The Quercy & Périgord Local December 2019 - February 2020

December 2019 - February 2020

The

uercy & érigord Local The Region’s FREE magazine in English

& Français

The Winter Edition Inside – Drink like a goat- Le Chabrot Chocolate and mulled wine cake recipe AMT Autism Movement Therapy Winter blues Diagnostics Immobiliers Yoga for Sports CBD Produit Miracle Gardening tips Cooking with truffles

Treatment room Eymet Massage. Reflexology. Reiki.

0637065714 www.reddawnbienetre.com

www.localmagazinesfrance.com

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 3

Ironwood Motif Artist Blacksmith, Ferronnerie d’Art

In business in France since 2005, we create outstanding traditional and contemporary ironwork for indoors and outdoors.

Pergolas, staircases, railings, handrails, balustrades, balconies, gates, sculptures, outdoor structures and more... simple or elaborate, intricate or uncomplicated, small or large, we can fabricate, forge and hand make ironwork customised to your needs.

Individual, original and unique.

Take a look at our website and follow us on Ironwood Motif, Ferronnerie d’Art and on Instagram Ironwood Motif 46330, BLARS, 00 33 (0)5 65 30 53 99, www.ironwoodmotif.com SIRET: 481 198 638 00019 Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

4 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

CONTENTS Welcome to the Winter edition Welcome to the Winter edition 2019/20. I hope you have enjoyed the previous editions this year – I’ve tried to include some new and innovative features, healthy recipes and some interesting did you knows.

So, continuing in the same vane, this winter edition you will find two preserving recipes using up things from your garden, tips to a healthier and happier life with an introduction to reflexology and yoga. Features recipes from Tasting the Lot and truffles, yummy seasonal chocolate cake from Le Caillau and an Indian chicken dish with a local twist from Platter natter.

In this edition, you will learn more about European festive traditions and the ever popular Valentines Day. Watch out men, did you know 2020 is a leap year?

Continuing on from property related matters, a summary of the required diagnostics reports.

Can I take this opportunity to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy 2020.

Bienvenue dans l’édition D’hiver J’espère que vous avez apprécié l’édition précédente. J’ai essayé d’incorporer de nouveaux sujet innovents avec des recettes de cuisine saine et des anecdotes intéressants.

Donc en continuant sur le même principe nous pouvons voir deux recettes dans lesquelles nous pouvons trouver des simples ingrédients dans nos jardins, des astuces pour améliorer nos qualités et durée de vie avec la pratique de yoga et la réflexologie.

Des recettes extraites de Tasting the Lot et un plat indien à base de poulet avec un twist local de Platter natter.

Dans cette édition, nous allons d’avantage apprendre sur les traditions festives européennes et notamment sur la Saint Valentin .

Continuant sur l’immobilier, plus d’information sur les rapports diagnostiques obligatoires.

Puis-je saisir cette occasion pour vous souhaiter à tous un très joyeux Noël et une bonne et heureuse année 2020. www.localmagazinesfrance.com Email: localsfrance@gmail.com

Jess

14

Rosehip jelly

p6

An introduction to Fairy Houses by the Twigler

p8

Reflexology

p12

Drink like a goat – Le Chabrot

p14

Galette Des Rois – The history

p17

Did you know about ..... Pies

p20

Diagnostics Immobiliers

p22

AMT Autism Movement Therapy

p24

Pick your own dilly – Piccalilli recipe

p25

Gooey chocolate and mulled wine cake

p26

Valentines day

p30

Winter blues, Anne Kearns

p32

Yoga for sports – The science

p34

A passion for fashion

p38

Open gardens

p40

Club de Jardinage de Lauzerte

p42

Christmas across Europe

p44

Carte de séjour or citizenship

p48

Cinéma Louis Malle

p50

CBD Produit Miracle

p54

Le Vouvoiement et le Tutoiement

p56

Mobile phones by Drive France

p58

Cooking with truffles – Tasting the lot

p60

Chicken Chettinad with a local twist

p63

26

54

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A partir de notre site internet, vous pouvez souscrire pour recevoir notre magazine par la poste, lire nos éditions en ligne, vous enregistrer pour recevoir la newsletter et consulter nos tarifs de publicité. @Perigord_Quercy The Local Magazine - Périgord & Quercy perigordandquercylocals The Quercy and Perigord Local ISSN: 2677-6340 No part of this publication may be copied, used or reproduced without written consent. No responsibility is accepted for any claim made by advertisers/contributors.

Please check that advertisers are appropriately registered.

Toute reproduction, utilisation ou copie, même partielles, de cette édition sont interdites sans un accord écrit de la direction du magazine. Nous déclinons toute responsabilité pour les éventuelles réclamations des annonceurs ou intervenants. Merci de vérifier que les annonceurs sont enregistrés convenablement. Propriété et direction : J Small, Found de Vers, Touffailles (82190) Siret: 844 95 32 16 000 18. Imprimé par - Gráficas Piquer.

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 5

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

6 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

The Workroom

Soft Furnishings and Finishing Touches Curtains, Pelmets, Loose Covers, Blinds, Bed Drapes, Covers, Cushions, Lampshades, Table Linen, Room Screens and Padded Headboards Making up only or supply and make-up National Design Academy trained seamstress For further information please contact

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www.skyinfrance.co.uk

by Paul Edwards

Have you ever made rosehip jelly? There’s an abundance of these colourful fruits at this time of year. Some people might prefer to leave them in the garden to retain a bit of colour to admire on a dull day, otherwise, they are free (from your neighbour’s garden!) We know how nasty the thorns are and we all have a pair of gloves.

The recipe is easy, if time consuming.

1 kilo (2.25 lb) apples for the pectin 450 g (1 lb) rosehips Preserving sugar (if available) if unavailable, remember to stir all the time while boiling. Demerara sugar is an option.

Trim the tufts from the rosehips and chop small or pulse in a food processor. Remember, the fine hairs are what you used when very young as itching powder shoved down your best friend’s shirt (I still do!).

Chop the apples into 4, cores and all, cover with water in a pan + 300ml (half pint).

Boil till tender, add the rosehips, simmer for 10/15 minutes and allow to cool slightly.

For larger quantities, you will have set up a jelly bag or muslin cheese cloth from an upturned stool or between open corner doors of your kitchen (secure the doors from swinging), or a sieve, above another pan.

Leave overnight.

Next day, for every 600 ml (1 pint) of liquid, add 400g (14 oz) sugar. My preference is to cut down slightly on sugar.

Put a saucer in the fridge.

Now boil rapidly, stirring all the time, 15 / 20 minutes, until setting point is reached. Put 1 teaspoon on the cold saucer and return to the fridge for 3 or 4 minutes.

Then push with your finger to look for a strong wrinkle.

When you have one – it’s jelly, if it’s only a feeble wrinkle, boil some more and test again.

Pour into sterilised jars, I put them in the oven for 10 minutes, seal, label, enjoy.

I find that jams, marmalade develop their flavour the longer you keep them. Make as much as you want now, it should keep for a couple of years at least. Hmm, elderberries next September, they’re free as well.

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8 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

I aim to provide an eclectic selection of beautiful and quirky Fairy Houses.

I like to think of them as ‘Elegant Gestures‘ that you can put into your garden or home to bring a little extra joy to your life. Each unique piece stirs the imagination and delivers a little slice of whimsy into your world.

During these crazy times in which we live I hope my work will make you stop and smile for a moment.

M

y art is hand-made and created from discarded trinkets I have collected during my wanderings – twigs, stones, jewels, sea-washed glass and shells or any other treasures.

The integral structure of the sculptures is made from natural and organic elements gathered from woods, forests, beaches and riverbanks throughout the UK and Ireland.

Twiggling is the simple yet fascinating art of collecting twigs, sticks, moss covered stones and any other knick-knacks, gimcracks and what-nots. If you are really lucky one of your finds might be that ‘extraordinary twig’ that attracts your attention as you are walking by.

Most of the physical elements of the house can be provided by you – if you wish – and sourced by going for a Twiggle with your loved ones in local woods, your garden or, if you’re the fearless sort, The Deep Dark Forest.

Once you have collected your hoard that’s where I can help.

I design and hand-make all of the fairy follies, so I can incorporate all of your treasures into a beautiful sculpture you can keep in your home or a secret corner of the garden. However much you choose to be involved you will end up with a totally unique piece, flavoured with your own happy memories that will bring fun, joy and imagination to your life.

When you order a product from Twigler you can be confident that a huge amount of thought and work has gone into the process.

From the design and conception right through to the final assembly I provide a completely personal service. I am the only person you will deal with throughout from your initial enquiries, through bespoke creation, to the final details of packaging and shipping – or delivering and installing – depending on your location and preference.

Like to create something magical together?

Drop me an email… hello@twigler.co.uk While I hope this brings you, or your children joy... Please Note : This is NOT a Toy!!

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 9

Twiggledy-Piggledy The Shells and the Sand found in Beaches and Bays With Sticks and with Stones found wherever they lay With Bits and with Bobs With Trinkets and Beads And the Higgledy Piggledy nobody needs.

Things lost and discarded can make a new home Completely unique with a style of its own When they all come together They live once again Giving Faeries a shelter from wind and from rain.

It’s there in your garden tucked into the shade A place filled with whimsy – a magical glade And in time if you’re lucky And willing to see You might see inhabitants fluttering free I’ll craft you the house but I’ll leave it to you To decide what it is that you wish it to do But I hope that you’ll find It’s a place to beguile A place made of magic that wakes up your smile.

www.twigler.co.uk

Open every day at lunchtime & dinner - except Tuesday & Wednesday evenings.

Ouvert tous les jours aux déjeuners et aux dîners sauf le Mardi et Mecredi soir.

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All profits go to the welfare and upkeep of these beautiful animals.

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Emergency numbers Medical Help/SAMU 15 Out of hours Doctor 3966 Police/Police Nationale (Gendarmerie) 17 Fire & Accident/Sapeurs Pompiers

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SOS – All Services (calling from a mobile) 112 Child in Danger (child protection) 119 Missing Child

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Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

G M Construction A skilled and loyal workforce of British & French tradesmen

All aspects of building projects both new and renovation, including project management, swimming pools & ground-works If you are looking for a British/French speaking builder operating in 46, 47, 82 & 24 Contact Greg:

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 11

APM

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

12 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Reflexology Reflexology is a wonderfully relaxing, restorative, nurturing and balancing massage therapy.

It brings calmness to the body, mind and spirit. Reflexology works on pressure points across different zones across the foot. These correspond with different points on the body.

I

t helps to calm the body, mind and spirit as well as cleanses and detoxifies the whole system. It can be helpful to people with chronic pain conditions as well as to relieve stress, anxiety and bring a sense of calm. It is particularly pleasurable after a long day on your feet!

How does reflexology work?

There are a few different theories about how it works: Theory 1: Central nervous system – the reflexologist’s application of pressure to hands, ears and feet sends a calming message from the peripheral nerves to the central nervous system. This brings overall relaxation and positively affects the circulatory, respiratory, immune systems in our bodies.

Theory 2: Reduces stress and gives pain relief.

This theory suggests that pain is a subjective experience created by your brain. This means that things that influence your brain, such as your mood or stress can affect your experience of pain. This can affect your overall energy in your body. If your body is not relaxed, it leads to congestion of energy, which can lead to illnesses. In this case, reflexology can reduce pain by reducing stress and therefore improving mood and keep the energy flowing.

Here are some examples of reflex areas and their corresponding body parts: - The toes reflect the head - The heart and chest are around the ball of the foot - The liver, pancreas and kidney are in the arch of the foot - Low back and intestines are towards the heel Indian head message is a pleasant way to de-stress the mind and body. Areas worked on are the head, shoulders, neck and upper part of the back. Relaxation and free from tension is achieved by working in unity with specific areas of the torso. Many benefits can be experienced both physical and psychological. It is a very effective treatment for many ailments and conditions.

It may help with sleep and quieten the mind from worry migraine, headaches, neck ache, to name but a few.

A reflexology therapy session normally lasts around 60 minutes. This includes a full consultation on your first visit and can be received either on a couch, or chair – wherever is most comfortable for the client.

A hot stone reflexology is very similar to reflexology, but this method uses basalt stones on the feet. These stones originate as mountain river rocks. The stones are hot and so work on a much deeper level than the human hand on its own. Some basalt stones are flat and are great conductors for heat and cold.

Difference between reflexology and Massage, Reiki or acupuncture: Massage therapists manipulate larger areas of soft tissue in the body while reflexologists apply pressure to specific points on the feet, hands and ears.

Reiki does not involve any physical pressure, but use light touch to work with subtle vibrational field around our bodies.

Acupuncture uses points over the entire body.

What you can expect during a Session: To get to know you, the therapist will ask a few questions to understand your overall health, what you eat, any conditions you may have. They will then know whether to work on your feet, hands or ears.

They will tell you to get comfortable on a massage table or a reclining chair with spa-like soft music in the background, low lights and aromatherapy.

Victoria Stevens is a Mobile Holistic Therapist. She provides Indian Head Massage, Reflexology, Hot Stone Reflexology, Hopi Ear Candling and is also a Reiki Master near Lauzerte.

Red Dawn has a treatment room in Eymet. She provides Full Body Massage, Reflexology, Reiki and Indian Head Massage.

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 13

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Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

14 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Drink like a Goat

by Mike Alexander

To “faire chabrot” is an ancient custom that has always amused foreigners living in or visiting France.

Basically it involves pouring a small amount of red wine into the bottom of one’s soup bowl at the end of that course, before swilling it about and then bringing the bowl to the lips and drinking the contents.

I

t is a custom that originated in the south west of France, the exact roots of which have been disputed and argued over for generations.

For starters, no one seems able to agree whether it should be called chabrot or chabrol, whilst in Perigord it may be referred to as cabrou. Whichever of these names you opt for, the roots probably stem back to the Latin word capreolus meaning to drink like a wild goat. In Gascony the practice is sometimes called godala which is believed to have its historical roots in the word for gulp.

Though the origins of this custom have become a little foggy with the passing of time it is still one that lives on. Some claim that mixing the warm remains of the soup with the wine enhances the flavours of the wine thus making them more prominent but the truth is probably a little less sophisticated than that. In generations gone by, soup bowls were often made of clay and tended to be quite deep. Pouring in a few sips of wine and gently swilling it about may simply have

been a practical way of ensuring that those last precious drops of soup did not go to waste. Given that chabrot is mainly a rural custom, and the wine used in the process is more often than not just a common table wine, the second hypothesis seems more likely.

Today it is far less common to see chabrot being practised but it is a habit that is far from dead. I am pleased to report that only yesterday I attended a lunch where many of the guests quite unashamedly mixed wine into t he last of their soup and then raised their bowls to their lips.

At gatherings like this it would not be uncommon for the plate from the main course to subsequently be flipped and used to serve the desert on.

Admittedly I live in a very rural part of France but one should not assume that this is an exclusively paysan way of finishing off the soup. Philippe Faun-Brac, who in 1992 was voted best sommelier in the world, famously asked for permission to faire chabrot with the remains of his cream of mushroom soup and some 1998 Cheval Blanc. Pierre Lurton, director of Cheval Blanc and the society of chateaus of Yquem agreed and joined in. Naturally on this occasion things were done with just that little bit of extra finesse than you might expect at your local resto-routier. A soup spoon of the precious wine was gently poured into the last of the soup and then it was stirred before the mixture was delicately sipped from the spoon rather than from the bowl itself. Technically this does not really constitute ‘sipping like and goat’ and it could be argued that it was not really chabrot, or chabrol or should I say cabrou.

Who cares? The custom lives on and that contributes to making France such a wonderful and fascinating country to live in.

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 15

& Purchase | Sale | Valuation

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Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 17

A Bean for the King The Galette des Rois by Mike Alexander This cake of kings should be seen in French boulangeries from Epiphany onwards but you will almost definitely be able to find one now. Between the 26th of December and the end of January, in excess of 30 million of these Frangipani and puff pastry tarts will be sold; nearly one for every two people in the country.

The cake was first eaten in Roman times during the Saturnic festivals. In a role reversal to ward off the bad days that Saturn was capable of delivering, a young slave would be crowned king for the day. This tradition continues to be played out, which is why you will find a golden crown with the cake you purchase. Crowns vary in value and are collected by fanatics known as stephanophiles.

Inside each cake is placed a feve, or bean, and the cake is cut into as many slices as there are guests, plus one for the poor. Whoever finds the feve in their slice receives the crown and is declared king. Where there are small children, the youngest will sit beneath the table and call out the names of the guests who will then be given their slice. Rigging in favour of the child is compulsory. When he emerges from beneath the table for his own slice, he miraculously discovers that he has become king.

Since the late 18th century, the feve has been replaced with a porcelain charm. There are only three artisans in the country who continue to hand make these little characters. They too

have become a collector’s item, with a collector being known as a favophile. A feve can go for as much as 1300 Euros.

Boulanger’s quickly discovered that if they upped the value of at least one charm in their cakes, they could dramatically increase sales. Each year they will make efforts to outdo one another to bolster business. Diamonds and gold charms are among some of the items that galettes have been known to contain. For us lesser mortals, it is normally a cheap plastic charm that dictates whether we temporarily achieve royal status. Religious characters have fallen from favour. This year the feve tipped to be star of epiphany will probably be Johnny Hallyday.

Things were not always as promising for this cake as they are now. During the French Revolution, efforts were made to ban the cake altogether, simply because of its audacious use of the word king. This was a hard sell, even for the revolutionists. The French might have been happy to behead their royalty, but to lose a traditional dish was an altogether different matter. Finally compromise was reached and the cake renamed Galette de l’Egalite.

With a pedigree like this cake’s, it soon regained its original name. The president’s galette does not contain a feve. Whether French history dictates the government cannot be seen to recognize the monarchy, or the most junior minister just didn’t want to sit under the table at the Elysee Palace, I am not sure.

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 19

WHY RETIREMENT PLANNING MATTERS AT ANY AGE

By George Shepherd, Blevins Franks

Whether you are nearing retirement or it is several years away, it is never too early to start thinking about how you will finance your golden years. Even if you are already retired, you should regularly review your arrangements to ensure you continue meeting your retirement goals.

It might be that you enjoy spending time in France and would like to retire in the sun, now or a few years down the line. Or maybe you are already living here and are unsure what your options are.

Whatever your situation, what do you need to think about to secure the retirement of your choice?

Approaching retirement Even if retirement is a way off, there are certain things you need to consider – the earlier the better – to make sure you are on the right track financially. There may be steps you can take today to help make your dream retirement a reality.

Questions you should ask include: • Will I be able to afford to retire when I want to?

• What is the best strategy for withdrawing from my business or employment?

• What options do I have for my pensions? Are they likely to change?

• Will I be able to retain my existing wealth and assets?

• Do I want to spend some or all of my retirement abroad?

Let’s say that you plan to retire within the next five years and move permanently to France. You may have concerns about whether you can afford your preferred lifestyle without having to sell existing assets. You may not want to have to downsize your home, for instance, as you would like this to eventually pass on to your family. Perhaps you have a business to sell and are unsure how best to convert your years of hard work into a retirement nest egg. Then there are the complex residence and tax implications of living in a different country.

Here, professional financial advice can prove invaluable.

An adviser can take a holistic view of what you have – your savings, investments, assets, pensions – together with what you want – your timeline, income requirements, legacy wishes – and an objective assessment of who you are – your circumstances, goals, risk appetite – to design a personalised retirement plan for you.

Already retired If you have already reached retirement age or stopped working, that doesn’t mean you should forget about retirement planning.

After all, you could be retired for thirty years or more!

Regular reviews allow you to adapt your strategy to suit your changing circumstances and goals, such as incorporating new family members, addressing health issues or relocating.

It also enables you to keep up with the ever-changing tax and pensions landscape, including new opportunities that could work in your favour.

Your pension options Pensions are usually the foundations of retirement, so deciding what to do here may be one of life’s most important financial decisions. Pensions are complex anyway, but with greater freedom and choice than ever – and an increase in sophisticated pension scams – it is sensible to take expert, regulated advice.

For example, you might benefit from consolidating several UK pensions into one to provide a coherent, more cost-effective investment platform for your retirement income. However, this may not be the most tax-efficient approach if you live in France; by receiving pension income in sterling, you are also exposed to conversion costs and exchange rate risk.

If you have a final salary (defined benefit) pension and have not yet started drawing from it, your provider may offer a high ‘transfer value’ in exchange for future benefits. While a large one-off sum could be reinvested to provide a more flexible, tax-efficient income, you need to take extreme care and be fully aware of the implications of forfeiting a guaranteed lifetime pension.

Britons resident abroad also have the option of transferring UK pensions to a Qualifying Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) tax-free. Doing so can unlock estate planning and currency flexibility that you do not get with UK pensions. Take care, however, as transfers to QROPS outside the EU/EEA invite a 25% UK tax penalty, which could be extended post-Brexit.

Remember: take UK-regulated, specialist advice before making significant pension decisions to protect your benefits and establish the most suitable option for you.

Retiring abroad GIf moving to France is on the cards, it is especially important to review your retirement strategy early. Not only will you need to consider your residence status and cross-border tax implications, you will need to adapt your estate planning to suit the very different local succession rules.

In any case, careful planning is the key to minimising taxation and maximising the available opportunities so that you can enjoy the retirement you want for as long as you need.

This article should not be construed as providing any personalised investment advice. You should take advice for your circumstances.

Keep up to date on the financial issues that may affect you on the Blevins Franks news page at www.blevinsfranks.com

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

20 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Britishbakeryfrance

Tel 0641255706 www.britishbakeryfrance.fr

Saturday mornings Market Montaigu de Quercy 82150 Sunday Montcuq market 46800 Other markets and events see website www.britishbakeryfrance.fr

Pies

The humble pie has been around since the ancient Egyptians. The first known pie recipe was published by the Romans and was for a rye-crusted goat cheese and honey pie.

Closer to home Pâte en croûte, Limoges potato pie and of course Marie-Antoine Carême the original celebrity pâtissier was the exponent of the magnificent edible tablecentre-piece.

Making original decorative meat or vegetarian pies for celebrations such as stacked pies for weddings, hot or cold cut pies for centrepieces at parties, or a simple pork or steak and kidney pie is what British Bakery France is all about.

Previous commissions include an Olympic torchbearer who ran through Truro and had a personalised raised pork pie to greet him, or a Christmas hot water crust raised pie which we are now taking orders.

Raised layered with combinations of pork, chicken, turkey, stuffing, apricots all in rich pastry can be seen on our website or facebook and ordered online, Montaigu de quercy 82150 or Montcuq 46800 markets. www.britishbakeryfrance.fr

Handmade pies & sausage rolls, Scotch eggs Cakes & awesome brownies Carefully sourced meat Vegetarian & Vegan options

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Karla Wagenar 0033 (0)563045517 or 0033 (0)628147136

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Séverine et Christophe DALPOZO 2 large, air-conditioned cars, one for 7 and one for 5 people.

Service to and from stations and airports Also ‘medical’ transport – Conventionné assurance maladie Child seats and wheelchair access 24 hrs / 7 days – Any distance

Mob: 06.32.10.63.36 Tel: 05.63.04.20.19 email: taxioccitanie@alsatis.net Based – 82200 MONTESQUIEU

Local and convenient – a true village shop

L’Epicerie du Roc Place de le Croix – 82150 Roquecor General supplies, Bread, Newsagents, Postal Point.

We also stock a supply of British products and a great selection of wines from local producers.

05 63 95 25 78 / 06 82 84 56 30 Delphine and Jean Longueteau The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 21

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0800 900 324 info@leggett.fr www.leggettfrance.com Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

22 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Les DIAGNOSTICS immobiliers Une obligation qui protège vendeurs et clients

En France, depuis 1998 des diagnostics spécifiques sont demandés par un notaire lors de la vente d’un bien immobilier. Ces diagnostics ne s’accompagnent d’aucune obligation de travaux, et ont pour vocation d’informer les acheteurs dans différents domaines. Pour réaliser ces diagnostics, il est indispensable de faire appel à un professionnel certifié et ils sont généralement pris en charge par le vendeur.

In France, since 1998, specific diagnostics are required by a notaire in order to sell a property.

These diagnostics are meant to bring clarity to a prospective buyer but do not give any obligation by the vendor to have any complementary works completed to bring the property up to date. The diagnostics are performed by a registered and authorised professional and normally paid for by the vendor.

Le Diagnostic Performance Energétique – DPE- : ce diagnostic informe de la consommation énergétique du bien – traduite par des graphiques équivalents à ceux figurant sur un équipement électroménager. Il doit être mis à disposition dès la mise en vente, y compris en ligne.

Si le bien ne dispose d’aucun moyen de chauffage et/ou est une résidence secondaire, le résultat sera un DPE vierge, car il n’est pas alors possible de calculer une consommation annuelle pour une utilisation saisonnière.

DPE – Energy performance survey – this survey measures the energy performance and consumption of the property (displayed by a graph similar to the ones you see on a fridge). This survey has to be provided if the property is to be advertised on line. If the property has no form of heating and/or is a second home – it will be given a blank reading (vierge) as it’s not possible to measure the energy consumption for the whole year if its only used in the summer.

Pour les biens construits depuis plus de quinze ans, doivent être réalisé les diagnostics électricité et gaz, y compris pour les bouteilles de gaz comprenant une partie fixe d’installation.

Gas and electricity – if the property is over 15 years old (including gas hob with gas bottle).

Pour les biens les plus anciens, le diagnostic plomb permet de détecter la présence de plomb dans les peintures, notamment menuiseries. Un masque de protection devra être porté si vous sablez ces éléments.

L’amiante a été interdit dans la construction en 1997.

Aussi, tous les biens construits avant cette date doivent faire l’objet d’un diagnostic, repérant l’amiante et son état éventuel de dégradation.

Le diagnostic termites, d’une validité de 6 mois, permet de repérer la présence termites : vivantes ou leurs traces d’attaque L’Etat des Risques et Pollutions – risques sismiques, inondations, mouvement de terrains sont également requis.

Lead – for ancient houses, the diagnostic is to measure the amount of lead in the paint mainly on windows and doors.

Face protection should be worn if you are sanding down an old painted door or window.

Asbestos – for all properties built prior to 1997 (Asbestos was banned in France from 1997). Measures the presence of asbestos and its condition.

Termites – this diagnostic has a 6-month validity.

Confirms if termites are present, live or historical evidence.

ERP – land and pollution also a 6-month validity but lists the condition of the land, if there has been any flooding, land movement, local industries etc.

For more information contact:

Pour toute information complémentaire, nous vous invitons à nous contacter.

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 23

Mouly is a a family run business specialised in property sales throughout the Cahors area for the last 50 years. Fully bilingual with an international client database we are sure to be able to assist you with straight and honest advice whether you be selling or buying.

Based in Cahors and Montcuq we cover the Quercy Blanc with its rolling hills, The Lot Valley The Vallée des Vignobles with the famous Cahors wines, the forested area of the Bouriane, the Natural Regional Parc of the Causses du Quercy and more…

You can contact Marianne Charpentier on 06 71 71 77 22 or at mouly.montcuq@gmail.com You can also visit our website: www.mouly-immobilier.com Mouly Immobilier, 4 Avenue de la Promenade, 46800, Montcuq

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QUERCY OAK Construction & Renovations

A friendly, reliable service with many years experience in all aspects of the building industry.

All projects undertaken, completed to the highest standard.

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Please call us today for an estimate or quotation 07 80 58 39 60 mob 06 75 51 89 13 mob laquercyoak@gmail.com http://greyrobert4.wixsite.com/quercy-oak instagram: quercyoak Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

24 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

What is Autismn Movement Therapy (AMT)?

The AMT was created in USA by Joanna Lara, certified dance and autism specialist. She has taken the art of dance and movement and turned it into a therapy that all children with autism can benefit from.

The goal of this therapy is to facilitate health and enable people to feel good and express themselves through their bodies. It was created to develop the different abilities of autistic children, but it is also useful for children with other learning difficulties I am a mother with an autistic child. I am also a certified Autism Movement Therapy Instructor.

My association ‘’ Langage du Mouvement ’’ is located in the salle de sport, 47470, Beauville, where I give a dance therapy every Saturday at 14.00-15.00. Marie-Liis Lillemaa 07 83 27 03 80 langagedumouvement@gmail.com

How does AMT work?

It simultaneously stimulates both hemispheres of the brain, facilitating the movement of information in the brain. Listening to the music, the perception of the rhythm and the adjustment of the body movement, the vision, the memorisation and the imitation of the dance movements with the body, the simultaneous use of movement and voice stimulates different regions of the brain. The result of regular stimulation, the various brain pathways create “passages”, over which information will progress more easily over time. For people who have difficulty speaking, this exercise is a fun way to express themselves through music and movement.

It is based on the concept of neuroplasticity or cerebral plasticity, the belief that the brain, rather than being repaired, can change. Neuroplasticity is defined by the set of manifestations reflecting the ability of neurons to change throughout life. Neurons have the role of circulating information between the environment and the body, or within the body. It explains learning and memory. The scientific study of brain activity and imaging, in particular MRI, shows that the brain adapts permanently by developing neurons or by creating new neurons and new connections between neurons in response to internal and external experiences and stimulations. In a short time, the brain is able to reorganise itself to improve our emotions, our thoughts, our actions.

As a result of the AMT, improvement was found in the ability to learn and memorise, spatial orientation, coordination, verbal, language and communication skills, expression of creativity and self-confidence.

Le TMA a été créé au États- Unis par Joanna Lara, une spécialiste de la danse et de l’autisme. Elle a pris l’art de la danse et du mouvement et l’a transformé en une thérapie dont tous les enfants autistes peuvent bénéficier. Le but de cette thérapie est d’améliorer la santé et permettre aux gens de se sentir mieux et soit capable de s’exprimer avec leurs corps. Ça a été créé pour développer les capacités des enfants autistes avec dyslexie, dysgraphie, dyspraxie, etc..

La thérapie dure 1 heure, avec des jeux et des histoires. Ça a été prouvé scientifiquement qu’en changeant la façon dont l’information est reçue dans le cerveau via la danse et le mouvement, à son tour, elle change l’interprétation et permet ainsi aux enfants de mieux s’exprimer et d’avoir un meilleur contrôle sur leurs émotions. Nous pouvons voir une amélioration dans la capacité d’apprentissage et de mémorisation, la conscience spatiale, la coordination, la communication verbale, l’expression créative et la confiance en soi.

Je m’appelle Mari-Liis Lillemaa et je suis une mère avec un enfant autiste. Je suis une instructrice certifiée en Thérapie du Mouvement Autistique. Mon association “ Langage du Mouvement” est située à Beauville, 47170 où je donne des cours de danse thérapie tous les Samedi à 14h à 15h dans la salle de gym.

Ma mission est d’offrir aux enfants des cours de danse amusants et stimulants – une expérience intéressante donnant la possibilité de se développer socialement et en toute confiance grâce au mouvement et à la musique.

La danse est un langage universel que tout le monde comprend ! langagedumouvement@gmail.com 07.83.27.03.80

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 25

Pick your own dilly

by Paul Edwards Christmas is coming, time to make a bit of pickle.

This is my recipe, similar to everyone else’s, but I have had compliments.

I make enough for about 25 200g jars. This is a lot but I have a large saucepan and, if you make it in time, it makes a great stocking filler for your friends. It will keep for a year and longer. To make less, divide the ingredients pro rata to the number of jars you wish to fill.

Use whatever vegetable in whatever proportion and to your liking: onions, cauliflower, carrots, red pepper, green pepper, cucumber, peas, green beans, NOT potato, the veg is pickled raw. The colours are attractive. Left over peas or beans from the freezer are fine.

1 cauliflower, 6 big carrots, 10 onions, 2 red peppers, 1 green pepper, 2 cucumbers, half pound peas, Half pound green beans, distilled malt vinegar 6 pints and perhaps a bit more. I haven’t found malt vinegar here, I choose Sarson’s but distilled malt vinegar is a must, you have to be resourceful in this respect, sugar 9 desert spoons, unless you enjoy it sweet, Turmeric 10 desert spoons, mustard powder 6 desert spoons, dried chillies 6 small or a couple more, in this quantity you won’t upset anyone. Crushed chilies is a good idea, they will be dispersed throughout the mixture when it goes in the jars, cornflour 10 desert spoons.

Start by chopping the vegetables to the size you want to eat them, rather tedious! I use the stumps and a bit of the leaf of the cauliflower. Put the chopped veg into a bowl or stainless steel pan and cover with salt, a lot of salt. The veg will only absorb as much as it can and this is important for preservation (the end product will last a year) brine is not necessary. Put in the fridge or somewhere cool. 24 hours is good. Stir 2 or 3 times.

Next day, drain the veg in a cullender, only rinse if there is any un-dissolved salt.

In your stainless pan, put the vinegar, sugar and chilli and simmer for 10 minutes (coriander seeds are also a good addition at this stage (I enjoy a savoury crunch) the chilies themselves won’t go into every jar, pot luck.

Mix the turmeric, mustard and cornflour with sufficient water to make a runny solution and slowly add to the slowly simmering vinegar using a whisk. You must whisk and whisk to avoid the cornflour going lumpy, it will if you don’t whisk and whisk! Once thickened, taste, perhaps add more sugar, perhaps add more cornflour in water and simmer for another couple of minutes. Turn the heat off and add the veg Pour into sterilised jars, label, ‘cos no one will recognise delicious piccalilli when they see it!

Leave in the cool for no less than one month. Get yourself a good piece of cheddar, a baguette and scoff the lot.

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

Gooey Chocolate & Mulled Wine Cake

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 27

Gooey Chocolate & Mulled Wine Cake Mulled wine ingredients

Method

Makes enough to be served along side the cake, only make 100ml if just using as a cake ingredient)

For the mulled wine: Place all the ingredients in a saucepan and heat to a low simmer for at least 15 minutes. To serve, strain the mulled wine then pour into glasses with a fresh slice of orange and any other festive garnish.

• 1 (750 ml) bottle of red wine • 1 orange, sliced

For the cake: Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4, butter and line the base and sides of a 20cm round cake tin with parchment paper.

• Zest of one lemon or lime • 4 whole cloves • 1 cinnamon sticks

Place the eggs and sugar in a free standing mixer, and whisk on high for about 5 minutes until the mixture reaches a pale, mousse like consistency.

• 2 star anise • Grating of nutmeg • 1 bay leaf

Put the mulled wine and chocolate (broken into small chunks) in a bowl together and place over a pan of simmering water so the chocolate melts into the mulled wine.

• 75g sugar Chocolate cake ingredients

When the eggs and sugar are whisked, take the bowl off the stand mixer and sieve in the flour and cocoa. Pour in the melted chocolate and mulled wine mix, along with the olive oil and and fold together carefully until just combined.

• 200g light brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 100ml mulled wine

Pour the batter into the tin and bake for 20/25 minutes.

The cake should have a slight wobble and a skewer inserted into the centre should come out with some slightly gooey mixture on it.

• 100g dark chocolate • 50g cocoa powder • 100g self raising flour • 150g olive oil

When the cake is cooled, take out of the tin and carefully remove the baking parchment and place on a cake stand.

For the topping • Double cream and mascarpone whipped

Top with whipped cream and mascarpone, and any seasonal fruit.

• A selection of fruit

Serve with a glass of mulled wine.

Le Caillau: Nestled in the heart of the Cahors vineyards you’ll find Le Caillau, a family run Restaurant, Café and Pottery Painting Atelier. In 2011, Caroline and Chas Sharp opened the doors of Le Caillau, a renovated 300 year old winery. Our aim is simple - to produce great quality, simple and tasty food. In our restaurant kitchen our small team creates dishes based on vegetables from our own kitchen garden and local seasonal produce, (with some more exotic ingredients thrown in for variety and a different flavour from traditional Quercy cuisine). Our Café and Pottery Painting Atelier is perfect for an afternoon getaway, whether you’re after a coffee and slice of homemade cake (lemon drizzle and coffee and walnut are some of our customers’ favourites), or you’re feeling artistic and decide to get creative by painting some pottery.

Restaurant opening hours: Monday: 12pm - 2pm, Tuesday: Closed, Wednesday: 12pm - 2pm and 7pm - 11pm, Thursday: 12pm - 2pm and 7pm - 11pm, Friday: 12pm - 2pm and 7pm - 11pm, Saturday: 12pm - 2pm and 7pm - 11pm, Sunday: 12pm - 2pm

The Café and Pottery Painting Atelier is open by appointment only outside of the summer months.

Le Caillau, 46700 Vire sur Lot. Telephone: 05 65 23 78 04 www.lecaillau.com lecaillau twitter.com/lecaillau lecaillau Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

28 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

E - IC RD V A SER AW NG I N IN W DROP IN AND SEE US IN TOURNON D’AGENAIS OR MONTAIGU DE QUERCY

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 29

Loren and Pierre look forward to welcoming you to their lovely restaurant in the heart of Puy L’Évêque, deep in the Lot valley. Where you will find both local and refined dishes all accompanied by a large range of great wines.

uide Michelin 2019 Bib Gourmand au G

Calendrier prix (chacun): • • • •

€8 chaque calendrier €12 par La Poste en France, €15 par Poste Europe / monde 1 gratuit pour 10 acheté

Si vous voulez le recevoir par La Poste – complétez la fiche et soit payer à la boutique ou envoyer avec votre cheque.

Calendar prices (each): • • • •

€8 per calendar €12 posted in France, €15 posted to Europe / rest of world 1 free for 10 purchased

For ones to be posted – please complete form and pay in the shop or mail the order form with a cheque.

Open All Year from Tuesday to Saturday 12h-15h et 19h-22h

24 Grand Rue, 46700 Puy L’Évêque Please reserve - 09 86 31 80 88 www.facebook.com/lemedieval.puyleveque/ www.lemedieval-puyleveque.fr Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

30 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

14 February th

Will the real Saint Valentine (La Saint Valentin) of Rome please stand up?

The identity of the Saint who single-handedly inspired centuries of lovers; shone a cheery light into an otherwise drab February and importantly boosted that month’s flower and card sales is, I’m afraid to report, surprisingly unclear.

by A. Atkinson

T

here wasn’t one obvious ‘defender of lovers’ rights’ a hero dying for his pursuit of romantic endings. No cheery man, a giant among cherubs, striking hopeless romantics with bolts of heaven-sent passion.

There are actually many Saint Valentines and the one, or possibly an amalgam of the two most likely characters who became central to the modern Valentine’s Day is reported in later religious texts as having their ‘good works, known only to God.’ Hard work and great sacrifice must surely have gone into becoming a Saint, so presumably records of their trials have simply been waylaid or destroyed in an intervening religious purge.

One of these possible ‘real’ Valentines died around A.D. 270 on the 14th of February. So, he looks like a promising candidate! He was recorded as a temple priest who was beheaded by the Roman Emperor Claudius ll for the sin of overseeing Christian marriages, so again maybe we’re on the right track. On the other hand, another contender for role is the Bishop of Terni (also called Valentine) who was martyred by the same Claudius ll. These may have been the same man, or their stories have simply merged. As often happened with such ancient history – stories adapted, spread and different versions became recounted as fact; ‘fake news’ even before social media!

This level of confusion was acknowledged by the Catholic Church in 1969 when, unable to distinguish the truth, it discontinued its liturgical veneration of Saint Valentine of Rome. However, he does remain on the Church’s list of recognised saints. Valentine was a popular name – meaning, strong, powerful and worthy.

So, unsurprisingly there’s a long list of saints with this moniker. But it’s only our mystery saint, the one noted as ‘from Rome’ who holds any romantic association.

There was also briefly, 40 days to be precise, a Pope Valentine. As with his namesake little is known about his life other than he served around A.D. 827.

So, albeit that the records of his earthly good works have been lost – what are Saint Valentine of Rome’s holy duties in the afterlife? Well, as you would expect

he’s the patron saint of engaged couples and happy marriages, but his duties extend to overseeing affairs concerning beekeeping, epilepsy, fainting, travel and even the plague. This does rather suggest very little peace in paradise!

Bizarrely, for someone who’s sacrifices on earth have been forgotten, the beflowered skull of Saint Valentine of Rome is displayed in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Rome. The remainder of his bones, found in the early 1800s during an excavation, are displayed in reliquaries in Ireland, Scotland, France and the Czech Republic.

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 31

So, how did Saint Valentine of Rome go from being a virtually forgotten Saint, to an exhumed skeleton worthy of Europe-wide distribution and to having his feast day become today’s ‘global’ Valentine’s Day with its associated ‘romantic’ marketing? Where did Valentine’s Day come from and why? Not unsurprisingly, both England and France have claims to assisting this development.

The English claim lies with the medieval poet Geoffrey Chaucer, renowned for the artistic licence taken with his characters and historical contexts and for presenting them both as reality. Before ‘Parliament of Foules’ (published around 1380}, there was no romantic association to 14th February (Feast of Saint Valentine). This poem refers to this feast day as being when birds gather to find a mate; beginning the connecting between the Feast of Saint Valentine with coupling and thereby, romance.

France’s claim lies with Charles, the Duke of Orléans, who was taken prisoner in 1415 and held in the Tower of London. His love letters to his wife inspired what became cartes d’amitiés, as Valentine’s Day cards are known in France.

Buried amongst the legends competing to be the ‘source’ of the modern-day celebration there’s one, albeit a highly improbably one, that I prefer. Allegedly, before his death Valentine cured the blindness of his jailer’s daughter. He then wrote her a letter and signed it ‘from your Valentine’ a term we have seen repeated in cards for centuries.

The modern Valentine’s Day has been hijacked by card manufacturers, flower growers and chocolate producers. Popular symbols include cupids, hearts and in some parts of Europe, a key (possibly to a heart). Valentine’s Day is noted in virtually every corner of the world; with some authorities seeking to halt what they see as the ‘morally degenerate’ spread of romantic love.

I am sure the idea was originally to guess who’d sent you a Valentine’s Day card, they were the unsigned work of unrequited lovers. Whereas increasingly (particularly in the USA and UK) cards are sent to virtually everyone and have ceased to be anonymous; all of which suggests some less than ‘saintly’ marketing techniques! In France despite the best efforts of the Duke of Orléans, cards are not such a feature of Valentine’s Day; presenting flowers and chocolates is the preferred approach.

Around two thousand years ago a man lived a good or even a great life and then died what we can only imagine was a cruel and untimely death. He was then largely forgotten and yet somehow two millennia later, after a line or two in a medieval poem he became synonymous with hearts, flowers and cupids bows.

A figurehead for a global day of ‘romantic’ love and an overwhelming marketing triumph. It does make you wonder whether there’s anything being done today that may prove the source for such a development thousands of years hence.

Joyeuse Saint Valentin!

Inspired by notions of romance? Then this could be your year – it’s a leap year and women are ‘entitled’ to propose marriage to their beloved on 29th February! A notion that’s perhaps antiquated and politically incorrect – but where’s the harm?

This tradition is, apparently, the handy work of a couple more saints. Saint Patrick was asked by Saint Brigid of Kildare to allow women to propose marriage when their beloveds were too slow in making an advance. Saint Patrick reluctantly conceded but only for one day every 4 years, during ‘leap day’! Not one to miss an opportunity Saint Brigid proposed to Saint Patrick. An offer he declined but thoughtfully (as is the way of saints) sent her away with a silk dress to lessen the hurt.

The legend in some cultures still calls for any gentleman declining a marriage proposal to compensate his rebuked love with a dress.

In others cultures it’s simply some cloth (presumably so she can make her own) or elsewhere it’s pairs of gloves (perhaps to hide a ringless finger).

Gentlemen beware!

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

32 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Winter Blues

’Tis the season to be jolly. Isn’t it? Not for everyone. In December those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere have been subjected to ever-decreasing hours of daylight.

And although the solstice on 21/22 December marks a shift in the sun’s retreat it will still be some time after that before we notice that the days are getting longer and longer.

W

hen I told someone that I was writing a piece on the winter blues he said, ‘Isn’t that just a made-up thing?’ No. It isn’t.

Most adults struggle with some sort of mood shift during the winter months. If you think about it this makes perfect sense: we spend fewer hours outside because there just are fewer hours of daylight. And it’s colder and our animal instinct tells us to stay indoors and keep warm. And eat more. It’s not hard to see that it’s easy to feel a bit less energised under these circumstances, even if life is good, Christmas is coming and a new year in sight brings the promise of new beginnings.

Often, though, we fail to take on board just how much pressure we can put on ourselves to be cheerful and merry in the run-up to Christmas.

Christmas, no matter how lovely, is rarely stress free and the New Year celebrations that follow on its tail can leave us feeling flat as we stare into January feeling a little worse for wear with no sign of spring.

And then there is Brexit.

The winter holidays fall at a time when our bodies, due to the loss of daylight, are low in serotonin, the neurotransmitter that helps to regulate our moods and melatonin, a hormone that helps us to sleep.

Short of investing in a lamp that simulates daylight, which is used to help people who suffer from a clinical condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, there are two ways to increase both serotonin and melatonin. Studies show that just 15 minutes a day of gentle exercise outdoors in the morning combined with 15 minutes a day of meditation will get our hormones and neurotransmitters working for, rather than against, us.

If you are one of those people who make New Year’s resolutions then I suggest you focus on developing new habits rather than giving up old ones.

There are various Apps such as Stop, Breathe and Think and The Mindfulness App, available for free to help with developing a meditation habit. And walking is free and easy unless, of course, the roads are icy.

In that case you can put on some music and dance around the kitchen.

I don’t know why it is but in my work as a psychotherapist many people would rather take something than do something to fight their low mood.

I think we have been conditioned to believe that there is such a thing as a quick fix. There isn’t. Quick fixes don’t support or sustain change. You can lose 2 kilos in a week through crash dieting but I bet you won’t keep it off. If you want to take something take vitamin D3. Most of us are low in vitamin D during the winter months. But you can make long lasting, supportive and healing changes by committing yourself to doing something daily for 21 days. Three weeks. How long is that? Before you know it January will turn into February and you will feel better. Really. You will. And in making an effort to combat the winter blues you may find that you’ve found a way to feel better all year round. Imagine that.

Anne Kearns works with individuals and couples in Le Vigan. She may be contacted at ap.kearns@gmail.com

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 33

Anglican Chaplaincy of Midi-Pyrénées & Aude Update from the Cahors Congregation

For detailed information visit our website: www.churchinmidipa.com All services are held at 10.00am – Centre Paroissial, 75 av J Lurçat, Terre Rouge, 46000 Cahors Advent and Christmas This year Advent Sunday falls on 1st December. Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s year. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Anglican Church at Terre Rouge will be holding four Carol Services before Christmas and an Advent service including Christingle.

Please put the following dates in your diary and check on our website.

Most of our Carol Services have carols and readings in French and English.

They follow the traditional 9 lessons and carols format, and everyone is welcome – there is mulled wine and mince pies afterwards – a delightful way to spend an afternoon or evening. Remember to wrap up warmly – church buildings can be chilly places, but the welcome will be as warm as toast.

The details are as follows: Advent Service with Christingle – Terre Rouge, Cahors Sunday 1st December, 10am Carol Service – St Georges, Betaille Sunday 1st December, 15.30pm – (Vayrac on the Website).

Carol Service – Eglise de St Pierre Gourdon Thursday 12th December, 19.00pm Carol Service – Terre Rouge, Cahors Sunday 15th December, 10am

PLEASE NOTE that there will be NO carol service at Prayssac this year.

There will be a normal Holy Communion on Sunday 22nd with the celebrant, our Chaplain, Revd Dan Langdon-Griffiths.

On Christmas Day (Wednesday) there will be a Holy Communion at 10am.

The Twelve days of Christmas marks a festival in the Christian calendar which starts on Christmas Day and ends on Twelfth Night – 5th January 2020.

Epiphany, which means to show, is the season when Jesus Christ is shown to be the light of the world. At the first Epiphany, the Wise Men (Magi or Kings) followed the light of the star to Bethlehem to find the Baby Jesus. This is reflected in the carol “We three kings of Orient are”…

In many countries so-called “king cakes”, named after the three kings, are baked on the eve of Twelfth Night in preparation for the Epiphany festival the next day and the beginning of the Epiphany season. It is also customary for Christians in many countries to remove their Christmas decorations on Twelfth Night. In France it is the time to eat the amazingly delicious Galettes du Roi – a cake with almonds and little fèves (decorated beans) lodged inside. Whoever finds the fève becomes the King or Queen for the day and wears the gold crown wrapped around the cake.

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

34 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Yoga for Sports

THE missing link in athletic training and physical education Lisa Jackman, Yoga Sports Coach™

Y

oga is a science and one of the original systems used to study the body for over 5,000 years. In ancient times, it was at the heart of a warrior’s preparation for the battlefield. In the 21st century the nature of the battlefield may have changed, but Yoga continues to prove itself as a valid form of fitness and conditioning for the mind and body. The Institute of Yoga Sport Science, www.yogasportscience has conducted ten years of research and holds the largest database in the world on the effects of Yoga in Sport.

Adding the knowledge of biomechanics and science into the yoga mix is a game changer for yoga teachers, physiotherapists, coaches, athletes and yoga students.

So how and why does yoga work?

Physical Aspects – It’s not just all about stretching!

By taking an athlete or anyone off the field and onto the mat, one is able to closely monitor breath and movement patterns. We all have habitual patterns,

things we do everyday that have a detrimental effect on our health, well being and performance. Bad posture, for example, leads over time to problems throughout the body, particularly, the knees, hips and back.

We are all subjected to the forces of gravity and something called GRF (Ground Reaction Force) which literally squashes us in the middle between the two.

At Yoga Sport Science, we realise that, with correct alignment and by working with these two forces, we are more able to fire up the correct muscle sequencing through the kinetic chain, resulting in less energy expended for more power output.

By slowing things down, one is better able to evaluate their own habitual movement patterns and any potential injury risks due to any inefficient movement patterns or tension held in the body. By replicating correct movement patterns required by their sport, in slow motion on the yoga mat, an athlete can reprogram the neuro-muscular pathways to increase power output and be more energy efficient.

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Breath – the most important performance tool!

Poor breathing effects our neurotransmitters and every system in our body, mind and spirit, which can result in brain fog, obsessive thoughts and increased tension.

Different sports require different physical abilities, but most people are unaware that the respiratory demands of each sport and each person are also different. By regulating the breath with deep (diaphragmatic breathing), through the nose, rather than just thoracically (into the upper chest) we activate the correct breathing muscles of the respiratory system, but breathing in a short breath through the mouth, which is part of the digestive system, we activate the muscles of the neck and the upper chest, creating a lot of tension.

By breathing correctly, we create an expansion in the body between the glottis (throat), the abdomen and the pelvic floor; which work in symmetry with each other.

The lungs become more elastic, more oxygen is taken up by the blood and the heart has to work less hard to circulate the oxygen. Our breathing also plays a key role in our posture and spinal stabilisation. Breathing pattern disorders can result in dysfunctional movement pattern which in turn lead to muscular imbalance, motor control alterations, and physiological adaptations that are capable of modifying movement, which lead to injury.

For a correct homeostasis in the body, we need to keep the body alkaline and acidity levels balanced (ph levels). To do this, the brain monitors the depth and frequency of our breath and controls the amount of carbon dioxide (Co2) and Oxygen (o2) in the blood, known as the ‘bohr effect’. By retaining the breath, as in many yoga breathing techniques we increase the Co2 levels which enables the oxygen to be better released into the system and balance our ph levels.

Of all the research that has been done, 90% of the data shows that it was the control of the breath that was the light bulb moment for our athletes.

To see the evidence for yourself, have a look at my own case study on a young UK golfer Mr Alfie Plant, European amateur champion in 2017. After changing his training technique and following the yoga in sport program, something that had been overlooked in his many years of traditional strength and conditioning training, he found success and fulfilled his dream of turning professional.

Lisa Jackman 07 67 79 60 57 BWY Hatha Yoga Teacher Yoga Sports Coach™2017 British Gymnastic Coach www.goyogym.com

Faculty Member at the Institute of Yoga Sport ScienceTM

Quercy Builders (82150)

Stone work and all aspects of renovation Subcontractors to the trade and a professional service to the public References available No obligation quotations

info@quercybuilders.com www.quercybuilders.com 06 52 49 03 57 Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 37

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FOR SALE: Books, clothes, brocante & jewellery in aid of mainly local good causes (for both people & animals) & all run by volunteers. Donations always welcome.

Mardi, Mercredi, Vendredi - 14h00 - 16h00 Jeudi - 15h00 - 17h00 Vendredi & Dimanche - 10h00 - 12h00 www.boncoeur47.fr boncoeur@boncoeur47.fr Bon Coeur 06 89 53 24 78

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English-speaking advisors are just a phone call away !

Crédit Agricole Charente-Périgord regional branch, cooperative organisational structure with variable capital, approved as a credit institution - Head office : 28-30 rue d’Espagnac, Soyaux (Charente) - Registered on the Angoulême companies register, under the number 775 569 726 - Insurance broker registered on ORIAS, the French Organisation for the register of Insurance Intermediaries, under the number 07 008 428. © Photo credits : Jean-Marc Barrère - Design : Maïa www.maia-creation.com - 05/2018

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

38 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

A Passion for Fashion Blossoms in South West France

Imagine having such a passion for something that for over forty years it consumes you from many different angles and creates a whole host of opportunities along the way.

V

anessa Howard fell in love with fashion at the tender age of 16 and developed her own personal style in the trendy city of Newcastle upon Tyne. Classically trained in marketing, fashion wasn’t to be her main career, but it was never far from her in her personal life.

Mesmerised by the romance of silk and lace she discovered antique fairs in her early 20s and started to collect the odd piece of clothing here and there from any era that took her fancy. It was style, cut and finish that attracted her to the clothing of the past. A move to Chelmsford near London meant that she was able to indulge her buying in bigger and more specialised fairs and in the later year’s auctions.

“I always had an eye for quality and there is nothing better than the euphoric feeling of finding a designer label from yesterday.”

By 50, she had moved to Suffolk and the opportunity arose to lease a small shop in the quaint village of Clare. Her partner, William McDonald, not only created the shop but ran it for her too called “The Eye of Time”. It was a boutique brimming with many dreamy purchases that brought customers far and wide including the odd star of art and screen too.

But her calling was to make another move, since a French exchange in her school years, she knew that she would end up in France. So in mid 2017, they moved lock stock and barrel including all their vintage treasures to the North Dordogne where they bought an old stone build coach house on the edge of the lovely village of Mialet.

Initially set up to sell vintage at markets, an accident curtailed Vanessa’s activities and they instead opened part of their home as a gite, offering luxury accommodation to professionals, to date, predominantly from the UK. Conscious that they needed a unique selling point, the vintage collection was never far from the back of their mind. One of their outbuildings was then earmarked as “The place”, and William started to create a home to showcase some of the stock, which gradually developed into a museum concept.

So during 2019, holiday makers and lovers of vintage have been able to indulge in a private space where they can marvel at beautiful clothing and accessories from the past. “Who knows where this will lead” said Vanessa “but for now it’s a pleasure just to showcase them to our guests and friends”. She did however hint that afternoon talks on fashion history could be on the books and she would be only too happy to discuss their merits with interested fashionistas!

Contact vanessahoward1962@gmail.com or telephone 0044 (0)7736066768 www.yourfrenchstay.com

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Estate agency for buyers and sellers in the Quercy

agency (open Tue - Sat 9 am - 6 pm): 15 Route de Moissac 82110 Lauzerte T 05 63 29 08 93 M 06 47 62 03 46 contact @ anna.immo www.anna.immo

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SCENT SENSITIVE The cat is highly sensitive to odours, sounds and vibrations undetected by humans. Cats use scent and their acute sense of smell as a means of communication with each other and to define their territory – usually to keep other cats at a distance (except when looking for mates or scent marking members of their feline group). Cats use scent derived from glands over the face and body, also in urine and even faeces in different circumstances.

Cats will leave scent messages for self-assurance.

When they are relaxed they mark with face glands What does this mean for you, the owner? and if they feel insecure in their homes may resort to Changes to the familiar and reassuring scent profile using stronger signals such as urine spraying. of the cat’s home can be challenging, for example, household cleaners and deodorisers, new furniture, visiting people or dogs, other cats coming in through the cat flap, decorating etc.

If you would like more information please contact Lynn Stone at www.chatsduquercy.com or 0563947397

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

40 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Have you ever wondered what happens to the money raised

by OpenGardens/JardinsOuverts?? Then read on …..

Quelque chose en plus

I

n 2019, 7 charities have benefitted from donations.

Here we will look a little closer at how 4 of the charities have spent the money: A Chacun son Everest : est une association, située au Mont Blanc, Chamonix. Elle a été fondé en 1994 par Christine Janin et le professeur André Baruchel. « Christine Janin médecin et alpiniste, était la première Française au sommet de l’Everest et première femme au monde à avoir atteint le Pôle Nord. Elle est directrice de l’association. Le professeur Baruchel est chef du service d’hématologie pédiatrique de l’hôpital Robert Debré à Paris.

L’association aide les malades en rémission à trouver ce fameux second souffle ; celui qui permet de surmonter l’épreuve de la maladie, de retrouver l’estime de soi, la confiance et la force de vivre. » Dr. Janin drew a parallel between the daily struggle for survival in the mountains in sub-zero temperatures with that of the huge test cancer places upon the individual and the inevitable traumas that people have to overcome. The association has formed a close bond with OGJO. Our founder Mick Moat visited Chamonix in August in 2106 and was so impressed by the inspirational work going on there that he wished to make it the principal charity.

Over the course of the last 7 years, OGJO has donated the sum of 62,050e to A Chacun son Everest.

L’association a décidé de se doter d’un jardin botanique, participatif et thérapeutique. IL a été créer sur le site de Chamonix. Il apportera un outil complémentaire et innovant à l’action. Donations from OGJO have funded this garden project - how apt!

Créée en 1992 à Vaucresson (Hauts- de -Seine), l’établissement a un foyer d’Accueil Médicalisé qui reçoit les enfants 5 à 20 ans et des adultes atteints de polyhandicape et d’autisme.

L’Association a pour but, l’éducation des personnes handicapées ou autistes mais aussi, de soutenir et informer les familles des patients. En même temps, ils sont encouragés à atteindre leur potentiel maximum dans leurs vies.

The charity has received a total of 6000e since 2015. Recently they purchased a specially designed type of round raised bed on a pedestal. This was part of a gardening education project that would give access to the wheelchair patients to the aromatic plants and strawberries that were planted inside it.

Association Française des Syndromes Costello & Cardio-Facial-Cutané Créée en 2000 cette association nationale soutien les patients et leurs familles atteintes de ces 2 maladies rares. Elles sont groupées, parce qu’elles sont toutes les deux, issu d’un accident de mutation génétique à la conception.

La maladie se révèle dans les premiers mois de la vie et se caractérise par un retard de croissance postnatal, un déficit intellectuel et des anomalies cutanées et cardiaques. L’association est à l’initiative de programmes de recherche et de collaborations entre équipes françaises et étrangères.

The association has received 3,500e since 2106 and this has enabled it fund these essential “round table” meetings all over France. It also publishes a help guide about Syndrome Costello.

Réseau Bulle23 Réseau Bulle 23 est un réseau d’entraide et de solidarité pour les personnes autistes en Creuse.

Grace aux dons de OGJO, l’association a organisé des ateliers de motricité par l’achat de matériels adaptés, organise un colloque et a mis en place des cafés de rencontres, des ateliers créatifs pour l’ensemble des personnes, des familles et tous petits touches par l’autisme et troubles associés.

To date they have received 3,500e in donations.

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Hints & Tips

Seasonal hints and tips of garden maintenance provided by Alain Gribet from the Creuse department. Alain talks about how he prepares his garden for winter and other work he does at this time of year. Alain opened his garden to the public in October under the OpenGardens/ JardinsOuverts scheme.

Jardin « La Core » 23260 Saint Pardouxd’Arnet Ce jardin de 3 hectares situé à 720 m d’altitude affronte les rigueurs du climat creusois à partir du mois de décembre. C’est le moment de procéder à quelques travaux d’aménagement, d’entretien et d’embellissement.

La coupe des branches basses et l’élimination du bois mort permettent de regagner de l’espace, des perspectives et facilitent les déplacements autour des arbre.

Les tailles d’ifs sont réalisées plus tôt, en Septembre, et restent nettes jusqu’à début juin.

Dans cet esprit, j’en profite pour réutiliser les tailles de bambous (Sasa palmata nebulosa) qui sont rapidement envahissantes et permettent de réaliser des petites structures décoratives sans prétention.

Le bois mort est brulé et le bois de l’année est broyé et étalé dans les massifs au -dessus du compost (tontes et feuilles).

Je profite également de la période hivernale pour réaliser des sculptures animalières en mortier armé mosaïquées en émaux de verre. Ces sculptures animent le jardin et apporte de la couleur. Les nombreuses haies d’ifs et les sculptures rendent le jardin attrayant en toutes saisons.

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

42 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Hello from a new and enthusiastic gardening member!

My Ma had pet names for plants in the garden and so it is impossible for me to identify Mrs Fry as no one knows what I am talking about. So I thought I can’t be the only person that knows a plant by another name and now we have moved to France not only do I have to identify it but also know its French name! So I thought that I would start my new life living permanently in France with a dictionary of gardening terms that are useful to me and also hope that they will be useful to new comers to gardening and also to France.

Let’s start at the very beginning!

Autumn flowering: floraison automnale Biennial: bisannuelle Bonfire: le feu de boie Border: le parterre Branch: la branche Climbing: grimpante To dig: enterrer Earth: la terre Fertile: fécund Field: le champ Flower bed: le massif Garden: le jardin Garden bench: le banc de jardin Garden centre/nursery: la pépinière Garden path: l’allée Gate: la porte; la grille (metal gate) Ground cover: couvre sol To grow: cultiver Hedge: l’haie Herbacious beds: le massif Lawn: le gazon Mulch: le paillis Nursery: la pépiniEre To prune: élaguer Rock garden: jardin alpestre Rose garden: la roserie Seed: la graine Soil: le sol Perennial: Vivace

This should help some. I think if we stick to seasonal learning then it might be easier to remember. Next of course is the excitement of actually gardening, with Christmas fast approaching who doesn’t love a new tool for Christmas!

Brush cutter: le débroussailleuse Chainsaw: la tronçonneuse Cloche: le tunnel Edge cutter: la coupe bordure Fence: la palissade Flower pot: le pot de fleurs Fork: la fourche; (la griffe) three-pronged Greenhouse: la serre Hedge cutter: la taille haie Hoe: l’houe or la binette Hose: le nettoyeur haute pression (high-pressure); Ladder: l’échelle Mower - push: la tondeuse poussée Mower - ride-on: la tondeuse autoportée Perennial: Vivace Pruning knife: serpette de jardinier Pruning saw: scie à douilles Rake: le ratuea Rotovator: le motoculteur Secateurs: le sécateur Secateurs - long-handled: sécateur à deux mains Shears: la cisaille Shovel: la pelle Spade: la beche Sprinkler: l’arroseur Strimmer: le coupe bordure Trowel: le transplantoir Water butt: la citerne Watering can: l’arrosoir Watering can rose: la pomme Wheelbarrow: la brouette Window box: la jardiniere A tiny bit of guidance towards your actual garden: Ant killer: l’anti-fourmis Compost: le terreau or le humus Chalky: calcaire Clay: l’argile Ericaceous soil for lime-hating plants: la terre dite de bruyere Fertiliser: l’engrais Manure: la fumier Mulch: paillis Sandy soil: sols sableux Silt soil: sol limoneux Soil: sol Weedkiller: le désherbant

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And finally the winter brings us a huge amount of pruning.

Fruit tree Almond: l’almondier Apple: le pommier Apricot: l’abricotier Cherry: le cerisier Damson: le prunier de Damas Fig: le figuier Flowering cherry: le cerisier à fleurs Peach: le pecher Pear: le poirier Plum: le prunier Trees Ash: le frêne Azalea: l’azalée Bay: le laurier Beech: l’hêtre Birch: le boulleau Box: le buis Cedar: le cedre Chestnut tree: la châtaignier Cypress: le cyprés Elder: le sureau Elm: l’orme

Ce vignoble de 25Ha est situé sur 4 terrasses bien distinctes répertoriées à Cahors, qui ont été analysées géologiquement.

Le chai, est de construction moderne aux normes en vigueur de 2010.

Bernard Bouyssou vous propose une gamme de vins rouge (100% MALBEC) mais aussi 1 rosé, 1 blanc et un apéritif liquoreux, élaborés dans le plus grand respect de la tradition depuis 3 générations.

Ve vignoble offre une grande diversité d’arômes et de saveurs, ce qui lui doit plusieurs médailles et récompenses!

Fir: le sapin Hawthorn: l’aubépine Hazel: noisetier Holly: l’houx Laburnum: le cytise Laurel: le laurier Maple: érable Oak: le chene Palm: le palmier The gardening club of Lauzerte is an amazing fount of fabulous knowledgeable, enthusiastic and novice gardeners, not just to actual gardening but also to gardening in this region. The club meets in Lauzerte every second Tuesday of the month. Please do check out our website for more information and also details of our Christmas lunch should you so wish to join us.

Our next meetings are Jan 14, Feb 11 (which is our AGM) and 10 Mar. Happy digging!

Tel: 07 86 40 05 29 or secretary@cjl82.fr.

Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/cjl82/ More information: www.cjl82.fr

This 25Ha vineyard is situated on 4 very distinct and well-known terraces in Cahors, which were geologically analysed.

The Winery is modern and has been adapted to the 2010’s legislation.

Bernard BOUYSSOU offers a wide range of red wine (100% MALBEC), as well as rosé and white wine. Besides he can also propose a liquorish aperitif. All of his products are made in the same respect of tradition that his grand father created 3 generation’s ago.

This vineyard offers a great diversity of aroma and flavours which also explain why it has won a few medals and awards over the years!

Bernard’ BOUYSSOU’s estate which use to belong to his grand father, became a stop over for sailors who cross the Lot as he had the great idea to built a private boat landing.

La propriété viticole de Bernard BOUYSSOU, ou travaillait déjà son grand père Armand, est devenue un lieu d’escale pour les marins qui croisent le Lot grâce à sa bonne idée de construire un ponton privé.

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

44 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

! e t a r b Cele

One of the pleasures of leaving your country of origin to make your life abroad is embracing the many, often subtle, differences in culture and tradition. And one time when these differences are most apparent is in December as many of us celebrate the festival of Christmas…

France The main Christmas meal in France is called le Réveillon de noel and is eaten on Christmas Eve or early Christmas morning, traditionally after people have returned from mass. Dishes include roast turkey, goose or sometimes a capon, oysters, foie gras, seafood and cheeses.

And of course the “bûche de Noël” needs no translation.

In some parts of France tradition has it that 13 different desserts, including fruit, nuts and pastries, are eaten.

Families will open gifts after midnight on December 24 or on Christmas morning after Père Noël has been.

In the north, some families also celebrate St Nicholas Day on December 6 (see The Netherlands) and exchange gifts then.

In eastern France, Père Noël is accompanied by Le Père Fouettard, a man dressed in black who is thought to be similar to Zwarte Piet in The Netherlands.

Christmas markets are popular in France, with one of the biggest in Europe held in Strasbourg in the North East.

It is called Christkindelsmarik (Alsatian).

Epiphany on January 6 is also celebrated in France too and is called La Fête des Rois – the festival of the kings – which of course marks the bringing of gifts to Jesus by the

three kings. A flat almond cake called a galette is eaten in which is hidden a “fève” such as a toy crown.

The person who finds this is named king for the day!

The Netherlands For many children in The Netherlands the big day falls on December 5, St Nicholas Eve, and December 6, St Nicholas Day, when they receive presents from Sinterklaas.

Families will gather and sing traditional songs before opening their presents. The presents themselves are often only marked with the recipient’s name and usually contain a light-hearted poem. And not all presents will be real gifts, with families and friends also sending jokes to one another.

The festivities actually begin in mid-November when Sinterklaas arrives by steam boat having travelled from Spain. The event is covered by national media to add to the excitement. Many villages have their own smaller celebrations. Between his arrival and December 5, children will leave clogs or shoes by the fireplace in the hope of waking up each morning to find treats.

Sinterklass travels with his Zwarte Pieten – the Black Piets – who it is said will carry off any naughty children to Spain. The character has caused much debate between

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those who feel that the appearance of Zwarte Piet with black face paint, golden earrings and red lips is an exaggerated African caricature that conjures up images of slavery and those who feel that it is a tradition to be protected. Since 2013, the debate, while far from over, has led to a toning down of the character’s appearance, some even changing the colour of his face paint.

Carol singing is also a strong tradition in Italy and around the table on Christmas Eve seafood is most commonly found, as well as Panettone of course.Epiphany is also celebrated on January 6 when it is said that an old lady called Befana brings presents for children.

Belgium

Advent is big in Germany with lots of intricate and beautiful calendars on display in homes. Christmas trees are also important, being brought into homes and decorated on Christmas Eve. Christmas Markets are a big part of the German tradition, too.

December 24 is the main day in Germany for exchanging gifts. Some parts of Germany also celebrate St Nicholas Day on December 6.

Other traditions include Sternsinger (star singers) who go from house to house singing and collecting for charities between December 27 and Epiphany on January 6. For the Christmas meal in Germany you can often find goose or carp being served and Stollen is a popular fruited bread.

In Belgium, we find Sinterklass mainly being celebrated in the Dutch or Walloon-speaking regions – with a similar approach to The Netherlands focused around December 5 and 6 – while Christmas in the French-speaking area takes place on December 24 and 25 when Père Noël visits.

Either way, St Nicholas Day on December 6 is considered important across Belgium when gifts are often exchanged. And Père Noël is often accompanied by Le Père Fouettard as in some parts of France.

Christmas markets are very popular, while on Christmas Eve there are plenty of choirs and parades to be found before the midnight mass. Some families will open presents on December 24 before attending mass or shortly afterwards in the early hours of December 25.

The Christmas table in Belgium includes plenty of seafood, turkey and a sweet bread called Cougnou.

Spain In Spain, as in France, most families eat their main Christmas meal on Nochebuena (Christmas Eve).

At midnight, many people will attend La Misa Del Gallo – The Mass of the Rooster – named as such because it is said a rooster crowed the night Jesus was born.

Traditional meals include turkey stuffed with truffles and a roasted hen. Seafood is also a popular fixture at the Christmas table.

Epiphany on January 6 is an important festival in Spain, called the Fiesta de Los Tres Reyes Mages – or the festival of the three magic kings. It sees many families exchanging presents and on January 5 children will often leave shoes out on windowsills or under the Christmas tree.

In the Basque region, traditions include the character of Olentzero, a magical man, traditionally dressed including in a txapela – a Basque beret – who delivers presents between December 24 and the end of the year.

In Catalonia, meanwhile, Tió de Nadal is a Christmas log who appears from December 8 and who will give out presents on December 24 or 25.

Italy It is said that the first crib or crèche dates to St Francis of Assisi in 1223 and, as such, in Italy, the nativity scene is a common sight in homes across the country. Cribs are unveiled on December 8, although the figure of Jesus is not added until Christmas Eve.

Germany

Austria & Switzerland These countries share many of their Christmas traditions with their mutual neighbour Germany, not least their love of advent, carol singing and Christmas markets. Christmas trees are also brought in and decorated on Christmas Eve, while St Nicholas might visit some families on December 6.

The main Christmas meal is eaten on Christmas Eve and in Switzerland this might include ham and potatoes baked with melted cheese and milk. Cookies are also popular to make and give.

In Austria, the meal might include fried carp, goose or turkey. Again, cookies are popular, as is a chocolate and apricot cake called Sachertorte.

English: Merry or Happy Christmas French: Joyeux Noël Occitan: Polit Nadal Breton: Nedeleg Laouen Corsican: Bon Natale Alsatian: E güeti Wïnâchte Dutch/Flemish: Vrolijk Kerstfeest Walloon: Djoyeus Noyé Spanish: Feliz Navidad Catalan: Bon Nadal Basque: Eguberri on Italian: Buon Natale German: Frohe Weihnachten Swiss German: Schöni Wiehnachte

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

46 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

• Made to measure doors and windows in wood, aluminium and PVC • Bespoke staircases and joinery projects • Traditional and electric rolling shutters

• Installation of kitchens and bathrooms • Balconies, patios and other tiling projects • Electric gates and garage doors

For a FREE quote call

06.33.11.42.38 or email poles-apart@orange.fr

All products supplied carry a 10 year warranty for labour and functionality EURL POLES APART, Roc de la Jambonne, 82150 MONTAIGU DE QUERCY poles-apart@orange.fr Tel : 05.63.29.07.32 / 06.33.11.42.38

Siret : 483 819 496 00025

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 47

Nursery for the complete garden plant package Trees - Shrubs - Conifers - Perennials - Grasses Climbers - Bulbs - Bedding Plants - Exotic Plants

Now available BARE ROOT Shrubs-Trees-Hedging Plants-Fruit Trees For the list please contact us

We sell to public and to trade Winter opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday 8.30h - 12.30h & 14.00h - 18.00h Pépinière La Vida Verda SARL, Guillotes, 82110 Lauzerte 06 88 87 34 08 info@lavidaverda.com www.lavidaverda.com La Vida Verda

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Available in Les amis des chats charity shops in Roquecor and Lauzerte or buy on-line www.les-amis-des-chats.com Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

48 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Carte de Séjour? Citizenship?

We help you decide IMPORTANT : If you live permanently in France (more than 183 days per year) then you are required to register with the French income tax system and complete an annual tax return.

There are no exceptions. When you apply for long-term carte de séjour or citizenship this is the first requirement.

Carte de Séjour

Language requirements:

Once you’ve established legal residence in France for 5 years, you have the right to apply for a Carte de Séjour Permanent. A French permanent residence permit is bizarrely not permanent – it allows you to stay in France for 10 years. It’s renewable and you will need to reapply.

You will need at least a little knowledge of French for the carte de séjour but more fluency is required for the citizenship application where an interview in French will take place for approx 15 mins. You don’t need to be bilingual – just be able to conduct a simple conversation and answer a few questions.

If you are under 60, you will need to take a special test to obtain a language certificate (level B1 or better).

If you are over 60 you do not need to take the language exam. Once the procedure is underway, the French administration has 18 months to respond.

What can I do if I haven’t been in France for five years?

You can apply for a carte de séjour standard which covers you for five years, or can be given a year at a time if your financial resources are not stable.

The Carte de Séjour establishes that you are legally resident under the rules in place during your stay, and before any exit of the EU by the UK. It could also be used at border points so as to differentiate residents from tourists (tourists will be limited to a three months maximum stay in the country).

Furthermore, whatever the future arrangements, Carte de Séjour holders will be in a situation of exchanging their card, which is likely to be a simpler procedure than applying from scratch as a non-EU national.

Useful Information for applications: It is crucial to source information about the documents required from your local prefecture as lists from the government site and the prefecture site can be quite different.

Where we can help

If you have lived continuously and legally in France for 5 years may apply for French citizenship “by decree”.

If you opt to become a French citizen you will also become a citizen of the European Union (EU), with all the accompanying rights (like voting in French Presidential elections). You do not have to give up British nationality if you become a French citizen: you can have dual British/French citizenship.

• Obtaining the correct list of documents for your situation • It is often near impossible to obtain an appointment through the prefecture website.

We can help our clients with this through our contacts with the prefecture • Certified translations of all necessary documents • Assistance with the application procedure • Compilation and verification of your dossier The fact that all official translations are completed in-house (we are Certified Translators) means considerable savings for our clients compared with other consultancy services who are forced to outsource all their translation requirements.

Therefore we recommend that when contemplating either a Carte de Séjour or citizenship, you should, if you qualify, favour citizenship.

We have already helped lots of clients to successfully apply for and obtain Carte de Séjour Permanent and Naturalisation.

French citizenship

Assistance Franco Anglaise – contact@afa82.com www.afa82.com The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 49

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• Roofing – Leak finding and fixing, cleaning and moss removal, guttering, ridges, tiles, battens, beams, insulation. We can make small repairs carry out preventative maintenance or fit a whole new roof. No job too small or too large!

• General Building and Restoration Works – Experts in complete internal and external renovations and stone work. All structural and general carpentry including beams and supports and staircases. Everything from foundations up!

• Satellite Television – All European Satellite reception services for recording

and playing Satellite broadcasts, such as Sky, Freesat, TF1-5, Canal+, etc. All equipment including Humax, Sky, Manhattan and others. All UK and French services.

Internet Protocal Television (IPTV) - Television services through your internet connection, offering all channels, catch up tv and video on demand. All films and sports are available through the ability to view on the national channels of any country. All Premiership games can be viewed live regardless of what BBC or Sky may be showing. This is not a satellite service and is less expensive than a Sky subscription.

Call to arrange a free estimate or free advice.

Our motto is Small Profits, Quick Returns. Always top quality at a price you can afford!

Matt Piper 06 72 56 73 77 or email mattsnipe@live.co.uk Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

50 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Cinéma Louis Malle Dans la petite ville de Prayssac le Cinéma Louis Malle a récemment été repris par Gisèle Etienne, une professionnelle du cinéma depuis plus de vingt ans et native du Lot. Un injection de culture pour la campagne du Quercy, le souhait de la gérante étant de créer un lieu d’échange autour du cinéma – et nous sommes certains qu’elle y arrivera.

Le cinéma dffuse des films de tous genre, et a beaucoup de séances en V.O. Avec cette diversification il est clair que les habitués resteront fidèles, et une nouvelle clientèle sera captée. Le dynamiser ce cinéma en proposant des animations qu’il n’y avait pas: les ciné-goûters pour le jeune public, la diffusion d’opéras et ballets à raison d’un trimestre. Diffuser un peu plus de films, donc plus de séances et proposer des projections en direction scolaire: maternelles, élémentaires, collèges en dehors du dispositif école et cinéma.

Au moins un ciné-débat par mois sera proposé, voire plus en fonction de la proposition des films. Un travail avec les associations est à continuer, car il existait déjà, pour proposer des séances à thème pour une soirée ciné débat.

Le cinéma de proximité proposée par le Cinéma Louis Malle se veut accueillant et convivial avec le public.

Nécessité de discuter avec les personnes qui viennent,

avoir leur avis, créer des liens… leur donner des infos sur les films qu’ils viennent voir également. Nous souhaitons proposer des boissons et petits grignotages afin d’échanger avec le public avant ou après les séances. A terme nous avons l’intention de proposer un ciné repas.

Il est clair que la présence de cette salle est un atout pour toute la communauté! Nous leur souhaitons bonne chance pour ce nouveau départ!

ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS Pussycat, pussycat, why did you roam?

“I’ve come into Phoenix to find a new home” Pussycat, pussycat, what do you there?

“I patiently wait in the hope that you’ll care.”

www.phoenixassoc.com

If you or someone you know has a drinking problem join one of the English speaking AA meetings across south west France.

Alcoholics Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others recover from alcoholism.

Our primary purpose is to stay sober and help others achieve sobriety.

TEL: Angela on 05 49 87 79 09 or Dan on 06 41 66 38 40 Website: www.aafrance.net

Quercy Counselling English-speaking counselling and psychological services on all manner of issues.

Based in Belveze, we offer services face-to-face, via telephone and Skype.

For more information please see the website: www.quercycounselling.com Or contact Elizabeth Cross on +33(0)788279014 or quercycounselling@gmail.com

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

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52 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Why is French language so hard, and how to improve?

Here’s an explanation and some tips given by Hayet Soudani, teacher at “Français à la carte”:

W

hether you are fluent or know a bit of French, you must have come across awkward situations where it was difficult to be understood or to understand what the person in front of you was saying. It is a typical problem for expats but why is learning a language so hard?

Firstly, it is a lot easier to learn a foreign language as a child. Children do learn and develop at exceptional paces; it is an anconscious state of mind, they learn without noticing. For adults, it is a lot more complex, they have to consciously learn information and remember them. Also, children are not as self conscious as adults and are not scared to make mistakes.

Besides, spoken French is significantly different to written French and not only for the local accents.

For example, in spoken French, the “ne” of negation disappears. It’s quite unsettling especially if you are used to read French newspapers.

Another reason is the lack of immersion. Although you live in France, you might not be immersed enough. It is a lot more convenient to stay in our confort zone and do activities with other english speakers but it doesn’t help improving your French.

How to improve: – Make sure you broad your horizons and get involved with non-english speakers through local associations.

– Watch French TV and put the audio description in French most of the time you can, so you have more chances to understand what is going on.

– Take French language tuitions to have a more structured learning and set challenging yet achievable goals.

In our school “Français à la carte” located in Cahors, we offer private tuitions for individuals or groups (four students per class max and online classes available) focusing on your needs and your difficulties. We are certified French teachers which means that we can prepare you for the DELF/DALF exam. In addition to our courses, we organise pedagogical visits in Cahors and the Lot region to immerse you in the French culture. We are looking forward to meeting you!

www.francaisalacarte.fr The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 53

Them v. Those The English language isn’t straightforward and it’s full of regional variations. Spoken variations can then spoil written text and meaning can be lost.

I grew up near Lancashire an area that’s a real hotbed for the Them v Those ‘slip’. Here are the rules, or at least here’s a start – it can get complex.

‘Those’ can be used as a pronoun (subject of the sentence) or as an adjective (describing word).

‘Them’ should only ever be used as a pronoun.

So that using ‘those’, we can say A. “Those croissants in the window look burnt.”

(Here ‘Those’ is a describing adjective). Or, B. “Who burnt those?” (Here ‘those’ is a pronoun, more precisely it’s a directional pronoun) To use ‘them’, we can say – C. “I think you should throw them away.” (Here ‘them’ is a pronoun, this time a personal pronoun) What happens if you swap these?

Taking example A. above, you cannot say – “Them croissants in the window look burnt.”

(Because ‘Them’ cannot be used as an adjective.)

With example B. you can interchange the two words.

You could say – “Who burnt them?” (So now ‘them’

is a personal pronoun whereas ‘those’ in the original example B. was a describing adjective).

With example C. you could again swap and say “I think you should throw those away.” (As ‘those’ would assume the role of a directional pronoun).

With example B and C, if a swap is made a slight change in emphasis achieved. There are more opportunities for ‘those’ than for ‘them’ and I prefer it that way!

Language evolves. I remember at Primary School that there were two versions of the Lord’s Prayer in use.

One from the 1662 ‘Book of Common Prayer’ which included the words “and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us”. This original version even at a tender age made me uncomfortable.

The revised version of the book changed ‘them that’ to ‘those who’. This sounded so much better, but it was a departure from the original rule. Perhaps the good folks of Lancashire were historically correct all along!

So, if you’re confused by French grammar?

Remember that English isn’t any simpler!

For editing, writing & content: anna.therightwords@gmail.com The Right Words – Writing and Editing

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

54 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

CBD Oil

I

l y a une nouvelle mode dans les produits de bienêtre, le Cannabidiol, autrement appelé le CBD. Extrait du chanvre, le Cannabidiol est l’une des majeures parties du cannabis, mais lorsqu’il est prit de manière isolé il ne vous fait pas planer - apparemment cette substance pourrait aider un vaste nombre de problèmes médicaux comme l’anxiété, la douleur chronique et bien d’autres, mais aussi aider avec les problèmes de peau, renforcer les cheveux… Alors, CBD, produit miracle ou nouvelle mode éphémère?

Alors qu’est-ce que le CBD? C’est un cannabidoïde, plus précisément un phytocannabinoïde présent dans le chanvre industriel. Les scientifiques l’ont découvert en 1940 et c’est aujourd’hui le plus connu des 113 phytocannabinoïdes présents dans le chanvre.

Mais ça c’est la réponse scientifique, qui peut paraître un peu compliquée! On va vous l’expliquer de manière plus tangible.

Pourquoi consommer du CBD? Les premières expériences suggèrent qu’elle peut aider à combattre l’anxiété, à soulager les symptômes de schizophrénie et à réduire la douleur (bien que cette dernière soit souvent associée au THC). Les premières expériences suggèrent qu’elle peut aider à combattre l’anxiété, à soulager les symptômes de schizophrénie et à réduire la douleur (bien que cette dernière soit souvent associée au THC).

La preuve la plus forte de l’efficacité de la CBD, cependant, est en relation avec l’épilepsie. Aux EtatsUnis un médicament utilisé pour traiter les syndromes de Lennox-Gastaut et Dravet, deux formes rares et graves d’épilepsie a récemment été approuvé. C’était la première fois que les autorités Américaines approuvait une drogue dérivée du cannabis.

Comment le CBD peut-il être consommé ? Le CBD peut être ingéré de différentes façons. L’une des façons les plus populaires est l’ingestion à l’aide de gouttes ou de

vaporisateurs (par la muqueuse). Le CBD est disponible sur le marché sous différentes formes. Il peut être consommé sous forme de capsules, de pastilles, de l’eau infusée au CBD, il peut également être ajouté au café ou à une boisson aromatisée au chocolat.

Est-ce qu’il y a des risques liées à la prise du CBD? C’est un fait que la prise de CBD a très peu d’effets secondaires négatifs étant donné la quantité élevée de substances actives positives qu’elle contient. Les symptômes les plus souvent mentionnés sont une sensation de bouche sèche, un impact sur l’appétit et, en cas de consommation de très grandes quantités, des problèmes digestifs.

La prise de CBD est-elle immédiatement ressentie?

Dans certains cas, le CBD apporte un soulagement immédiatement après l’ingestion, surtout lorsqu’il s’agit de faire face au stress ou à l’insomnie, et souvent lorsqu’il s’agit de douleur. Il est probable que l’effet de la CBD sur les maladies auto-immunes ou chroniques et les problèmes de peau prendra un peu plus de temps.

Peut-on consommer le CBD de manière préventive?

De nombreuses personnes ont choisi de consommer du CBD comme mesure préventive. Les avis sur la question de savoir si cela est recommandé ou non sont partagés, mais en général, il est déconseillé d’utiliser la CBD lorsqu’il n’y a aucun problème de santé. Bien sûr, il n’y a pas de mal à le faire non plus.

Quel futur pour le CBD? Bien que la perception à l’égard de le CDB ait considérablement progressé au fil des années, le CDB n’est toujours pas entièrement normalisé. Il y en a encore beaucoup qui s’opposent à la CBD et à d’autres composés dérivés du cannabis et beaucoup d’autres qui ne sont pas conscients de leurs avantages. Les composés du cannabis comme le CBD ont le potentiel d’avoir un impact sur la vie de millions de personnes, et avec des efforts continus de notre part à tous, cela peut changer le monde !

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

Cement Tiles, and garden furniture/decorations - including Moroccan and Vintage styles Tel. 05 63 39 96 46 Mobile. 06 80 36 54 99 materiauxancienslauzerte@orange.fr www.bhmateriauxanciens.com

Parc d’exposition de 3 hectares Show Room - Livraison dans toute la France

Wholesaler of renovation, construction and decorative materials Vast selection of paving stones and travertine. Everything for your outdoor space Tél 05 63 95 39 08 bhlauzerte@orange.fr www.bh-materiaux.com Pont Rout, 82110 LAUZERTE

Ouvert du Lundi au vendredi de 8h à 12h et de 13h30 à 17h30; Le samedi de 9h à 12h : du 1er octobre au 31 avril; Le samedi de 9h à 12h et de 14h à 17h : du 1er mai au 30 septembre

56 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Le Vouvoiement et le Tutoiement Adeline Morel

En français il existe une forme de politesse orale qui règle les relations sociales entre les personnes et qui vous permets de savoir immédiatement quel niveau de proximité entretiennent deux êtres, il s’agit du Vouvoiement ou de l’usage du « vous ».

Avec le temps et l’évolution des mœurs on a utilisé de plus en plus le « tu » ou tutoiement qui serait une influence du « you » de la langue anglaise.

Le vouvoiement est l’équivalent du « usted/ustedes » en espagnol ou du « Lei » en italien mais il n’existe aucune équivalence en Anglais.

Le concept même du vouvoiement est complexe à comprendre pour nos amis anglophones car les conjugaisons sont bien plus simples en anglais.

Ainsi l’usage d’un pronom personnel différent et donc d’une conjugaison différente est extrêmement complexe à saisir, sans parler des 3 groupes de verbes et des irréguliers !

Mais comment ca marche ?

Au lieu d’utiliser « tu » dans la phrase vous utilisez « vous » mais ce n’est pas tout !

L’utilisation du « vous » oblige à accorder le verbe et le reste de la phrase avec « vous ».

Ex : Tu parles > Vous parlez; Tu finis > Vous finissez Tu bois > Vous buvez Il n’y a pas de règle parfaite pour savoir si il faut utiliser « vous » ou « tu », so let’s switch to english because we are getting technical!

In general you use « vous » : - with your boss or any hierarchical superior - with someone you meet for the first time - with someone older than you - with someone you strongly respect You should use « tu » : - when a child or a teenager is talking to another child/teenager - when an adult is talking to a child or a teenager - when you are talking with a close member of your family. Nowadays only a few children say « vous » to their parents, it is a remain of aristocratic practices - if you are very angry and mean to diminish someone in your speech (careful with that one!)

- when you converse with a friend or someone you know quite well And that is where it becomes tricky …as there are no rules of « when do people become close ». Is it after you have met a few times? Is it after you both agreed on saying « tu » to eachother?

Also your age gap can be very important, as you can know someone older than you very well and still carry on using « vous » out of respect for this person.

In brief, if you are not sure use « vous » it is more polite and if the person wants to use « tu » they will offer to switch as it is usually the person with the highest social status who offers to use « tu ».

Don’t be afraid and practice!

Do you need a helping hand?

Stay in your own home and receive support from our experienced English speaking team.

Housework t Shopping t Cooking Companionship t Laundry & Gardening Call now on 05 63 05 17 35 or 06 37 22 88 16 for an informal chat

Celebrations - Dinner Parties Weddings House Parties - Canape Parties

www.cafesociety7.com

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 57

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Meet with the client Planning advice Prepare the plan for the garden

SERVICES WE OFFER

Expert help and advice for the creation and the maintenance of your garden

www.concepteur-paysagiste.fr We work throughout departments 46, 47 and 82.

Pruning - Felling - Grinding - Clearance Terracing, Retaining-walls and Driveways Paths – Drystone-walls - Borders Ground Preparation (biodiversity) - Planting Soil - Mulching and Organic Fertilizing Property Maintenance

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IN THE HEART OF THE C A H O R S V I N E YA R D S YO U ’ L L F I N D

RESTAURANT

CAFÉ

ATELIER

Le Caillau is a 300 year old winery lovingly restored into a restaurant, café and pottery painting atelier.

• Our restaurant serves fresh, local, seasonal food • Warm, cosy dining room with open fireplace and views of the vines • Visit our pottery painting atelier, by appointment only, to create your own masterpiece, perfect for a personalised gift. See our website for more information.

LE CAILLAU 46700 VIRE SUR LOT TEL: 05 65 23 78 04 WWW.LECAILLAU.COM FACEBOOK.COM/LECAILLAU INSTAGRAM.COM/LECAILLAU

Restaurant Opening hours: MON: 12pm–2pm TUE: CLOSED WED–THU: 12pm–2pm FRI - SAT: 12pm–2pm, 7pm-10pm SUN: 12pm-2pm Pottery Atelier by appointment only Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri & Sat

Published June,1September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 14:21 Winter Le Caillau Quercy ad NovMarch, 2019.indd 07/11/2019

58 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

A Dangerous Increase in Mobile Phone Use

The number of French motorists using their mobile phones while driving, speeding and tailgating is on the rise so it just plays into the stereotype that most French drivers are terrible.

T

he company that operates the French motorways have had a report conducted and the results probably will not surprise anyone too much. A lot of people who get in touch via my Facebook and Twitter accounts complain heavily about lane hogging, and aggressive tailgating.

“It’s an explosive cocktail!” Fabrice Hamelin, a researcher in transport safety at the University of Créteil, said recently.

“The phone is clearly an important distraction factor, which doubles the risk of an accident. Add this to the rise in tailgating, which shortens your reaction time, and there is a much higher risk,” he said.

Over 40% of drivers on French roads regularly drive over above the speed limit, according to the latest research which is the highest it’s been since 2012.

“For the past few months, police were perhaps otherwise occupied, which could have created a sense of impunity,” Pascal Contremoulins, head of road safety at Sanef said of the results.

Pascal went on to say “However when a driver is going too fast, they do not have the means to react if a problem occurs in front of him, because the incident is masked by the car in front. One accident

in five on the motorway is a multi-vehicle collision, that is to say it involves more than two cars.”

More worrying than the speeding increase is the sharp rise in people using a mobile phone whilst driving.

When it comes to phone use truckers have seen the biggest rise in offences recorded. With as many as one in six truckers driving with a phone in their hand.

Virtually all accidents are caused because someone isn’t paying attention and phone use is the biggest single culprit.

According to a study in the USA sending a text message while driving increases the chances of an accident by almost a quarter.

Now that most people have a smartphone of some sort and can check emails and look who has liked their Facebook posts while driving it is becoming a huge problem.

The French police have reported that 800 offenses involving a mobile phone had been recorded every single day during June this year.

The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Soutenez nos annonceurs et dites-leur que vous avez vu leur annonce dans ce magazine

THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 59

FRENCH

HICCUPS

Help with administration, moving and settling in France and business registration

Do you dream of a life in France, or need help making your life here simpler?

Then as a French speaker, let me help!

TAXI ROQUENTIN

taxiroquentin@gmail.com

05 53 95 95 95 06 81 22 47 89

Rosalynde HICKS | 9 Avenue Pasteur 24160 EXCIDEUIL 07.87.61.13.44 | roshicks@hotmail.fr www.frenchhiccups.com

4 x 6-seater cars

Professeure d’anglais N’hésitez pas à me contacter pour plus de renseignements

Victoria and Fabrice welcome you to their restaurant for all seasons – in winter there’s an open fire, charming open stone-work and a lovely cosy ambiance then in summer there’s a large shaded terrace

Fresh seasonal produce used to prepare fine cuisine. Easy parking opposite.

Closing hours- Tuesday and Wednesday. Visit our Facebook page for regular updates

L’Atelier, 66 tour de ville, 24560 Issigeac 05 53 23 49 78 Restaurant L’Atelier Issigeac

Bilingual Yoga classes for Adults and children Group or 1-1 tuition Hatha Yoga Sport Specific Yoga for athletes Private Yoga Studio Fumel

Will travel within a 20 mile radius of Fumel 47500 Classes conducted in French and/or English

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Tasting the lot

winter through to spring

W

ell hasn’t 2019 whizzed by! Today (middle of October) I got the Christmas decorations out of the loft as I was swapping summer clothes with winter and thought I may as well just get them out of the loft and get festive! This made me think of the wine and food I would be sharing with my new family as my first as a married woman! I must impress them with a new recipe and one that will please all members of the family and all ages!

So, I decided that I am going to be hitting the truffle market in Lalbenque armed with recipes (this year it starts Tuesday 3rd December at 13.45hr). Each year, we buy at least 1 truffle from each market that is about e30 and put it in a large glass storage jar with a dozen eggs. Keep it closed for a week in the fridge

and then use the eggs that are flavoured with truffle in an assortment of recipes. I replace the eggs each week and then finally give the 2/3 week old truffle with eggs as a Christmas present to my younger brother!

Matching a wine with the meal is the second favourite occupation at this time of year. There are a few favourites and a few rules to guide you to the wines of this region matched with anything truffle!

Cahors is the most perfect wine to match with truffle flavoured food, as the saying goes “what grows together goes together” and it couldn’t be truer with truffles and Cahors wine!

Try wines with some bottle age, also wines with earthy and mushroom notes will work well with the savoury character of truffle. Next year I have a cookbook

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being published. Hopefully more a gourmet guide to our amazing region than a book that is bought and shelved as a trophy! I hope to see them dotted about the region as we all visit a different area of the Lot tasting foods and wines that are new to you all.

Just a few lovely festive recipes for you to try:

Mushroom and Truffle risotto Ingredients 7 cups (I used a tea cup) vegetable stock (can use chicken but then it won’t be a vegetarian dish) 1 tbsp olive oil 1 onion, chopped 550g mushrooms, stems removed, caps sliced (shitake or any of your choice) 1/3 tsp salt 1 tsp dried thyme 1/4 cup red Cahors wine 2 1/2 tbsp truffle butter (easy to buy or make, grated truffle into the softened butter and then chill) 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, plus extra for passing at the table optional pinch truffle salt couple grinds of black pepper 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, for serving (optional) Method Heat the stock: Bring the stock to a simmer and keep warm on low heat.

Heat the olive oil on medium low heat in a large non-stick pan.

Stir in the onion, and sauté until it begins to soften, about 5 minutes.

Add mushrooms to the pan with the onions and stir to combine.

Add the thyme and salt. After the mushrooms begin to soften, after 3 to 4 minutes, stir in the arborio rice, followed by the cooking wine.

When cooking wine has been mostly absorbed, ladle about 1/2 cup of the broth into the rice. Stir the risotto mixture and cook until the broth is absorbed. Add another ladle of broth and repeat process. Stir frequently throughout the risotto cooking.

Once all or most of the liquid has been absorbed the rice is tender to the bite, the risotto is almost ready. It takes about 30 minutes of gradually ladling in the cooking liquid and stirring regularly.

Stir in the truffle butter, Parmesan cheese and truffle salt, if using. Add a few grinds of black pepper. Plate, topped with a few bits of fresh parsley if using, and pass extra cheese at the table. Enjoy!

Wine suggestion : Chateau Hauts St George, Cahors or Caprice de Diogène, from Rond Chene in Douelle.

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kathyschinahire@hotmail.com Truffle cheese straws Ingredients 2 large sheets puff pastry dough (preferably all-butter) 1/2 cup (I used a teacup) grated parmesan Approximately 1/2 tsp truffle salt 4 tsp black truffle oil 2 tbsp freshly grated black or white truffle Method Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of the puff pastry dough with the short side near you until it is thin and smooth, no need to be exact, they are meant to be rustic.

Spread half the cheese, truffle salt, truffle oil and grated truffles over the bottom half of the rectangle. Fold the top half of the puff pastry over and press lightly over the top with the rolling pin to knit everything together. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut slices of dough about 2cm wide. Pick up one strip, twist it a few times between your hands, and lay it on the baking sheet, pressing the ends into the parchment to keep it from untwisting. Repeat with the rest of the strips, then do the whole thing over again with the second sheet of dough and the rest of the cheese and truffle stuff.

Bake the puff pastry straws about 15 minutes or until they are golden brown. Serve immediately. If you want to make them ahead, underbake them slightly, store them in an airtight container, and re-warm them for a few minutes in the oven before serving to crisp them up.

One of my favourite slightly lighter wines at Christmas and New Year to eat with truffle risotto is Chateau Hauts St George, Cahors and my new heavenly go to wine is Caprice de Diogène, from Rond Chene in Douelle.

Wine suggestion: A Clos d’un jour from Duravel

Published March, June, September and December each year. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Winter

62 • THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL

Truffle macarons dabbed in a little water to brush those back into the syrup.

This will help prevent the syrup from crystallising.

Ingredients For the macaron shells: 300 g ground almonds 300 g pure icing sugar 110 g egg whites 300 g caster sugar 75 ml water 110 g egg whites (yes you need 2 sets of 110gr) 3 drops black food gel 4 tbsp cocoa powder

When the syrup reaches 115C, add the second portion of egg whites to the bowl of a stand mixer and start whisking them on medium/high speed to help break them apart and get them a little frothy. When the syrup reaches 118C, pour it over the egg whites in a slow and steady stream. Whisk to stiff peaks for about 6 min.

Add the black food dye and vanilla extract at about the 3-min point, whisk into the meringue for a couple of minutes. Stop the mixer and scrape down, then whisk for an extra couple of minutes.

Icing 400 g dark cooking chocolate 200 ml cream 3 drops black food gel 1 truffle sliced thinly Method To make macarons: Add the icing sugar and almond into a food processor and whizz until well combined. This will help get rid of any lumps in the sugar. Empty the almond mixture into a large mixing bowl, add the first portion of egg whites and mix until it forms a paste.

Cover with plastic wrap and set aside.

Add the sugar and water into a small saucepan. Give them a very gentle stir to get them mixed together. Bring to a boil on medium high heat, then turn down to a simmer.

Add a sugar thermometer to the pan to measure the temp of the syrup. As the syrup bubbles, away it will splatter small bubbles of sugared water on the sides of the pot. Use a pastry brush

Grab a spatula full of the meringue and fold it into the almondsugar mixture, mix until well combined. This allows the mixture to thin out a little before you add the rest of the mixture. Fold until the batter gets thin enough that it drips off the spatula and falls in a ribbon. It should take about 10 seconds for the ribbon to disappear into the rest of the batter. That’s when you know the batter is ready to pipe.

Spoon the batter into a piping bag with a round tip. Pipe rounds of batter about 3.5 cm in diameter, spacing them 2 cm apart on baking trays lined with baking parchment.

Gently tap the tray on the work surface covered with a kitchen cloth. Leave to stand for at least 30 minutes, until a skin forms on the shells. They shouldn’t be sticky when you touch them.

It’s at this point that you can preheat a fan forced oven to 180C (360F).

Bake for 12 minutes, let them cool completely. Using a piping bag, pipe a swirl of icing on 1 macaron and sandwich together.

Wine suggestion : Domaine de Cauquelles Muscat de Hambourg.

If you would like any more wine recommendations or to hold a wine tasting in your home or gite please do get in touch tastinghtelot@gmail.com Or follow Tasting The Lot, Quercy on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. Happy Tasting.

Luci Cox

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THE QUERCY & PÉRIGORD LOCAL • 63

Chicken Chettinad with a local twist

by Brook Adams

This chicken curry dish hails from Chettinad, a semi-arid region of southern India. Whilst there is a myriad of variations to this dish, I favour this, arguably, a more traditional version which is drier and more intensely flavoured. The ‘twist’, comes from the addition of soft boiled quail’s eggs which add a luxurious unctuousness to the dish and are not only affordable but readily available here in South-West France. The heat comes predominantly from the use of black peppercorns, so adjust the quantity of chilli powder accordingly.

Method Ahead of time, place the quails’ eggs in boiling water for exactly 2 minutes before plunging them into ice water to stop the cooking process. I like to drain and immerse them in vinegar (white pickling vinegar will do) and leave them for an hour to soften the shell, making the peeling process much easier.

Prepare the spice blend in a pestle & mortar, or preferably in a spice/coffee grinder, to a fine powder.

Heat the oil in a heavy-based pan on a medium heat and lightly fry the cinnamon and fennel seeds. Add the shallots and fry until translucent and golden. Add the chicken pieces and stir fry for 2 minutes before adding the ginger, garlic, salt, sugar, and the spice blend. Add the chopped tomatoes, mix together and fry for a further 2 minutes or until the tomatoes have broken down and the chicken is cooked through. Add a splash of water if necessary until the sauce has thickened, and has reduced enough that it is clinging to the chicken. Gently stir through the quails’ eggs before serving and top with fresh coriander leaves and thin slices of fresh green chilli.

Serve with plain boiled basmati rice, and unless you are a dab hand at making chapatis, my top cheat is whole wheat (ble complet) fajita wraps, warmed through and folded into triangles.

Ingredients (serves 2) • 1 dozen fresh quails’ eggs Spice blend ~

• 1 tbsp fennel seeds • 1 tbsp black peppercorns • 1 tbsp cumin seeds • 1 or 1/2 tbsp chilli powder • 1 tbsp coriander seeds For the chicken ~

• 4 skinless, boneless chicken thighs cut into pieces • 3 cinnamon sticks • 1 tsp fennel seeds • 4 fat cloves of garlic, crushed • 1 small tomato de-seeded and finely chopped • 1 thumb-sized piece of ginger, peeled and finely grated (a microplane works best) • 180 grams of shallots, diced (I like to use the readily available banana variety) • 60ml vegetable or groundnut oil • 1 tsp of salt (or to taste) • 1 tsp of sugar • 120ml water

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LA LOI PACTE Quels changements pour les petits entrepreneurs Annonces légales Les formalités étant généralement accompagnées de l’obligation de publication d’une (ou plusieurs !) annonces légales, il est donc logique que le gouvernement s’y soit penché. Il est prévu d’étendre la publication aux sociétés de presse numériques, ainsi que d’instaurer des tarifs forfaitaires qui tendraient à faire baisser les coûts.

Autres changements

L

a loi PACTE, on en a beaucoup entendu parler, mais comment cela nous impacte-il vraiment?

Outre les changements en termes d’épargne retraite, la promulgation de la loi a également eu des effets sur les petits entrepreneurs.

Les microentreprises – suppression (sous conditions) de l’obligation de compte bancaire séparé

• Revalorisation des seuils de nomination du CAC (8 Me CA, 4Me au bilan, 50 salariés) •P ossibilité pour tous les associés de SAS d’avoir un compte courant (plus de minimum de 5% des actions) •P rotection accrue du conjoint du chef d’entreprise – obligation d’attribuer un statut, qui sera à défaut celui du conjoint salarié •E IRL – possibilité d’opter pour ce statut sans affecter de biens à la création ; suppression de l’expert pour des biens supérieurs à 30000 euros •S implification des seuils sociaux – plus que 3 seuils : 20, 50 et 250 salariés La simplification des démarches n’enlève en rien la nécessité d’être bien entouré afin de choisir au mieux son statut et développer sereinement son activité.

N’hésitez pas à vous rapprocher d’un professionnel pour toutes les étapes de votre entreprise.

Désormais les entrepreneurs exerçant sous le régime micro et ayant un CA inférieur à 10000 euros ne sont plus tenus d’ouvrir un compte bancaire dédié.

La fin du SPI obligatoire Pour une immatriculation à la Chambre des Métiers, on devait auparavant assister à un stage de plusieurs jours, appelé plus communément SPI (stage de préparation à l’installation). Depuis le 24 mai 2019, ce stage n’est plus une obligation, ce qui facilite le démarrage en tant qu’artisan.

Le guichet unique Toujours dans le but de simplification et de dématérialisation des formalités, le gouvernement met progressivement en place un guichet unique pour toutes les formalités de création, modification et suppression/dissolution des entreprises. Sera également mis en place un registre unique qui réunira RCS et RM. The Quercy & Périgord Local • Dec 2019 - Feb 2020 Please support our advertisers and tell them you saw their advert in this magazine

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