as it does now. You may be free to pass assets to whomever you wish, but with tax rates up to 60%, the French taxman could well be the biggest beneficiary.

Savings and investments

Are you sure your investments, and the mix of them, is suitable for your life in France? You may have built up a portfolio of shares and funds over the years, without really con-sidering how they work together or whether they suit your aims. Consider the principles for successful investing below.

• Your appetite for risk Obtain a clear and objective assessment of your appetite for risk, or your portfolio may not be suitable for you.

• Match your risk profile to the opti-mum portfolio Make sure your invest-ment portfolio matches your attitude to risk.

• Diversification It is critical to ensure your investments are suitably diversified, so you are not over-exposed to any given asset type, country, sector or stock.

• Yearly review Your portfolio can shift away from the one designed to match your risk profile and objectives, and your circumstances may have changed.

Pensions

Deciding what to do with your pension fund now, following the new ‘pension free-dom’ in the UK, is of fundamental impor-tance. There are more choices than ever be-fore and expatriates have further levels of complexity to contend with. It is critical that you consider the tax im-plications in France for your pension options. Do not risk your pension savings - get help from an expert well versed in both French and UK legislation. Whether it is investments, pensions or tax planning, seek advice to ensure you do what works best for your personal situation. Use an adviser who can guide you on all these as-pects and provide holistic solutions. ■

Tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based upon our understanding of current taxation laws and practices which are sub-ject to change. Tax information has been summarised; an individual is advised to seek personalised advice.

Is it time for a financial planning review? - Blevins Franks

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 201614 ♦ BILINGUAL

LEARNING FRENCH VIA INTERNET

TRANSLATION SERVICES ALSO AVAILABLE

Perhaps you would like to learn French in comfort at home or from your offi ce? You are not in France and you wish to communicate with a native French person for one hour per week?

LONG-DISTANCE LEARNING is the answer. You only need internet access and a free Skype account.It can be a one-to-one lesson or you can share the lesson with a person of the same level.

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The Bugle thanks French teacher, Sophie Arsac, for the translation of this month's bilingual article on a topical aspect of Franco-British culture.Pétanque is a ball game in which

the aim is to throw metal balls as close as possible to a small wooden target object. It is usually

played on hard dirt or gravel and is a game enjoyed by millions across France.

History

Thousands of years ago the ancient Greeks played a game with flat coins or stones, which involved throwing the object as far as possible. This game was later refined by the Romans to include a target. The Romans then brought the game to Provence, where the stones were eventually replaced with wooden balls and this gave birth to a number of similar games, collectively referred to as boules. The most popular variant of the game at the turn of the last century was jeu provençal, where the playing area was larger and players ran three steps before throwing their ball. The modern game of pétanque traces its creation to a moment in 1907 in La Ciotat, Provence, when a local player, Jules Lenoir, did what can only be described as the opposite of William Webb Ellis [the inventor of rugby] - he picked the ball up and stood still. Lenoir was a keen jeu provençal player, but was left in a wheelchair following an accident and his friends agreed to play the game pieds-tanqués (feet anchored). A new game was born and the first pétanque tournament was organised shortly afterwards. Today it is by far the most popular form of the game.

Rules of the game

Pétanque is played by between 2 and 6 people. The team going first draws a circle in the dirt about 35-50 cm in diameter and throws the jack (or cochonet which literally means ‘little-pig’) 6-10 metres away; the jack must be at least 1 metre away from any boundary.

The player who threw the jack then throws their first ball. A player from the opposing team then makes a throw. Play continues with the team that is furthest from the jack, who continue throwing until they either land a ball closest to the jack, or they run out of balls. When all balls have been thrown, the winning team receives one point for each ball that it has closer to the jack than the best-placed ball of the opposition. A team wins when they have 13 points. ■

La pétanque est un jeu de boules dont le but est de lancer des boules de métal le plus près possible d’une petite cible en bois. Les parties se déroulent

généralement sur un terrain en terre battue ou en gravier. C’est un jeu qui est pratiqué par des millions de personnes à travers la France.

Historique

Il y a des milliers d’années, les Grecs anciens

jouaient à un jeu avec des pièces ou des cailloux qu’il fallait jeter aussi loin que possible. Plus tard, les Romains améliorèrent la règle en ajoutant une cible puis ils introduisirent le jeu en Provence. Les cailloux furent finalement remplacés par des boules de bois. Nombre de jeux similaires furent alors pratiqués sous le nom collectif de « jeux de boules ». A la fin du XIXème siècle, le « jeu provençal » devint la variante la plus populaire. Le terrain était plus grand et les joueurs faisaient 3 pas pour prendre de l’élan avant de lancer leur boule. Les origines de la pétanque moderne remontent à 1907 à La Ciotat (Provence) lorsqu’un joueur local, Jules Lenoir, fit ce qui peut être décrit comme l’exact opposé de ce que fit William Webb Ellis, l’inventeur du rugby : il ramassa la boule et resta immobile pour la lancer. Lenoir était un joueur assidu du jeu de boules provençal mais après un accident, il se retrouva en fauteuil roulant. Ses amis acceptèrent alors de jouer avec les pieds-tanqués (les pieds ancrés au sol). Un nouveau jeu était né et le premier tournoi de pétanque fut organisé peu après. C’est de loin aujourd’hui la variante la plus populaire du jeu.

Règles du jeu

La pétanque se joue entre 2 et 6 personnes. L’équipe qui débute trace un cercle d’environ 35-50 cm de diamètre sur le sol et un joueur lance la cible (ou cochonnet, littéralement « le petit cochon ») à une distance comprise entre 6 et 10 mètres. Le cochonnet ne doit pas être à moins d’un mètre des limites du terrain. Ensuite le même joueur lance la première boule puis un joueur de l’équipe adverse fait de même. Les joueurs de l’équipe dont toutes les boules sont les plus éloignées du cochonnet continuent à jouer jusqu’à ce qu’ils placent une boule plus près de la cible ou qu’ils aient épuisé leur stock de boules. Lorsque toutes les boules ont été lancées, l’équipe gagnante reçoit un point pour chaque boule qui se trouve plus près de la cible que la plus proche des boules adverses. Une équipe gagne lorsqu’elle atteint 13 points. ■

Pétanque

Useful VocabPointer (verb) - to place - throw your ball in such a way as to leave it

as close to the jack as possible

Tirer (verb) - to fire or shoot - to throw your ball with the intentionof making contact with another ball

You can’t play pétanque amongst Frenchmen for long (and 86% of all registered players in France are male) without hearing the phrase « Tu tires ou tu pointes? »

Mettre fanny - to fanny - to beat one’s opponents 13-0. The figure of a bare-bottomed lass named Fanny is ubiquitous in Provence wherever petanque is played…

Across:1. flights (4)3. factory (5)7. friends (4)8. to write (6)10. dozen (8)13. spectacles (8)16. curve (6)17. tyre (4)18. teeth (5)19. baby (4)

Clues in English - answers in French

Down:1. meat (6)2. lettuce (6)4. seconds (8)5. night (4)6. beak (3)9. ocean liner (8)11. amazed (6)12. confident (6)14. here (3)15. cube (4)

Bilingual Crossword

Bilingual crossword solution can be found on page 19

15 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu DIRECTORY ♦

Business DirectoryYour indispensable guide to finding local businesses & artisans

Animals & Pets

BuildingServices

Architectural Services

AutoServices

DOG GROOMING FOR ALL TYPES OF DOGS

Clipping, cutting, hand stripping, bathing, ear care & nail trimming.

INGRID GELAUDIE

La Baronnie, 24260 Audrix

06 31 98 92 07

SHAMPOOCHIENSDog Grooming Parlour

All breeds catered forClipping, hand stripping

and bathing30 years’ experience

24500 Eymet05 53 58 55 38

and home ofCANOUAN ENGLISH

SPRINGER SPANIELSPuppies sometimes available

Siret: 499 234 615 00015

ArchitecturalDRAWING SERVICERenovating yourFrench property?

New build?Dossiers prepared

Permis de Construire Déclarations Préalables

Tel: 05 53 52 36 05lavieilleabbaye@orange.fr

www.latuspeter-architecturaldrawings-24.comSIRET: 493 770 358 00015

At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France. From initial feasibility to completed dossiers. We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure

your application proceeds smoothly.We are equally at home working with clients

here in France or those living abroad.

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83Mob: 06 33 07 29 72Email: info@masterplans.eu

www.masterplans.euSiret: 790 016 984 00011

BuildingServices

Electricians

BARWICKÉLECTRICITÉ

SHAUN BARWICK QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

Available for all types of electrical workSmall jobs, new builds,

renovations, rewires Consuel assistance and

certification service availableFully insured with 10 year workmanship guarantee

Based near Châlus (87230)

Tel: 09 72 35 74 73Email: barwick.shaun@gmail.com

@iret: 794 282 368 00016

BuildingServices

General

For more information on advertising in the

Bugle BusinessDirectory, give us

a call or send us an email:

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

ElsaConception(Architecture/ Design/ Decoration)

Need interior design advice?Planning a project? Giving a space a makeover?

Need to submit a building permitor a declaration?

I can support you in all your makeover,renovation or construction projects.

Sarlat and surrounding areas (up to 100km) Tel: 06.87.09.38.94

Web: http://www.elsaconception.com

CHARKER DAVIDSpecialist in the renovation

and restoration of period and contemporary buildingsAll small works undertaken

Stonework, Traditional renderings in Lime, Doors and Windows, Dry line walls, Zinc work,

Electrical wiring and interior finishesBased near Brantôme

E-mail  : dn.charker@sfr.frTel: 05 53 09 42 18

No Siret: 402 444 871 00030

CHARTERED STRUCTURAL

ENGINEERPre-purchase & Structural Surveys.

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

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

Web: www.versineer.comEmail: enquiries@versineer.com

Siret: 498 843 051 00018

ETS RICHARDESTABLISHED IN 2005ARTISAN IN RENOVATION AND

CONSTRUCTION WORK INCLUDING BARNAND LOFT COVERSIONS. SPECIALIST IN

OLD STONE WORK, ALL TYPES OF ROOFING, PAINTING & DECORATING, BATHROOMS,

TILING, GUTTERING, WOOD CONSTRUCTION, PLASTERBOARDING, INSULATION.

BASED IN PERIGORD NOIR

COMPETITIVE PRICING

T : 06 38 71 08 36 E : richard.stienstra@orange.frFor more information please visit my

Facebook page : Entreprise Richard

HarlequinDevelopmentsAll aspects of renovationand refurbishment, big or

small, undertaken. Harlequin Developments are

a Distributor and Installerfor Solarventi,

solar dehumidifyingand ventilating products.

05.55.68.67.5606.06.60.46.97

harlequindevelopments@live.comwww.harlequindevelopments.com

SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

Please mentionThe Bugle when

responding to adverts

Please mentionThe Bugle when

responding to adverts

Cats and DogsBoarding Kennels

Purpose built kennels - dept 16.45 years animal care experience. Fully insured and vet approved.

Individual kennels plus family pens.Walking off lead 4 times a day.

Michael and Wendy Aldrichcatsanddogs2009@hotmail.co.uk

05 45 66 14 62Siret: 494 030 919 00018

MinouCatsPurpose built cattery with 7 heated,

well equipped luxury suitesRelaxed and secure environment

Experienced and qualified ownersTender loving care all day long

Agnac, 47800Tel: 05 53 93 92 44

nicky@minoucats.frwww.minoucats.fr

BuildingServices

Carpenters/Joiners

Suppliers of Car & VanSpares & LHD headlights,

anywhere in FranceJOHN SOWERSBY

+44 (0)1377 255470+44 (0)7830 170761

motorptscharente@aol.comwww.motorpartscharente.com

MOTOR PARTSCHARENTE

Wood WorkSHUTTERS/DOORS,

STAIRCASES, etc.MADE TO MEASURE

IN SOFTWOODS OR LOCAL HARD WOODSSIMPLE ORDERING / 10 DAY TURNAROUNDPlease explore our website for more info:

www.scrollart.co.uk05 55 14 12 43

Oradour Sur Vayres (87150)- siren 752 051 482

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

Plant SalesMini diggers, backhoe

loaders, site dumpers, etc.Groundworks, site clearance

and gardening servicesVery competitive prices

DeliveredCall Ant: 05 55 05 09 60

Mob: 07 50 44 76 27siret: en cours

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 201616 ♦ DIRECTORY

SOS Helpanxious? stressed?

feeling down?call us up!

01 46 21 46 463 - 11pm daily

Confidential & Non-profitwww.soshelpline.org

Please mentionThe Bugle when

responding to adverts

General

CARPET /UPHOLSTERY

CLEANINGSpecialists in all carpet and

upholstery cleaningPROCHEM trained and Qualified

10 years UK experience - Covering depts 24/47/3306 32 32 64 54 / 05 53 58 00 98email lucidservices24@gmail.com

siret: 512 614 306 00011

ADVERTORIAL

A simple solar energy sys-tem that runs on its own, even when you are not

there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter. The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the back-ing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s en-ergy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with dis-comfort, lots of work and ex-pense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi model came together.

How it worksThe principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, built-in, so-lar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a con-trol unit and an on/ off switch. Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic me-tres per hour. The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cot-tages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season. Since that time, the technology has re-ally come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th gen-eration Solarventi have exceed-ed all expectations. In Southern Europe, Solar-

venti is not only used for ventila-tion/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substan-tial heating supplement. Sev-eral technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C.

A DIY Solution?The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours. All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product - in Scandinavia it still is. There are no electrical or water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty. Solar-venti requires no maintenance

- if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehu-midification purposes or simply switched off. With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, cara-vans or even boats!! Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only re-cently been actively commer-cialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been in-stalled in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapid-ly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■

Units start from €630 TTC. Several ex-demonstration

models available at reduced prices, call for details.

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

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

Please mentionThe Bugle when

responding to adverts

The Dordogne Chippy

Traditional Fish & Chips in a town near you

Please note, we are closeduntil 20th March

Monday: ChampsacTuesday: Tremolat

Wednesday: Star Inn, PérigueuxThursday: Eymet

1st & 3rd Friday: Lauzun2nd Friday: Ste-Alvère

Last Friday: DaglanSee our website for full details:

www.thedordognechippy.com05 53 74 01 91 or 06 19 99 25 62

siret: 444 925 630 00014

Computers& Satellites

Sat-ElecFormerly Electrosat

UK & French Satellite TVDishes & Freesat boxes always in stockTerrestrial digital aerial installationsFrom a single outlet to multi-point systems

TOOWAY BROADBANDApproved Supplier

Wi-Fi, Data Networks, CCTVFor sales, service or advice

call Mike G on:05 55 09 15 73

We only use our own qualified staff No call out charge Free quotations All areas covered

Quality work from qualified Staff5 Place de la Republique Sauviat-sur-Vige 87400

siret no 798 364 600 00014

Food & Drink

La PoutreBar & Restaurant

24400 Beaupouyet (N89 between Montpon & Mussidan)

French/International cuisine.Themed nights each Friday:

1st Friday - Curry night2nd Friday - Quiz night

3rd Friday - Fish n Chips night “best around”!!4th Friday - Live Music night

Open Tue - Fri: 11am - 9pm (except Wed eve)Saturday 6pm - 10pm

Sunday 12pm - 3pm, traditionalEnglish roasts served

For further details call Steve:05 53 80 29 54

or email: steve.francis24@gmail.comor facebook: Beaupouyet La Poutre

siret 537 415 903 00013

PLUMBING &HEATING ENGINEER

- Installation, from kitchen tapsto full central heating systems

- Breakdown / Replacement boilers

- Emergency plumbing repairs

- Full analysed testing

M : 06 72 47 88 00T: 05 53 20 64 02

E : wellers@orange.frRegistered Artisan - Siret No: 480 857 853 00018

BuildingServices

Plumbers

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Youradverthere

05 55 41 17 76

Stephen WisedaleWiFi Anglais

Losing businessdue to poor Internet

and WiFi?Extended wired and wireless networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses.VPN solutions. Windows and Mac OSX.

www.wifianglais.comEmail: hello@wifianglais.comTel: 05 53 30 23 96

Mob: 07 78 52 20 46Siret: 800 525 040 00013

BuildingServices

Painters/Decorators

Simon CarterPainter & DecoratorQualified craftsman with over 25 years

UK experience, now basedHaute-Vienne/north Dordogne border.

Specialist services:Interior & exterior painting &

decorating, wallpapering, plastering.FREE QUOTES

Tel: 05 87 19 91 50Mob: 07 81 26 88 65Web: www.sjcmontluc.fr

Email: sjcmontluc@yahoo.frsiret: 792.130.932.00017

HOME & GARDENmaintenance

For all your gardening, window/guttercleaning & paintwork needs, etc...

Call me for a professional,reliable and friendly service

Paul: 07 83 75 45 76 Free quote

Bergerac and surroundingsmansfield.gardening@gmail.com

GardenServices

Sand and BlastWe provide a fully operated

sandblastingservice for wood, stone and metal.

Perfect for stripping away yearsof grime or paint.

Contact us for a free quote, or see our website:www.sandandblast.com

05 55 76 31 59 / 06 77 40 95 92bobby@sandandblast.comsteve@sandandblast.com

SIRET: 812 727 253 00013

BuildingServices

Sandblasting

Ellen B. SanchezGestalt

TherapistCouple’s therapy

Individual therapyEnglish speaking

Rue de La République,24200 Sarlat-la-Canéda

Tel: 06 21 95 24 42www.existtherapy.com

KATE MACKENZYINTERIOR DESIGNRenovation consultation

to finished interiorsKitchen and Bathroom Planning

Traditional to ContemporaryGite to Château & B&B

25 years of property transformationsmackenzyfr@gmail.com

05 53 58 65 11siret: 815 112 362 00018

17 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu DIRECTORY ♦

For more information on advertising in the

Bugle BusinessDirectory, give us

a call or send us an email:

sales24@thebugle.eu

05 55 41 17 76

Ivan Petley

3D Puzzle MakerHandmade, fully interlocking,

multi-layered 3D puzzles from just €9.Keyrings €2 plus other unique gift ideas.

Customisation and personalisation possible.Postal delivery options across France.

Tel: 05.55.80.29.88Les Bregères, 23150 St-Martial-le-Mont

alison.petley@wanadoo.fr

Gifts & Crafts

SECONDHAND CLOTHING

for the whole familyABJAT-SUR-BANDIAT

(opp. the boulangerie)Open: Tue & Thu, 14h-17h

alsoSun, 10h-12h in July & August only

By appointment outside these hours:

Tel: 06 79 04 10 21

MICHAELS MOVERS

RemovalsUK ↔ France ↔ UK

Full & Part loadsAll size of vehicles

Storage facilities in SussexUK free phone:

0800 840 3058Mob: +44 (0)7808 338 386

Removals, storage& house clearance in Dordogne

06 73 96 38 39 (FR) www.michaelsmovers.freeindex.co.uk

Please mentionThe Bugle when

responding to adverts

Central France Pest Control

Dératisation, Déinsectisation,Désinfection

02 48 60 83 72 / 06 74 33 02 38www.applicateur3d.com

Email: info@applicateur3d.com

Curative and preventativerats, mice, moles, flies, woodworm,

bed bugs, fleas, wasps, hornets

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

Pest Control

PropertySales

Transport,Removals & Storage

Man & VanTransport

Genuine/Reliable/HonestLocal + Europe + UK runs

Now also available for House/Barn clearances!

14m3 capacity4.2m load length

French Spoken

09 82 12 69 7387150 Oradour-sur-Vayres

www.frenchvanman.euSiret 530 213 644 00012

Eco Entrepotaka The Shed

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

loads more!!

05 55 68 74 73Open every day except Monday

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

Contact Joanna:

www.VideoProFrance.comTe: +33 (0) 6 99 07 64 28

contact@videoprofrance.com

DSD Removals& Storage

The Removal ExpertsFrance ↔ UK

• All risk insurance cover• Full and Part load specialists

• Professional staff & modern vehicles

• Every vehicle from a Luton van to a full removals lorry• Prices from £3.63 per sq ft +44 (0)1274 724 545info@dsdremovalsltd.comwww.dsdremovalsltd.com

facebook.com/DSDRemovals

bookstopQuality second-hand

books in English & French19 rue Victor Hugo24310 BRANTÔME

09 51 45 57 49Relax and browse in comfortHot and cold drinks served

Retail &Commerce

Youradverthere

05 55 41 17 76

ADVERTORIAL

Houses on Internet – Global Property Services (hereafter referred to as “HOI-

GPS”) is the internet/marketing company that helps people sell their French property to buyers worldwide. Richard Kroon, founder and director of the company: “Last year was one of our best years ever in terms of sales. An im-portant reason for that was the exchange rate between the euro and the pound sterling, which makes it interesting for British people to buy. Another reason is that we were able to increase our worldwide advertising budget and reach more prospective buy-ers than ever.” But it’s not just the British who are buying. In 2015 HOI-GPS sold properties to people from 16 different countries, like

Australia, Belgium, Holland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, Norway and of course France. Richard continues: “Our con-tinuous global marketing is definitely paying off and guar-antees a worldwide exposure of your property to buyers wher-ever they live. The actual work all starts with the presentation of a property. If that’s not good enough, all other marketing ef-forts are useless. Our photog-raphers usually take 150 to 200 photos of a house and in addition copy any good (summer) photos our clients may have themselves. About 50 to 60 of those photos are selected, enhanced and pre-sented on the dedicated website we make for each property. The text doesn’t just describe the house, garden and outbuildings, but also gives information about

shopping, schools, airports and local leisure activities. “When the website for the house is online, we first connect it to our main HOI-GPS web-sites which attract over 135,000 visitors from 40+ countries each month. Most of these people find us through Google and addition-al Google advertising. To reach an even larger audience, a sum-mary of the presentation of the house is also placed on several other leading property websites. These adverts are also connect-ed to the dedicated website of the house, making it all one big global property network. “As the property market has become a global one, a prospec-tive buyer can be on the other side of the world while the owner is in bed sleeping. With our ap-proach, the buyer does not have to wait and can see the entire

property whenever he wants, at the moment he is interested in it.” For more information on HOI-GPS or to market your property through them, visit their website.

Houses on Internet: A Global Property Network

Houses on Internet - Global Property Services

www.housesoninternet.com+31 (0)1 15 82 35 53

EASY MEDIUM HARD

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www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 201618 ♦ LANGUAGE & GAMES

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

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

Advertising your business couldn’t be easier. Text only, boxed listings are available in our Business Directory from just €13.50/month. Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT). Both Directory Adverts and Ad-vertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of more than 25,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

Large Directory Ad46mm x 71mm(Actual Size)45 words max

Small Directory Ad46mm x 46mm(Actual Size)30 words max

6-Month Contract 12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad €108(€18/month)

€162 (€13.50/month)

Large b&w Directory Ad €144(€24/month)

€216(€18/month)

Small Colour Directory Ad €162(€27/month)

€243(€20.25/month)

Large Colour Directory Ad €216(€36/month)

€324(€27/month)

Advertising in The Bugle Business Directory

SEARCHWORDOKU © - by Anthony Parson

Complete the alphabetical Sudoku grid to the left using only the letters already shown, then use the result word-search grid to find: A freshwater fish

How does it work...?Complete the Sudoku grid in the usual manner, using only the 9 letters already shown. Once complete, you will be left with a 9x9 wordsearch grid, in which to find the final piece of the puzzle.

See the completed example to the right, the clue for which is "An English county".

Be careful not to jump to conclu-sions, as with the letters available, the answer could be SURREY, SUS-SEX, ESSEX, or as it turns out in this case... SOMERSET.

Solution on page 17

SUDOKU - EASY SUDOKU - MEDIUM SUDOKU - HARD

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 17

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 05 55 41 17 76

19 FEBRUARY 2016 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu COMMUNITY ♦

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05 5

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notices@thebugle.eu

MondayBeynacLe FleixLes EyziesSte-Alvère

TuesdayBeaumont du PérigordBergeracBrantômeCénac-et-Saint-JulienLanouailleLe BugueMareuilNeuvicRibéracSalignac EyviguesThenonTrémolat Villefranche-de-Lonchat

WednesdayBergeracHautefortJumilhac-le-GrandLa Tour BlancheMontpon-MénestérolMontignacPérigueux

Piégut PluviersRazacSarlatSiorac-en-PérigordVélines

ThursdayDommeExcideuilEymetLa Coquille LalindeMonpazierSt AstierSt-Julien-de-LamponTerrasson

FridayBergeracBrantômeCubjacLe BuissonRibéracSarlatVergt

SaturdayAgonacBeaumont du PérigordBelvès

BergeracLalindeLa Roche ChalaisLe BugueMontignacMussidanNeuvicNontronPérigueuxRazacSarlatSigoulèsSt AulayeThiviersVerteillacVillefranche du Périgord

SundayBergeracCouze St FrontDaglanIssigeacPontoursPressignac-VicqRouffignacSarlatSorgesSt CyprienSt GéniesSt Pardoux la Rivière

Market Days

AQUITAINE CHURCH SERVICESFEBRUARY 2016

SUNDAY 07 FEBRUARY10:30 Service of the Word – Bertric Burée

10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux10:30 Prayer & Praise – Limeuil

10:30 Candlemas Morning Worship - Monteton11:00 Holy Communion - Doudrac

16:00 Evensong – Bertric Burée

Ash Wednesday, 10 February10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil

11:00 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée15:00 Holy Communion – Doudrac17:30 Holy Communion – Bordeaux18:00? Holy Communion - Monteton

SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée

10:30 All Age Worship – Bordeaux10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Salle des Fêtes des Marguerites

10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil10:30 Morning Prayer - Monteton10:30 Family Service – Négrondes

Tuesday 16 February11:30 Holy Communion - Envals

Thursday 18 February10:30 BCP Holy Communion - Limeuil

SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY10:30 Family Service – Bertric Burée10:30 Morning Worship – Bordeaux

10:30 Holy Communion – Chancelade10:30 Holy Communion - Dondas10:30 Morning Worship - Limeuil10:30 Prayer & Praise – Monteton

11:00 Holy Communion – Carlux, chez the Wiltons

SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY10:30 Holy Communion – Bertric Burée10:30 Family Communion – Bordeaux

10:30 Fresh Expressions – Eymet Salle des Fêtes des Marguerites10:30 Holy Communion – Limeuil

10:30 Holy Communion - Monteton10:30 Holy Communion – Négrondes

The Chaplaincy of Aquitaine covers the Dordogne, Gironde, Lot-et-Garonne, and Condom (Gers).

All services are held in English.For further details, please see our website:

www.churchinaquitaine.orgor contact Chaplaincy Administration:Amy Owensmith, +33 (0) 607 04 07 77

chapaq.office@gmail.com

Managing Editor: Steve MartindaleEditor-in-Chief: Steve MartindaleRegistered Address: Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois FranceSIRET: 514 989 748 00017Printed by: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac FranceMonthly circulation: 11,000 copiesAll copyright, unless stated otherwise, is re-served to The Bugle. Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited.Dépôt légal à parution.

Directeur: Steve MartindaleRédacteur-en-chef: Steve MartindaleSiège Les Quatre Chemins 23150 St-Yrieix-les-Bois FranceSIRET: 514 989 748 00017Imprimé par: Charente Libre 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac FranceTirage mensuel: 11,000 copiesTous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite.Dépôt légal à parution.

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

GUS – an 8-yr-old Brittany Spaniel boyPoor Gus was dumped when his owner moved house.

Extraordinary that someone can keep a dog for 8 years from a puppy and then abandon it when they move!

Like all Brittany Spaniels, he’s lively and loving. This handsome chap is fine with other dogs, loves children and people, but would

undoubtedly chase cats and poultry. He travels well in the car.

Gus would love a family home with a large, fenced garden....he may be 8 years old, but he’s still full of beans!

He is tattooed and neutered and will be vaccinated on adoption. If you’d like more details about this lovely lad, please contact Sheelagh on 05 53 54 94 81 (leave a message and I’ll get

back to you!) or at sheerik@wanadoo.fr

www.phoenixasso.comwww.facebook.com/PhoenixAssociationFrance

The Cantabile Choir, based in Eymet, has restarted rehearsals for their Summer Concerts in June, singing Mozart’s Coronation Mass, and arrangements of popular Viennese Music.

New members, especially those with choral experience, are welcome to contact Philippa Tillyer at cogulot@yahoo.co.uk. At the moment we are especially looking for strong sopranos.

In addition to our Concerts, we are arranging a Music Day for those who would like to learn more about how music theory works. This workshop will be led by our dynamic choir leader Simon Kenworthy, and will take place in Eymet on Saturday 27th February during the day.

A second ‘Come and Sing’ event will be held in Eymet on the afternoon ofSaturday 23rd April, and will be exploring a new composition composed by Simon Kenworthy,

based on a theme from one of Shakespeare’s plays. This event is suited to experiencedsingers and will involve sight reading.

Both courses are open to non members but places are limited and there will be a small charge.

For further information on any of the above events, please register your interest with Philippa Tillyer by email at cogulot@yahoo.co.uk, giving details of your singing experience and range,

or simply ask to be put on our mailing list for details of future events.

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ FEBRUARY 201620 ♦ WHAT’S ON

Walnut Festival, SarlatSaturday 13th February

The nut in all its forms...

For centuries, the Périgord Walnut hasenjoyed an unrivaled reputation. Visit Sarlat

on 13th February to discover the Noix du Périgord. There will be the regional walnut oil competition and stands with a variety of nut-based products (oil, cakes, sweets,

cheeses, breads).

notices@thebugle.eu

Join us for concerts in the air conditioned new hall in Le Buisson, mostly of classical music, with top class French, English,Russian and other international performers. Concert tickets cost €15 including wine in the interval.

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

Music in the Dordogne sponsored by ARCADES

Venue - Le Buisson de Cadouin,Nouvelle Salle des Fêtes, Avenue Aquitaine

UPCOMING CONCERTS

For more info, tel 06 87 88 15 33 or 05 53 23 86 22or visit http://www.arcadesinfo.com/

Concert - Lutèce String Quartet21st February at 5pm

Artists: Benjamin Ducasse (violin),Laure Simonin (violin), Sylvie Carrasco (viola),

Myriam Teillagorry (cello)Programme – Haydn: Quartet op 33 N°2;

Dvorak: American Quartet

Piano and violin duo Evelyne Cohen and Benjamin Ducasse will be performing Jewish Folk Music (Klezmer) as well as

works by Bloch and Bruch on6th March at 5pm