The Bugle - May 2022

French nun becomes world's oldest person

Sister André is now the oldest person in the world following the death of a 119-yearold Japanese woman >> Page 12

Votes for Life passed in UK

Expats will now have the right to vote in all future elections after the government finally scrapped the 15-year rule >> Page 5

November 2016 - Issue #85

Your local newspaper for life in France

May 2022 - Issue 151 - FREE!

Macron re-elected for five more years

>> continued on page 4

Bird flu outbreak fuels egg price rises - pg 6

Paper till receipts to end next year - pg 10

Discovering the wines of Bergerac - pg 14

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numbers of abstentions and spoiled ballots, but when the counting was over, Macron had received 58.54% of the vote compared to Le Pen's 41.46%. Whilst the 17% margin of victory was comfortable, it was markedly less than the 33% by which he beat the same candidate last time around.

Inevitably, Macron's supporters hailed his election to a second term in office as an historic victory, while Le Pen's backers pointed to her growing support as proof of the electorate's unhappiness with the status quo. Most agree that while Macron enjoys significant support from centrist and right of centre voters, his victory was also down to many holding their noses and voting against the far right at any cost. This was most apparent among

Dordogne vineyard owner sanctioned - pg 3

EasyJet to fly from Limoges as numbers increase - pg 3

President Emmanuel Macron has comfortably beaten his far-right opponent, but a closer look at the result reveals a far from ringing endorsement.

mmanuel Macron has created a small piece of history in becoming the first French president to win a second term in office for 20 years and the only Fifth Republic president to do so while still controlling the National Assembly, the country's lower house of parliament. Despite his relatively comfortable victory over farright Rassemblement national (RN) candidate Marine Le Pen, Macron does still face discontent from across the political spectrum and potentially tricky National Assembly elections in June.

As was the case five years ago, the first round of elections left voters with the choice between centrist Macron and the far right's Le Pen. The second round was marked by historically large

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s I mentioned last month, I was very excited at the prospect of once again having chickens in the garden after a 4-year hiatus. I had to leave my lovely layers behind when we moved and there has been so much work to do on this house, as well as a million other distractions, that it has never been a priority. For my birthday this year, however, I asked for small donations towards a few poules pondeuses – the gift that keeps on giving – rather than cards and presents.

It is with great excitement that I can tell you, not only do I now have six chickens in the garden, but today my lunch was a delicious, although admittedly very small, freshly laid egg – our first one! (see photographic proof). I'm sure plenty of my readers will have their own chickens or regularly receive fresh eggs from friends and neighbours, but for me there will always be a thrill to it.

I remember when we had our first chickens they were just a few weeks old, so it was several months until we had any eggs. I can still recall cracking that first one into a pan and not quite believing my eyes... it was the holy grail of eggs, a double yolker!! I would later discover that this is not at all uncommon for very

young laying hens, but at the time it felt like a miracle.

I had a photo of that fried egg on my phone for a very long time. In fact, it was my home screen for months.

When I met up with people I hadn't seen for a while I would whip my phone out, show them my double yolker and wax lyrical about the benefits of homegrown eggs. I was a bit like a proud parent showing off photos of their newborn to a disinterested face, but somehow even more boring.

Over the years, and countless double yolkers later, I still had that same spark of joy on discovering another fresh egg in the nesting box, but I did take the hint and stop banging on about it quite so relentlessly. Unfortunately for you, dear reader, that excitement is back after several barren years of insipid supermarket eggs and this column is the bit where I get to write whatever I want.

I can even claim to be topical, what with the price of eggs looking set to soar in the coming months (see page 6). You do have to invest a small amount of money in fencing, feeders and food, but back in the day I worked out that even with the overheads, the eggs from the garden were a good deal cheaper than

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“normal” supermarket eggs, and of a far superior quality.

I have always said that you should buy the best eggs your budget allows, but not everyone can afford to pay for local, organic eggs which are often many times more expensive than the cheapest. My compromise was to only ever buy number “0” eggs (fully organic), or more often number “1” (free range) and to go without rather than buy number “2” (barn) - from hens

which never see the light of day or “3” (battery). Don't be fooled by the picture of happy chooks on the box, the eggs will all be stamped with a short code, the first number of which gives you the above quality guarantees.

At the risk of sounding preachy, also try to make sure that when you buy eggs in the shops that the two letters after the initial number – the country code – are “FR”, meaning they at least come from France.

Apologies to my Iberian friends, but I have found that imported Spanish “ES” eggs are of a much lower quality.

One aspect I was really looking forward to was naming my new girls. My first chickens all had names that ended with an “A” and were named alphabetically. Agatha,

Bertha, Carla... I'll stop there for fear of losing even more readers, but rest assured I remember them all, and fondly. That was pre-kids however, and somehow it was agreed that they could choose the names this time around!

After telling them the story of Dahlia, Esmerelda and Freda, they decided that their names would all end with “ER”. It was a painful process and I insisted on the power of veto, but this soon went out the window and we have quite the eclectic collection, including my eldest's favourite, Dipper.

Part of me is proud of her dry sense of humour, but I can't bring myself to say it in front of the hen herself.

Fortunately, Kormer and Tikker were easily vetoed because, while my kids love curry, they can't spell!

All jokes aside, it is great to have animals in the garden again. It's educational for the kids, it recycles food waste

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into a delicious and healthy product, but above all I find them incredibly therapeutic. I only wish we'd had them during lockdown. They give me an excuse to get up from my desk every couple of hours, wander down the garden and cluck at them as if they understand what I'm saying.

I even took a chair (and a beer) down the other day in some late evening sun and chatted to them for a quarter of an hour or so. It was the best 15 minutes of my day... and cheaper than a therapist!

I will try not to go on about them too much in the coming months, but I'm also wary of making promises I can't keep. The in-laws are due in a few days' time, however, so that's probably next month's editorial written already!

Until next month, Steve Martindale, Editor

CONTACT us Tel: 06 04 17 80 93 General: editor@thebugle.eu Advertising (EN): sales@thebugle.eu Publicité (FR): pub@thebugle.eu Subscriptions: subscriptions@thebugle.eu

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Airport numbers on the rise

T

he outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic brought the Nouvelle-Aquitaine tourist industry to a standstill. While brief periods of freedom between the various lockdowns opened the floodgates to French tourists looking to escape the city, the region's airports remained largely empty and many lines were cancelled.

To the delight of local expats, and their visiting friends and family, Limoges and Bergerac airports are now reporting steadily increasing passenger numbers and regular announcements on new lines opening up. “In April, we have seen planes that are 74% full on average, figures that we could not have dreamed of 12 months ago,” said Gwenvaël Ronsin-Hardy, director of Bergerac airport. “People are back, we should have a very good year!”

It would also appear that the British are driving this rebound in traffic: the recent Ryanair planes flying to and from London Stansted have been 82% full on average.

Bergerac has also announced new, twice-weekly Ryanair flights to Porto in Portugal, which means that there are now 280,000 seats available to or from the airport this year. The airport is well aware that not all of these will be filled, and the final figures will still be well down on the 2019 passenger numbers of 285,000. Compared to 2021, however, when just 70,000 passed through the terminal, airport management have good reason to celebrate.

The story is a similar one a few hours drive north at Limoges airport, which has also seen a large uptick in passenger numbers, new routes opening and even the arrival of a new airline in the form of EasyJet. From May 1st, the orange planes will be flying from the Limousin for the first time, offering three flights a week to London Gatwick (Tuesdays, Thursdays & Sundays) - flights that will surely appeal to those of us with friends or family south of Lon-

Dordogne vineyard owner sanctioned by UK over Russia links

T don.

Not to be outdone by their rivals, Ryanair has added a sixth destination from Limoges-Bellegarde: the Moroccan capital Marrakesh. The Moroccan Consul was in attendance recently to officially unveil the new line as one hundred passengers queued to board the inaugural flight.

The moment was an important one for the association Marocains résidents à l’étranger (MRE), who have been lobbying for links to the North African country for a number of years. Limoges has a substantial Moroccan population and the vice-president of the MRE was understandably upbeat.

“This is just the beginning, we hope that new destinations will be added in the coming years, hopefully to Fez and Casablanca.”

The airport estimates that 40,000 people will travel on this new line by October. As well as serving the local expat population, Morocco is becoming an increasingly popular destination for summer sun for French tourists. ■

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he vineyards around Bergerac have an impressive and growing reputation, and have also attracted much foreign investment over the last few decades. One such property was in the headlines recently when the owner of Château Thénac, near Sigoulès to the south of Bergerac, appeared on a UK sanctions list for his involvement with Putin's regime.

The prized vines are owned by Eugene Shvidler, a billionaire and former business partner of Roman Abramovich, who made his fortune during the privatisation of the Russian oil industry. His inclusion on the UK's sanctions list is slightly controversial, however, as Russian-born Shvidler has both British and American citizenship, but claims to have never held a Russian passport. He also says he has retired from business.

The UK government said Shvidler, whose fortune is valued at $1.6 billion by Forbes, was a “longstanding business partner” of Abramovich, and that through his shares in the oligarch’s Evraz metals and mining business, he had “been involved in obtaining a benefit from or supporting the government of Russia”. Authorities also said they had impounded a Bombardier Global 6500 private jet at Farnborough airport which is believed to be linked to the oligarch.

The EU did not initially replicate the UK's stance and add Shvidler to its own sanctions list, but there has been understandable concern for the future of the vineyard and its 15-or-so employees. When approached for comment by Sud Ouest, the vineyard's director simply said: “I have no specific information for the time being.” ■

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Macron re-elected with victory over Le Pen supporters of the far left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who came third in the first round with 22% of the vote.

However, despite being sworn enemies of the far right, many Mélenchon voters could still not bring themselves to vote for Macron in a two-horse race.

The result of this conflict between opposition to the far right and a disdain for Macron was a 22% abstention rate – the highest rate since 1969 - and more than 3 million spoiled ballots, meaning the victory is far from a resounding mandate for the current president. When making his victory speech, Macron acknowledged the high levels of discontent from both the right and left of his centre-right voting bloc, and vowed to be a “the president of all of us”, insisting he would respond “efficiently” to the “anger and disagreement” of a divided public.

“I know that a number of French people have voted for me today, not to support my ideas but to stop the ideas of the far right,” he told celebrating crowds gathered under the Eiffel Tower. He also called on supporters to be “kind and respectful” to others, because the country was riven by “so much doubt, so much division”. “I am no longer the candidate of one camp, but the president of all. I know that for many of our compatriots who chose the extreme right, the anger and disagreements that led them to vote for that way must also be answered. This will be my responsibility and that of those around me.”

Elsewhere in Europe, Macron's victory was hailed as a rejection of the far right and EU leaders hailed the result as a major victory for the European project. “Bravo Emmanuel. In this turbulent period, we need a solid Europe and a France totally committed to a more sovereign and more strategic European Union,” tweeted the president of the European Council, Charles Michel. The European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, said: “I am delighted to be able to continue our excellent cooperation.”

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, said French voters had delivered “a strong message in favour of Europe”. A visit to Berlin to see Scholz was widely predicted to be Macron’s first foreign trip as president.

Several polls predicted that the run-off would be a tight affair, but as the second round of voting approached, public opinion swung significantly towards the current president. This was down in no small part to the ongoing war in Ukraine and opponents focusing on Le Pen's close ties with the Kremlin. Macron accused Le Pen of being financially “dependent” on Vladimir Putin after she

Credit: Nathanael Mergui (Flickr)

>> continued from pg 1

took out a Russian loan for her party in 2014, and said her ties to Russia meant she would have been a dangerous choice at a time of war with Russia in Europe. Le Pen countered these attacks by saying “fear was the only argument Macron has left”, but it would appear that voters were concerned enough over her Russian links.

Despite his victory, Macron faces an immediate challenge in the form of next month's parliamentary elections where there will be more options for voters who are much more likely to pick their preferred candidate on policy alone rather than voting tactically. As a result, French governments are often formed from coalitions of different parties, known as “cohabitation”, and when this happens the Prime minister is usually chosen from the party with the most MPs. There is a strong possibility that Macron's LREM party will not win a majority, or even be the largest party, and Mélenchon has stated he believes his La France insoumise party can win enough votes to put him in the running for Prime Minister.

One solution could be for Emmanuel Macron to create a new political party in the coming days, much as he did five years ago. His La République en Marche party was formed just months before he launched his presidential

campaign but went on to win a huge parliamentary majority. The two “traditional” parties of government - the left-of-centre Parti socialiste (PS) and right-of centre Les Républicains (LR) - were virtually non-existent in the first round of the presidential elections, each gaining less than 5% for their candidate. Macron's LREM party has secured the centre ground from both parties, but they both also lost significant numbers of voters to candidates politically further to the left and right respectively.

Prior to the first round of voting, the PS had already splintered with prominent Socialist figures forming a new, more moderate party called the Fédération progressiste, which has aligned itself with Macron. It is possible that the president could again rebrand his party to encompass this group, and try to bring on board the more moderate wing of the centre-right LR. The president has been at pains to insist that he will listen the public's concerns and govern in a less technocratic, aloof manner. He has also pledged to push ahead with a series of unpopular, but in his view essential, reforms such as raising the age of retirement to 65. How his party fares in next month's parliamentary elections will determine just how realistic his ambitions are. ■

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Votes For Life bill finally passed by UK

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very expat will soon have the right to vote in British elections after the Conservative Party finally made good on successive manifesto pledges to restore so-called “Votes for Life”. Under existing rules, any British citizen living outside of the United Kingdom for more than 15 years loses their right to vote. Although campaigners have been fighting for changes to this law for decades, the situation was brought into sharp focus by the Brexit referendum, where a significant number of expats - arguably those most affected by the outcome - were unable to vote.

Removal of the 15-year rule has been a campaign pledge of successive Conservative governments, but due to the complexities of parliamentary cycles, bills including the changes have never passed; any legislation that has not received Royal Assent when parliament is prorogued and a new session begins, is dropped and must be put forward again. On this occasion, the changes were part of the much larger Elections Bill, which contains wider electoral reforms key to the Conservative agenda.

This controversial bill passed through the House of Lords in early April and received Royal Assent in the days before parliament was prorogued on 28th April.

The moment is a particularly sweet one for expat campaigner Harry Shindler, who has been fighting for voting rights for nearly two decades. “I’ve been campaigning for this for the last 18 years. And al-

though it has to go back to the House of Commons, it’s now as good as a done deed,” the tireless 100-year-old campaigner said after the bill passed through the House of Lords. “This is an historic moment and Britons all over the world will be celebrating.”

Having officially become law, all British citizens living overseas who have been previously been resident in the UK, will now be able to cast a vote in elections.

Whitehall has indicated that the practical changes now required to implement these rules could come into effect in time for the next General Election, scheduled for 2024.

In addition, the new rules are expected to mean overseas residents can stay on the UK Electoral Roll longer without renewing their information - once every three years, rather than annually. Furthermore, voters will be able to reapply for a postal vote or refresh their proxy vote at the same time as renewing their voter registration.

There had been fears that Votes for Life could again fall due to being wrapped up in the controversial Elections Bill. While campaigners are understandably delighted that as many as 3 million expats around the world will now have the right to vote for life restored, they are angry that it is being pushed through alongside controversial new rules which will require voter ID at polling stations.

Opponents argue that this move is designed to make it harder for already marginalised people to vote and could disfran-

chise younger and poorer voters who do not necessarily have a passport or driving licence. “This bill contains measures that appear to be designed to make it harder for certain groups of the UK population to vote,” a spokesperson for campaign group British in Europe said previously. “Getting our vote back matters hugely: but not at the price of other people’s ability to vote at all.”

In the event, challenges from the Lords were unsuccessful and Liberal Democrat peers also withdrew from attempts to introduce amendments to create “expat MPs” and make overseas voting simpler.

The party had been hoping to introduce

a system similar to that used in France whereby overseas expats vote as a constituency for an MP to represent them in parliament. France currently has 11 such MPs in the lower house representing different geographic areas overseas. There had also been calls to introduce more efficient ways of voting from abroad, such as downloadable ballots, to make sure postal votes get back on time. A major complaint in previous elections was that postal ballots do not arrive overseas with enough time to get them sent back to vote.

Opposition peers have said they will now campaign to get these changes added at a later date. ■

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Perfect storm hits egg producers Gas suppliers hit by rising costs

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ndustry experts have warned that the current bird flu epidemic in France could push the price of many goods even higher in the coming months.

The warning is the latest bit of bad news to hit consumers as a number of factors push up the cost of living.

Wholesale egg prices have already risen by 69% in the last year, and there are fears that the current crisis could see them rise by another 50% by the end of 2022.

When bird flu is detected on a farm, producers are typically forced to cull the entire flock to prevent the disease spreading further.

“About three million hens were slaughtered in the Pays de Loire and other French regions because of bird flu, which corresponds to about 6% of the daily French

iStock

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production,” explained Loïc Coulombel, president of the national union for egg professionals. “So we are down by two and a half million eggs every day, out of 42 million.”

There has been further pressure on egg prices from the increasing price of chicken feed, at least in part due to lower cereal exports as a result of the war in Ukraine.

“Because of the rise in the price of feed, I have no choice but to increase the selling price of my eggs, to be able to keep a margin that allows me to make a living,” confirmed Emilie Deligny, a chicken farmer in Savoie.

Eggs are typically a cheap source of protein in many people's diets and it is estimated that 90% of French people eat eggs at least once a week. ■

hen energy prices surged after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, many households were protected by the government's introduction of a 4% cap on electricity price rises. Those who rely on gas to heat their homes have not been so lucky, however, and there are growing reports of gas companies refusing to renew customers on fixed price contracts and forcing them to take new, far more expensive, contracts elsewhere.

“They have confirmed that from May 1st, I will not have any more gas in my house,” confirmed one consumer whose house runs entirely on mains gas, speaking to France Bleu.

“They just said that they could no longer supply me at the agreed price.”

“Normally, gas and electricity suppliers buy in advance,” explained François Carlier, a spokesperson for

the consumer group CLCV. “Some do not, and when prices rise, the system breaks down. Given that they have not taken the precaution to cover themselves, if they continue to provide gas, they will actually lose a huge amount of money.”

With prices soaring and half a dozen energy suppliers already going under, it is not a good time to be negotiating a new contract and those being forced to change suppliers are facing a significant increase in their bills. For Patricia, the increase is €600 per year.

“It is important that you use a price comparison site, and try to find a deal that is not too expensive, but also from one of the big names in the industry,” urged François Carlier. “We currently have 40 electricity and gas suppliers in the market, but I know very well that a number of them are not particularly stable financially.” ■

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Traditional stone terraced property in the centre of the medieval town of Belvès. Kitchen with log burner, sitting room, 2 bedrooms and potential for development to increase living space.

Just outside Sarlat, a living room, separate kitchen, 2 bedrooms and bathroom on the ground floor and 3 ensuite bedrooms on the first floor. Outside, a pool and integral garage/cellar.

Taux d’honoraires 5,600€ (8%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 18,000€ (6%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Ref: 10043-STC 420,000 € HAI DPE: N/A

Ref: 8768-STC 682,500 € HAI DPE: E

4-bed stone house with studio, ideal for large family or tourist activity, a few kms from Beynac castle and the river. Full of original features: fireplaces, stone walls and beams throughout.

3 separate gîtes, total of 6 bedrooms, 10m x 5m pool, owners' accommodation and the ability to expand through further converting the attached barn of 150m2 or the open séchoir.

Taux d’honoraires 23,774€ (6%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 32,500€ (5%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

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Ref: 9835-VI 316,000 € HAI DPE: C

Ref: 9826-MO 525,000 € HAI DPE: Vierge

Large stone renovated house full of character. Offering 6 large bedrooms and spacious living space plus well-established garden of ½ acre. A beautiful, bright property in a charming bastide town.

Wonderful stone hilltop farm with fantastic views offering a 2-bed main house, a 2-bed gite, and separate studio. Set on 26 ha with two attached stone barns, stable block & 3 tobacco barns.

Beautiful 3-bedroom property, near a village with all amenities, full of character and fully renovated. The rooms are light and airy and there is a small outdoor space used for eating.

Taux d’honoraires 20,673€ (7%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 25,000€ (5%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 9,200€ (8%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Ref: 9961-EY 159,000 € HAI DPE: Vierge

Ref: 8868-MO 344,000 € HAI

DPE: B

Ref: 10047-EY 124,200 € HAI

DPE: Vierge

Ref: 10011-VI 168,540 € HAI DPE: D

Lovely village house with 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms, set over 2 floors, with an enclosed garden of ≈¼ acre, with large terrace. Could be expanded on ground floor to create separate self-contained annex.

Quiet location for this contemporary 3-bed house, built with traditional carpentry, set in 1.25 acres of fenced garden with pool.

Attached garage, workshop, utility and pool room with shower.

Recently redecorated town house with a fenced garden of nearly 1 acre. 2 bedrooms on ground floor and a 3rd (unheated) in the basement plus sitting room and a balcony to enjoy the stunning views

Taux d’honoraires 9,000€ (6%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 19,500€ (6%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

Taux d’honoraires 9,540€ (6%) inclus à la charge de l’acquéreur

FRENCH NEWS ♦ 9

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

A

small town 50 km south-west of Paris is at the forefront of a pioneering experiment exploring the potential of organic lighting. Visitors to Rambouillet's vaccination centre have already had their opportunity to sit in the soft blue light of the waiting room, but soon a nearby square will also be lit by living organisms.

The light is provided by bioluminescence, the process where chemical reactions inside an organism generate light. The phenomenon has been observed for thousands of years and most people will be familiar with it through fireflies or angler fish. The soft turquoise glow now lighting the way in Rambouillet comes from a marine bacteria which is collected off the coast of France and is being commercialised by French start-up Glowee.

“Our goal is to change the way in which cities use light,” says Sandra Rey, Glowee's founder. “We want to create an ambiance that better respects citizens, the environment and biodiversity – and to put forward this new philosophy of light as a real alternative.”

Supporters of the new technology argue that the lighting industry has remained largely unchanged since the invention of the lightbulb in 1879. While advances in technology have increased the efficiency of bulbs, and LED lights consume far less energy than traditional ones, they are still powered by electricity, which remains largely generated through burning fossil fuels.

Glowee has developed a liquid raw material that is theoretically endlessly renewable and extremely energy efficient. The bioluminescent microorganisms are cultivated in salt water tanks before being packed into glass tubes. The manufacturing process uses less water than for traditional LED lights and produces far less CO2. Once running, the only electricity they use is to power a small pump that oxygenates the salt water allowing the bacteria to metabolise, and therefore create light. To turn off the lights, you simply turn off the pump and the organisms fall into an anaerobic, dormant, dark, state.

After successfully lighting the vaccination centre's waiting room, Rambouillet has invested €100,000 to turn the town into “a full-scale bioluminescence laboratory” and another, separate, experiment is ongoing at Charles de Gaulle airport. Glowee counts ERDF - the largely state-run company that manages France's electricity grid - among its many backers and is in talks with 40 cities across France, Belgium, Switzerland and Portugal.

While bioluminescence may be the future of low-impact lighting, not everyone believes that it will replace traditional bulbs any time soon. As well as the technical challenges of the manufacturing process, there is also the narrow environmental window in which the lights will work. “First, you have to feed the bacteria and dilute them as they grow,” explained Carl Johnson, professor of biological

Credit: Glowee

The French town illuminated by life

sciences at Vanderbilt University. “That's not so easy. Also, the phenomenon will be very temperature dependent and I doubt that it will work in the winter. Third, bioluminescence is very dim compared to electrical lighting.

But perhaps they have improved the luminescence intensity.”

So far Glowee says its bacteria can produce an output of brightness of 15 lumens per square metre – not far short of the minimum 25 per square metre it believes is required for safe public lighting in parks and gardens. By comparison, one standard household LED spotlight can produce over 100 lumens per square metre of floor. “We are advancing little by little, but we've made enormous steps

REMOVALS & STORAGE

already and our philosophy of light is a response to the crisis humanity is facing.”

These challenges may ultimately be solved by using chemiluminescence – the production of light from a chemical reaction - which removes the need for living organisms. Glowee is also researching this solution, in which the enzymes which cause light to be created are extracted from the organism and synthesised in the laboratory.

Whatever the future is for low-impact environmentally-friendly lighting, Glowee's founder believes bioluminescence has a role to play. “It can create an ambiance that makes us more respectful citizens, of the environment and of biodiversity.” ■

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10 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

U

nder a collection of anti-waste measures brought into law in 2020, till receipts will no longer automatically be issued in France from next year.

Under the loi anti-gaspillage, consumers can still ask for a receipt, and they will also automatically be printed in certain circumstances, such as for rejected card payments, or where they mention legal guarantees.

A number of large retailers have already brought in voluntary receipts and ask consumers before printing them, but this will become law next year.

“We now know that the 30 billion receipts printed each year in France are the cause of 2.5 million trees being felled and 950 million litres of water being wasted,” Carrefour stated last year when beginning to phase out paper receipts. The Système U group also took similar measures: “For our 1,600 shops, we will save a total of 40,000 kilometres of roll.

Every small gesture adds up to create a significant effect,”

said the retail chain 's director of communications, Thierry Desouches.

The largely uncontroversial change continues a trend that has been going on for years and has been exacerbated by the recent pandemic. In fact, a study carried out by Carrefour in 2021 revealed that customers were surprised that tickets were still being issued for small purchases.

“For many years now, increasing numbers of people make contactless payments and refuse receipts for small purchases. In terms of environmental issues, we often talk about the big projects, but we can also make small, daily changes,” said MP Patricia Mirallès from Macron's LREM party. “We should always leave open the possibility for consumers to have paper receipts, however, and if they were ever banned completely, I would have something to say.”

There have been warnings from consumer groups, however, worried that some people may lose out by not having a

iStock

Paper till receipts to end from next year

physical receipt. While most loyalty card holders can consult previous receipts on their mobile phone app, not everyone is signed up for this – nor scans their card every time - and so risk problems when trying to return or replace faulty goods.

“Receipts remain important as they allow consumers to apply their rights such as reim-

bursements, exchanges or guarantees,” said Matthieu Robin from the UFC-Que Choisir consumer rights group. The organisation has also raised fears that unscrupulous retailers could “accidentally” overcharge customers who absent-mindedly pay by contactless, with the “error” only becoming apparent when the payment appears

on banking apps, often several days later when exact prices may have been forgotten.

It is also possible that retailers will produce another type of paper “proof of purchase” for this reason, a situation which would negate any environmental benefits and which UFCQue Choisir describes as “a snake eating its tail”. ■

FRENCH NEWS ♦ 11

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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Private speed camera cars now operating in Dordogne

T

he Dordogne has become the latest French department to be patrolled by privately owned, unmarked speed camera cars. A fleet of these cars has been operating in neighbouring Haute-Vienne since last summer, but authorities in the Périgord have now confirmed that licences were issued at the start of April for four cars to begin handing out speeding fines on behalf of the State.

There are two main differences between these new, privately owned vehicles and those currently operated by the Gendarmerie.

Firstly, while the police cars are only authorised to work for an hour and three-quarters each day, the private drivers can each work for six hours a day – meaning a fleet of four can theoretically run 24/7. On the flip side, the private cars will be more lenient and will only hand out tickets to those exceeding the current speed limit by more than 10km/h, so only the worst offenders will be punished.

Standard speed cameras have a 5 km/h tolerance on speeds under 100 km/h.

The private vehicles are designed to blend in with normal traffic. They will carry standard local number plates and are typically common models of cars such as a Peugeot 308, Dacia Sandero, Ford Focus or Citroën Berlingo. An assortment of cameras and GPS

equipment allow the cars to calculate the speed of oncoming vehicles, and while the cameras on the dashboard may be visible at close range, by the time you can see them, it will almost certainly be too late if you are speeding. Rear cameras can also catch drivers travelling at excessive speed in the same direction as the camera car.

Opponents claim that the vehicles are just a cash cow for private companies who have no interest in public safety, but a big eye on profits. They fear that once a licence has been issued, nothing can stop these companies targeting wide, straight, fast and relatively safe sections of the road network where they are more likely to silently flash speeding drivers.

As the latest private cars hit the roads locally, authorities have moved to quash a number of these rumours. “The routes operated and their timetables are set by the State in relation to local accident statistics,” explained a spokesperson for the Dordogne prefecture.

“At no point can the private companies, or their drivers, choose their own routes.”

According to the government, the private companies that run the cars are paid for the number of kilometres they drive – a figure that is limited and set in advance – irrespective of the number of fines they hand out. In fact, if they travel too many kilometres, they

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are punished financially. Another fear was that these cars would travel well below the speed limit in order to encourage overtaking, and therefore more fines. In reality, they are required to travel at the mandated speed limit; operators could face a €1,000 fine for failure to observe this rule.

Lottery winner gives away €200 million fortune

I

t is a dream that many people will have had at some point: what would you do with the money if you won the EuroMillions lottery? The answer for one lucky French man who scooped €200 million in December 2020 is to give almost all of it away!

Wanting to remain anonymous, and identified only as “Guy”, the multi-millionaire had initially indicated that he may use much of his fortune for good causes, but in a recent interview with Le Parisien, Guy confirmed that he would be using his winnings to help in the fight against climate change.

“I have already transferred a large portion of my winnings, and will eventually donate almost all of it. We have to act now, it's a real crisis,” the man confirmed. The money has in fact been put into a newly formed charity Anyama, named after a village in the Ivory Coast where Guy lived for several years as a child.

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As with fixed speed cameras, motorists on UK number plates will not be automatically fined by these mobile speed camera cars as cross-border cooperation ended when Britain left the EU. British drivers can still be pulled over by police, however, and handed on-thespot fines for a variety of driving offences. ■

La Conciergerie

One of the first projects Anyama will undertake is the fight to prevent deforestation in West Africa. “If we cut down the forests with heavy machinery, we destroy everything and release huge amounts of carbon dioxide,” Guy said, adding that he one day hoped to acquire and protect “one or more sizeable forests”.

“From my point of view, the priority today is to save the planet, or rather to make sure that we humans can continue to be guests on this beautiful Earth. If we don't do something in this regard soon, everything else will be in vain. Nothing will exist as we will no longer have a habitable planet.”

Guy also said that he does not see his donation as admirable, but simply something which “makes me happy.” “I hope that my actions will be useful and will last for a long time. My foundation is at work, I am alive and well... I feel very fulfilled.” ■

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12 ♦ FRENCH NEWS

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

A

combination of supply issues and panic buying has seen many supermarkets run short of sunflower oil and flour. Sales of cooking oil in April were up 55% on this time last year and are also slightly higher than in the first days of the pandemic when supply fears led many households to stock up on staples.

The current shortages are due in large part to the war in Ukraine; Russia and Ukraine account for around 60% of the world's sunflower oil. Millions of tonnes of oil earmarked for foreign markets remains stuck in Ukrainian ports and retailers have been scrambling to find alternatives. The region is also one of the largest suppliers of cereals to Europe.

“The current situation is creating uncertainty in French households, which have successively undergone an unprecedented pandemic, an unprecedented global recovery, issues with the supply of raw materials, inflation and conflict in the heart of Europe,” global measurement and data analytics company NielsenIQ stated. “We are seeing these tensions translate to purchases in shops.”

Unfortunately for global markets, the war has come hot on the heels of an existing shortage of rapeseed oil follow-

ing a disastrous growing season in Canada last year, when temperatures soared to 50 degrees, greatly reducing yields.

Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay have also warned of poor soy bean oil harvests to come this year after severe drought – the South American countries produce almost 50% of the world's supply – and Indonesia has announced a ban on the export of palm oil. All these factors have combined to reduce supply, increase prices, fuel panic buying and cause worldwide shortages.

The lack of sunflower oil is not just a problem for retailers and supermarket shoppers. As well as being a staple of home cooking, it is used by industry as a key ingredient in hundreds of foods, including crisps, biscuits, fish fingers and mayonnaise.

Following negotiations with the French government, manufacturers have been given a special dispensation to replace sunflower oil with other ingredients such as colza or even palm oil, without having to change ingredient lists printed on packaging. Food manufacturers have a maximum of six months to change the packaging on the products concerned to reflect any change of ingredients.

French nun becomes the world's oldest person

credit: Bigstock

Oil and flour shortages hit supermarkets

From a consumer point of view, the recent rush to stock up on staples may see a subsequent drop in demand over the coming weeks. When stock levels return, consumers may see a different mix of cooking oils as retailers attempt to plug gaps with more soy bean and corn oils, as well as vegetable oil blends made from rapeseed and soy in an attempt to keep prices down as much as possible. ■

Do you own a property that has some historical significance?

A

French nun who recently celebrated her 118th birthday has become the world's oldest person following the death of Japanese woman Kane Tanaka, who died on April 19 aged 119. Sister André, who lives at a retirement home in Toulon in the south of France, recently hit the headlines when she said she was worried she had been “forgotten by God” as she turned 118.

Kane Tanaka was born in 1903, when Theodore Roosevelt was US president and Edward VII was British king. The Wright Brothers carried out the first controlled flight and the Tour de France was staged for the first time. Japan has the most elderly population in the world. More than a quarter of society are aged 65 or over, but a French woman still holds the record for the oldest recorded person in history. The holder of that honour is Jeanne Calment, who died aged 122 in 1997.

Sister André was born as Lucile Randon on February 11 in 1904 in Alès in the Gard department. After converting to Catholicism aged 19,

she spent much of her early life working in hospitals as well as caring for elderly people and orphaned children before entering the orders of the Filles de la Charité. She cites the 1940s, when she worked as an au pair in the capital, as her favourite decade. “I was 40 years old, it was 80 years ago. Paris was of such a magnificent beauty.”

Although she admits to getting a bit grumpier in her old age, she still plans to celebrate her next birthday in the same way as always: with a port and chocolate cocktail! ■

T

he Property Investor Magazine is producing a TV series called Amazing People and Properties and would like to feature properties in the NouvelleAquitaine region that have some connection with history. This can be properties connected to an important moment in history, a movement or a person.

We’re also interested in filming properties close to a unique water feature or connected to an artisan craft.

Series producer Kizzi Nkwocha said: “The Nouvelle-Aquitaine region is an area filled with history, great craftsmanship and incredible properties. We’d like to bring some of these properties to a global audience.”

Amazing People and Properties will - initially - be on YouTube and will be based on people and properties in France. If you would like your property to be featured, please email: wearegamechangers@outlook.com ■

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FRENCH LIFE ♦ 13

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Potatoes - a variety for every occasion with some scorn as a food for poor people.

It was fishermen from the Basque country in Spain with their supply of potatoes for their voyages across the Atlantic in the 16th century, who introduced the tuber to western Ireland where they dropped anchor to dry their cod.

By the end of the 16th century, it was growing widely in Northern France. In his 1774 “Examen chymique des pommes de terres” ("Chemical examination of potatoes"), French physician Antoine Parmentier, who gave his name to the most delicious thick potato soup, demonstrated the potato’s huge nutritious value. King Louis XVI and his court fell for the new vegetable and promoted it enthusiastically, with Queen Marie Antoinette wearing a headdress of potato flowers at a fancy dress ball. By 1815, France’s annual potato crop soared to 21 million hectolitres (1 hectolitre = 100 litres), then in 1840 to 117 million.

They spread at speed across Europe. With the explosion in 1845 of the population in Ireland, the planting of potatoes took up onethird of the land. They became a popular replacement there for their previous cheap stomach fillers, turnip and rutabaga, as they did among the poor across Europe. Other advantages of potatoes were their nutritional value and lower rate of spoilage.

There are almost as many varieties of potato as there are pulses in the legumes and pulses family, with different types pitched at different jobs. With any luck, May will launch the start of the eating outdoors season with barbecues being rolled out when, if it is still a little chilly, people can gather around the flaming stove.

Indoors or out, this recipe makes the most of the humble potato salad. ■ Julia Watson has been a long-time Food Writer for newspapers and magazines in the US and the UK. She writes 'Tabled', a weekly food blog at juliawatson.substack.com

Parker Feierbach (Pinterest)

T

by Julia Watson

he poor benighted potato has generally been treated dismissively as a cheap stomach filler, or a backgrounder to the main event of meat or fish. Yet it’s a vegetable with a remarkably sophisticated history.

It’s believed cultivation of the tuber may have begun 10,000 years ago in South America. However, because potatoes don’t preserve well, physical evidence hasn’t been found that far back, only artistic references on pottery remains so this is conjecture. The earliest actual remains date to 2,500 BC, at Ancón in Peru. That’s where the potato’s domestication is thought to have begun, as well as in Bolivia, between 8,000 and 5,000 BC. This is the time of year to eat them as the delicacies the new season’s potatoes surely are. There is hardly a better treat than the tiny Jersey Royals coming in now, or the new Rattes or other fingerlings, boiled or steamed and eaten just with a thick slice of a good brand of cold butter melting over them like a climate-crisis icecap and a generous grinding of black pepper, with a spring salad on the side. In the winter, is there anything more comforting than a baked potato with a crisp skin, its interior fluffed up with an excess of butter? Present it the American way with fried bacon bits, chopped onion and sour cream instead of butter and you have a meal for the angels.

Evidence of the potato’s first formal arrival in Europe is a receipt dated 28 November 1567 for delivery between the Canary Islands’ Las Palmas and Antwerp. The second piece of evidence - to the British Isles - is between 1588 and 1593, the entry of these potatoes more casual, in the baggage of sailors along with plundered silver and other precious souvenirs. Readily stored, they became useful nourishment on long voyages, which was probably the reason why they were regarded

Ingredients

3 tablespoons mayonnaise

800g new potatoes, scrubbed but not peeled

1 tablespoon horseradish sauce

2 teaspoons wholegrain mustard 2 tablespoons Muscatel or white wine vinegar 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 shallot, very finely chopped

2 tablespoons soured cream Juice of ¼ lemon 2 spring onions, finely sliced on the diagonal 6 rashers of bacon, fried till crisp, drained on paper then crumbled (optional)

Boil the potatoes into a large pan of cold salted water and simmer until tender, about 10 minutes.

Whisk the mustard, vinegar, olive oil and chopped shallot together with a good pinch of salt and a grind of pepper. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, peel if you wish, then halve, quarter or cut them into bite-sized chunks if large.

Toss thoroughly in the mustard dressing until completely coated. Leave to cool completely.

Mix together the mayonnaise, soured cream, lemon juice and horseradish. Once the potatoes are cool, toss them thoroughly in the mayonnaise mixture along with the spring onions.

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14 ♦ FRENCH LIFE

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

The wines of Bergerac - Discovering new wines

his may come as news to many readers but the price of wine is going to rise, not simply because of the rising energy costs that we all face, but because of the Ukraine war. One aspect of this is understandable. Many of the moulds from which wine bottles are made come from Ukraine. Who knew?

Prices are up 60 per cent since the war began and bottles are running short, especially in unusual sizes like half-bottles and half-litres, which are very important to vineyards with a strong restaurant trade. Château de Tiregand has been told there will be no new half-litre bottles until harvest time in autumn.

But the cost of cardboard is also rising sharply, with no obvious explanation why the cartons in which most wines are packed should cost more, except the overall inflationary jump. Coming shortly after the hard frosts of April, which savaged the early growth of wines in much of the wine area (and which really battered St Emilion), this was all deeply depressing.

It must also have been grim for those of you who are gardeners like me. I lost most of my cherry, pear and apple blossom, and much of my wisteria.

But the bad weather seems to be passing. And now the wisteria buds are growing again, my first roses are peeking out and the shady corner is full of the white blossoms of Lily of the Valley.

Many of my winemaking friends are smiling again as the brave little buds battle their way back to life. Since four of the past five years were either disappointing or grim for much of the Bergerac, all are hoping for a decent harvest this year and for the kind of quality that allows the vineyards to produce more and more of their highpriced premium wines like the Grand Millésimes of Château de Tiregand in the Pécharmant.

I was recently lucky enough to have a flight tasting going through the best years of the Millésimes alongside the ordinary Tiregand wines of those years. It was an education to see how much the better wines improved, became more subtle and

more complex, releasing layer after layer of flavour that I had not at first expected.

The reason that I was privileged was that I had a house guest, the legendary Harvey Steiman and his wife Carol. For decades, the managing editor of the phenomenally successful Wine Spectator magazine in the United States, Harvey has been one of the most influential voices in the industry. He was perhaps the first wine writer to recognise the extraordinary quality of the Pinot Noir wines in Oregon on the West Coast, just north of California where he lives. He also was a pioneer in exploring the extraordinary wines that were coming out of Australia and New Zealand in the 1990s.

Harvey and his wife should have been here in the Spring of 2019, but his wife had to undergo a hip operation, then came Covid. Still, they finally made it and we spent some happy days in the vineyards, in great restaurants like the Vieux Logis in Trémolat and in the Auberge Médiévale in Audrix, where I taught Harvey the local custom of making chabrol with the last of his soup. I also enjoyed seeing his slow smile of startled approval as he sniffed at the Piazzetta brothers’ Château Les Brandeaux I had persuaded him to try, cheap as it was. (We both share the view of the immortal Montaigne that it would be a mistake only to drink the greatest wines since without trying the others how would we appreciate the best?)

We had met in San Francisco some years ago when I was on a book tour, pottering around the United States and Canada to promote a new novel, and being asked on college radio stations whether in France we ordered French fries or Freedom fries.

Being interviewed by Harvey in San Francisco was entirely different, informative and interesting.

It was then that I persuaded him to visit us in the Bergerac and try wines that were new to him, like Pécharmant and Rosette.

The most extraordinary moment came when we visited Bruno Bilancini of Château Tirecul La Gravière. We had

SUDOKU - EASY

credit: Martin Walker

T

by Martin Walker

Harvey "making chabrol" - the tradition of adding a small amount of wine to the last of your soup

tasted his dry white wines, his reds, and finally came the moment when we began tasting the great Monbazillacs. We began with Les Pins, his second wine in the category (and 10-12 euros) and Harvey reeled back, stunned. Then we began on the great wines, the Cuvée Madame, the only products of the Bergerac that have ever received the maximum 100 points from Robert Parker.

“Like making love on velvet,” I breathed out, in devout respect.

“While wrapped in silk sheets,” added his wife, Carol.

The day went on, a tour of

the castle of Monbazillac, still under restoration; tasting the excellent wines of the Monbazillac co-operative whose members voluntarily support the great château. Then we visited the Maison des Vins, lunched at L'Imparfait, then Château Bélingard and Jaubertie, whose glorious Cuvée Mirabelle white wine had already seduced us in restaurants.

It is a great pleasure in my life to share my affection and respect for the wines of the Bergerac, in their variety, their differences, and if I can persuade friends with a global reputation for their

SUDOKU - MEDIUM

The solutions to this month’s sudokus can be found on page 21

expertise in wine to respond to my enthusiasm, I am more than content. It is like sharing happiness. Santé. ■ Martin Walker, author of the best-selling ‘Bruno, chief of police’ novels, is a Grand Consul de la Vinée de Bergerac.

Formerly a journalist, he spent 25 years as foreign correspondent for The Guardian and then became editor-in-chief of United Press International. He and his wife Julia have had a home in the Périgord since 1999 and one of his great hobbies is visiting the vineyards of Bergerac.

SUDOKU - HARD

DIRECTORY ♦ 15

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

BUSINESS DIRECTORY Champlong Chatterie

Activites & Leisure

Caring, quiet accommodation just for cats JUNCT 22 off A20, Arnac la Poste

Piano Lessons

Online or in person Kids and adults Experienced teacher with patience English & German spoken For more information please contact:

06 69 15 63 30

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93 Animals & Pets

Alison & Ray

Tel: 05 55 60 27 83

champlongchatterie@gmail.com www.champlongchatterie.com SIRET: 520 896 671 00010

Your dog(s) looked after indoors at our country home with a safe enclosed garden area.

One full acre - fully fenced.

Walked twice a day in local woods and fields.

Must be able to socialise with other dogs.

Free introductory trial: morning or afternoon.

Nr. Châteauneuf-La-Foret, Linards.

30 mins from Limoges airport.

24€ / night 12 € / half day Call Jane:

05 55 00 34 79/06 18 58 93 88 or Emily: 06 71 15 15 65 waggingtails87@hotmail.com Siret: 792 142 341 00017

Tel: 05 55 80 72 83 Mob: 06 33 07 29 72 Email: info@masterplans.eu www.masterplans.eu Siret: 790 016 984 00011

Handholding & Language >> pg 18-19 Health & Beauty >> pg 19 Insurance & Finance >> pg 19 Property Sales & Maintenance >> pg 19 Retail & Commerce >> pg 19 Scrap & Clearance >> pg 20 Support >> pg 20 Transport/Removals/Storage >> pg 20

CARPENTER AND BUILDER QUALITY WORKMANSHIP SINCE 1986

Portfolio available to view at

www.jonesentreprise.com Jeff Jones: 05 55 62 46 21 Mob: 06 38 25 74 62 email: jones23entreprise@orange.fr siret: 810 322 123 00011

Building Services Carpenters/Joiners

CARPENTRY & JOINERY Tim Smith

Darren Piper

SKILLED JOINER

Give us a call or send us an email:

Building Services

•Stairs (can custom build) •Doors •Windows •Fitted Kitchens •Floors (wooden, laminate, etc.)

•Fitted Wardrobes & Cupboards Over 40 years experience

06 04 17 80 93

(NOT KENNELS)

At Masterplans.eu we can help guide you through your planning application in France.

From initial feasibility to completed dossiers.

We will compile all the relevant drawings and complete the necessary paperwork to ensure your application proceeds smoothly.

We are equally at home working with clients here in France or those living abroad.

>> pg 15 >> pg 15 >> pg 15-17 >> pg 17 >> pg 17 >> pg 18 >> pg 18 >> pg 18

Can your business fill this space? sales@thebugle.eu

Dog Guest Home

Activities & Leisure Animals & Pets Building Services Chimney Sweeps Computers, TV & Satellite Food & Drink Garden Services Gifts & Crafts

Building Services Architects/Surveyors CHARTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER

Pre-purchase & Structural Surveys.

Verbal & written reports.

Structural calculations & drawings.

Redevelopment ideas & solutions.

Tim Haw B.Eng C.Eng M.I.Struct.E

FR: 0033 (0)6 52 06 22 79 UK: 0044 (0)7448 466 662

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

ELECTRICIAN/PLUMBER FROM SMALL REPAIRS TO COMPLETE INSTALLATIONS BOILER SERVICING OVER 35 YEARS EXPERIENCE FULLY INSURED - BASED DEPT 23 lorrainemquintana@gmail.com

05 55 62 63 82

siret: 829 638 741 00019

Carpentry &

Qualified craftsman with over 20 years experience running his own business in the UK - Specializing in:  Decking (all shapes and designs)  Renovations, alterations & conversions  Kitchens  Bathrooms Roofs Based in Sigoulès and covering Eymet, Bergerac, Duras & surroundings FREE QUOTES

e: darren.piper@hotmail.com

06 89 18 35 89 Siret: 847 651 072 00013

Carpenter

06 71 00 04 44 see main ad - pg 12

électricité Keith SLOPER

Tel: 05 55 64 94 20 Mob: 07 86 38 09 61 * Qualified electrician * All types of electrical works carried out * Free estimates * Fault finding * Consuel certification arranged * Temporary and permanent EDF supplies arranged * Departments 23 and 87 No Siret: 494 916 760 00015

Will Fit For You:

CALL: 06 80 58 06 08 Siret: 492 869 649 00029

Building Services Electricians & Plumbers CONFORELEC

06 32 81 13 15

All types Best Rates Available Immediately References available Call Mark:

Electrician/Plumber

Siret 798 692 778 00011

see main ad below

06 45 82 34 03

SALAMANDRE

see main ad - pg 12

Carlos

05 55 62 63 82

Entreprise Electricité Générale All aspects of electrical works undertaken Departments 36, 23, 87 & 86 UK / French Satellite and TV Aerial installations Décennale insured

06 16 91 64 67

contact@reactive-resource.com www.reactive-resource.com Siren: 808 481 170

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

Purple Solutions Garden Maintenance Do you have a garden? Home, cottage or holiday home?

Call us on 06 72 87 87 14 or contact us via Facebook or email - Leave details and job description.

Recently re-located to Confolens and looking for customers purplesolutionsgardenmaintenance email: sryanhill@rocketmail.com siret: 825 351 836 00010

16 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

ADVERTORIAL

Beaumont - Neptune kitchens and so much more Who is Beaumont?

What makes you different?

We are a kitchen, bathroom and interior design company based in France. We have been running a Neptune franchise in France for 10 years. Working with Neptune is amazing, they build beautiful kitchens but also now have a wide range of furniture, accessories and fabrics for the whole home.

We offer a design service for either a single room or the whole home including both interior and exterior spaces. We keep the whole design process real and honest.

When we manage to deliver a project where the client walks into their home and they have a huge smile on their face because of how the space is making them feel in that moment, then we’ve done a good job. It’s our job to really listen and I believe that our team does that really well.

Neptune still represents around 80% of our business – it’s just so easy to open their catalogue, pick out your favourites and feel confident that your space will look stunning! We now work with just the right number of handpicked suppliers enabling us to offer a bit more than just Neptune.

We sell Little Greene paint, for example, we also work with a brilliant entrepreneur in the UK for bespoke lighting. We have lots of bathroom furniture options as well as floor and wall tiles and so much more.

Maurice Baynes

PLUMBING & HEATING

Domestic and commercial Bathroom design and installation Heating systems Tiling and full fit out Fully Insured All areas covered mauricepbaynes@gmail.com

Tel: 07 87 01 70 30 siret: 887 841 088 00016

INSTALLATION23 Qualified & specialising in: • Electricity • Plumbing • Small renovations (bathrooms, kitchens, etc.)

Fully registered & insured English & Dutch spoken Based in the east of Creuse Call or email Rob: E: installation23@gmail.com

M: 06 40 56 96 12 Siret: 753 054 030 00014

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

How does a new client get in touch?

They simply need to give us a call or contact us via our website. We are always happy to have a chat and understand the needs of our customers and how we can help. We also have a beautiful showroom in La Creuse where the coffee is always on and we love to welcome people.

Building Services Fosses Septiques

Aquatiris

Ecological Septic Tanks www.aquatiris.fr 06 95 09 13 71 - pg 10

LVL

Les Vidanges Limousines ▪ Emptying septic tanks ▪ Unblocking pipes ▪ Cleaning wells ▪ Group rates available between neighbours Call David - 24/24 7/7

06 49 66 44 25 87800 Jourgnac Siret N° 750 725 780 00019

Davis & Davis

35 years' Experience in Construction, Renovation & Project Management Quality Workmanship Guaranteed Internal/ External Developments Barn conversions, loft conversions, new-build, drylining, plastering, rendering, spray rendering, tiling, installation of kitchens/ bathrooms, painting, carpentry, replacement doors & windows, velux installation, groundworks, landscaping, decking & much more...

No job too big (or small). Give us a call for a free competitive quote.

05 19 03 33 63 / 06 04 13 30 57 email: davis-davis@sfr.fr

Based near Limoges - Covering depts 87, 23 & 19 Siret: 498 203 652 00017

A Horrocks & Son

Steve. JOHNS. SARL

06 26 97 28 54

Planning permission arranged Design and installation Supply and servicing DIY and trade kits Free site visit and devis

05.55.64.11.73 06.70.47.52.96 siret: 824 706 444 00018

WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES

Building Services General

Fosse Septique 23 Fosse Septique Specialists

For more information call 05 55 80 35 53 email info@agencebeaumont.com or visit our website: www.agencebeaumont.com

see main ad below

05 55 37 45 35

wasteremovalmultiservices@gmail.com www.facebook.com/willwhiting87/ siret 532 981 198 00015

The Reclamation Yard Confolens

05 45 30 72 04

see main ad - pg 5

● Renovation

● Machine Cleaning (also terraces)

Dan Dan the odd Job Man!

● Dust Free Sanding

Based near Bergerac General Maintenance - Shelving Woodwork and Carpentry Dry Walling - Small odd Jobs Garden Maintenance

Tel: 06 78 67 02 91 www.oddjobs.fr

• house/barn clearance (pre sale / post sale) • garden/land clearance • dechetterie runs • rubbish removal Specialist equipment available: • tractor with flail mower, rotavator, etc.

• vehicle with 1.5 tonne crane

PARQUET WOOD FLOOR

Building and restoration work

siret: 831 746 193 00018

Is it just Neptune?

Claude Carrelage Professional German tiler Floors, bathrooms, kitchens and terraces.

Renovation and new creations.

Based near Eymet.

Contact via email: claudecarrelage@orange.fr No Siret: 892 041 930 00017

La Noneix

Construction & Property Services

Established, Professional and Personal Building Services. Fully registered with décennale insurance covering all works.

●Renovations ●New builds ●Roofing ●Stonework ●Carpentry ●Ground works

Large or small projects undertaken - please view our website.

Contact: Paul or Joanne Rands

05.55.66.44.06 www.lanoneix.com Paul.rands@orange.fr SIRET: 501 144 596 00019

Dave Cardwell - Builder

05 55 98 24 12

See our Display Ad below Alexander Kopp

07 86 08 87 91

parquetparfait@gmail.com

www.parquet-parfait.fr Siret: 852 127 794 00018

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93 DAVID CARDWELL PROFESSIONAL

BUILDER

Home renovations / Ground works Block works / Verandas, Abris & Terraces Barn doors & Shutters Also available: digger & driver Planning permission assistance and design available HNC and ONC qualified, 15 years experience & 7 in France Based near Lubersac (dept 19) Tel: 05 55 98 24 12 - Mob: 07 82 78 01 31 Email: dave.cardwell@yahoo.co.uk

DIRECTORY ♦ 17

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

Entreprise Hines

Building Services General

Building & Renovation ● Roofing - New & Repairs ● Masonry ● Plastering ● Dry Lining ● Sand Blasting ● Scaffold Hire ● ... and much, much more

Max Huggett

Experienced and fully registered builder with 10 year Décennale Insurance Offering a broad selection of building services in depts. 87, 19 & 23.

From one off installations to complete renovations, construction, decorating, landscaping and ground works.

E: info@maxhuggett.com

T: 05 55 69 37 64 M: 06 86 62 59 37

www.maxhuggett.com

English & French spoken - Siret: 518 511 340 00011

SVH CONSTRUCTION

All building work undertaken No job too small City & Guilds and NVQ Qualified tradesman Over 35 years experience in the construction industry Based in dept. 23

Mob: 07 85 51 42 66 Tel: 05 55 83 04 11

stevehow101@googlemail.com Siret: 848 602 934 00012

Nigel’s Handyman Services Based near Beynac/Sarlat (24)

Garden/General Maintenance, Metal Repairs, Property Maintenance, Small Odd Jobs & General DIY A friendly & experienced service, all enquiries welcome

Tel: 06 02 16 76 37

Email: jillcarney68@aol.co.uk siret 848 588 919 00011

STEVE'S PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Roofing, Building, Renovations, Plastering & stud walls, ... and more!

Fully insured. e: lowe.steven@orange.fr

t: 05 55 50 52 02 m: 07 66 52 33 47 siret: 842 233 108 00013

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93 Managing Editor: Editor-in-Chief: Registered Address: SIRET: Printed by:

40 years qualified experience

05.55.89.69.46 www.entreprisehines.com robert.hines@orange.fr

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

06 34 24 64 11

or find us on Facebook: @angloscaffolding

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

SIRET: 503 169 237 00016

HANDYMAN/DIY Can I help you with those jobs you don't want to do?

• Painting/Decorating • Labouring • Pressure Washing • General DIY No job too small, just give me a call!!

All areas covered - Based nr Aubusson (23)

05 55 83 02 77 / 06 30 90 58 90 jonathanpiddock@orange.fr Siret: 523 955 151 00015

Masonry & More

martin_sprague_1@ hotmail.com SIRET: 531 768 182 00010

Building Services Groundworks RSW Entreprises

Fosse Septiques/Micro stations

05.55.80.00.57

See our Display Ad - pg 4

Building Services Lifts & Scaffolding

Cherry Picker Services

14.5 metres on a van lasout@live.com

Tel: 09 66 03 52 89

Steve Martindale Steve Martindale 19, route de Champagnac 17500 MEUX 514 989 748 00025 Charente Libre, Z.I. No3 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac

All copyright, unless stated otherwise, is reserved to The Bugle.

Reproduction in whole or part of any text without permission is prohibited. Dépôt légal à parution.

Call for a quote Directeur: Rédacteur-en-chef: Siège: SIRET: Imprimé par:

Roofing & Plastering/ Plasterboarding Service

25+ years roofing experience All aspects of roofing, large or small 15+ years experience plastering/boarding Fully registered and insured Trading in France since 2007 Call Mark for a free quotation

05 55 44 71 44 / 06 78 60 96 16 mumford.toiture@gmail.com Siret No. 493 159 412 00011

Your advert here

Can your business fill this space?

06 04 17 80 93

Give us a call or send us an email:

Building Services Painters/Decorators

sales@thebugle.eu

General building Renovation , Roofing Reliable, good quality work 30 years exp Scaffold Hire Martin Sprague

05 55 61 93 07

MUMFORD TOITURE

Nicholas Collyer All aspects of Interior and Exterior decorating

30+ years' experience Spraying service available for large areas

T: 09 88 19 14 05 M: +44 (0)7885 694 313 collyer23360@gmail.com siret: 883 596 157 00015

Building Services Plasterers

Tel: 05 55 62 12 39 Mobile: 06 06 41 10 30

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

www.chauffagebois-limousin.com 05 55 63 72 45 - see ad pg 2

Chimney Sweeping • Flue ways cleared • Birds nests, vermin & debris removed • Smoke evacuation & gas tightness tests • Official certificates of cleaning issued (Certificat de Ramonage)

Siren: 502 409 949

All internal and external works covered Plastering (English and French plaster) Rendering Concreting Floor Screeding Stud Partitioning Lime Mortar Pointing

Ce mensuel a été imprimé sur des papiers produits en France, Espagne, certifiés PEFC 100% FCBA/18-01705.

Taux de fibres recyclées 100%. Emissions GES : 56 gr CO2 eq/ex (données 2020).

Carrefour du Bois Limousin

05 55 63 78 72

French registered plasterer with over 30 years’ experience

Tous droits réservés. Toute reproduction, totale ou partielle, des articles et illustrations du présent numéro est strictement interdite.

Dépôt légal à parution.

Chimney Sweeps & Firewood

www.stovesellers.com

Able Plastering

Steve Martindale Steve Martindale 19, route de Champagnac 17500 MEUX 514 989 748 00025 Charente Libre, Z.I. No3 16340, L’Isle d’Espagnac

06 04 17 80 93

Siret: 527 906 614 00013

La Petite Ramoneur

THE LADY SWEEP Established since 1986

Brush & Vacuum All types of chimney Fully Insured Call Ruth Langston

02 54 31 48 50 06 25 61 84 95 (SMS only) siret 504 218 454 00016

Computers, TV & Satellite Stephen Wisedale

WiFi Anglais

Keeping you connected!

We aim to solve your Internet and Wi-Fi problems… call us now!

Wi-Fi networks for homes, gîtes and small businesses.

Outdoor Wi-Fi 4G Internet

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

Harlequin Satellite TV

English Free to Air Satellite TV... Freesat French Satellite TV... TNT English Subscription TV Full installation service DIY Kits Dishes realigned/upgraded Trouble shooting Covering16, 23, north 24, 36, east 86, & 87

06.06.60.46.97 harlequintv1@gmail.com www.harlequintv.com SIRET: 494.501.067.00016

GOODWIN SATELLITE

SALES & INSTALLATION OF ALL SATELLITE SYSTEMS & AERIALS. FAULT FINDING. Dept 23 & surrounding areas

Tel: 05 55 62 05 61 Mob: 06 52 38 67 65

Email: garygoodwin121@gmail.com siret: 453 067 910 00019

For all your TV and satellite installations and repairs (Sky TV, Internet etc.)

Call Patrice:

06.79.07.91.56

libre.antenne87@gmail.com Fast dependable service Based Séreilhac (87) siret: 353 613 227 00035

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93

CLUBS, CHARITIES & ASSOCIATIONS We have a comprehensive list of local Clubs, Charities & Associations on our website:

www.thebugle.eu/associations.php

If you are a member of an organisation and would like to appear in our listings, please contact notices@thebugle.eu

18 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

ADVERTORIAL

Busting the myths of Assurance Vie Rosemary Sheppard, Senior International Financial Adviser

Food & Drink Les Remparts Fish & Chips

06 73 37 45 01 see main ad - pg 6

Try Something Different

Chez Jacques Marsac (23) • Cosy atmosphere • Speciality Crêpes • Large burger menu • Around 115 single malt whiskies • Selection of bottled British ales • Book corner, pool table • "Mouclade" nights • Curry nights

05 87 40 02 83 closed Wednesdays

British Market Stall facebook.com/britishmarketstall +33 (0)6 79 23 57 09 +33 (0)7 69 14 49 73 see main ad - pg 2

Please mention The Bugle when responding to adverts

Garden Services Simon Thomas

Garden & Pool Maintenance Taking care of your garden all year round Based near Les Eyzies/ Sarlat/Montignac (24) ▪ Lawn mowing ▪ Leaf blowing ▪ Strimming/clearance etc ▪ Pool cleaning and testing All enquiries welcome

Tel: 07 51 23 82 72

Email: stdordogne@gmail.com Siret: 793 744 947 00029

Purple Solutions Garden Maintenance

06 72 87 87 14 see main ad - pg 15

Frederic Jardinage All garden maintenance • hedge cutting • strimming • lawn mowing • seasonal pruning • green waste clearance

Tel: 06 37 97 84 93

Email: packhamfred@gmail.com siret: 881 266 761 00017

What are the principles of an Assurance Vie and how can it help you with your tax planning?

• Your investment is allowed to grow tax free.

• Should you wish to withdraw funds only the part of the withdrawal that is subject to a ‘gain’ will be subject to tax and social charges, as the majority of your withdrawal is classed as return of capital.

• For higher rate taxpayers you can choose to be taxed at the lower rates attributed through the Assurance Vie regime (12.8% in years 1 to 8, plus 17.2% social charges. After year 8, if your net premiums are below €150,000 then you can benefit from a reduced rate of tax at 7.5%) or your nominal rate, so if you are a nil-rate taxpayer then you will have no tax to pay.

• After your 8th year there is a tax-free withdrawal allowance of €4,600 per annum (€9,200 for a joint policy), after which additional withdrawals are taxed as above.

• You can nominate anyone to be a beneficiary of your Assurance Vie and unlike other aspects of inheritance the recipient is entitled to receive the equivalent of

SIMPLY PAYSAGE Un Jardin, Une envie...

C'est Simply

Landscaping and maintenance of garden spaces State diploma 17 years' practical experience Fluent in French and English

If you have any concerns about your current investments and pensions and would like us to review them, contact me today by email Rosemary.sheppard@ blacktowerfm.com or call me on 06 38 86 99 70. Website: www. blacktowerfm.com This communication is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment

Give us a call or send us an email:

Tel: 06 50 57 86 77 Siret: 797 470 903 00031

Team Jardin www.teamjardin.fr

Reliable, professional and friendly garden services.

Garden Maintenance. Land Clearance.

Garden Construction.

Bespoke long-term maintenance plans.

Tel: 05 55 37 18 03 Mob: 06 33 66 17 45 e-mail: darren@teamjardin.fr Siret No. 752 549 907 00018

All year round maintenance and landscaping

Grass cutting.

20 years' experience.

Own equipment supplied.

No job too big or small. Dept 23.

Please call 07 89 01 96 67 or +44 (0)7512 727 282 email jane.hardman@orange.fr

€152,500 tax free, with anything over this taxed at a rate of 20%. This means that anyone who is not a blood relative or spouse (step-children, non-married partners or friends) will not be subject to the usual 60% Inheritance Tax. (Different amounts apply if initial investment is made when you are over the age of 70.)

• Savings can be kept in sterling, or be made in Euros or US dollars and can currently be ported back to the UK should you return in the future.

• You can have a choice of investment options to suit your specific requirements and level of risk, which can be altered as your needs change.

• Assurance Vie policies are exempt from Wealth Tax.

Can your business fill this space? sales@thebugle.eu

06 04 17 80 93

Tel: 06 38 86 99 70 rosemary.sheppard@blacktowerfm.com www.blacktowerfm.com recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity.

Blacktower Insurance Agents & Advisors Ltd is regulated in Cyprus by the Insurance Companies Control Service and registered with ORIAS in France. Blacktower Financial Management (Cyprus) Ltd is regulated in Cyprus by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission and is registered with the AMF in France.

Handholding & Language Services FRENCH LESSONS Via Skype

with a native French speaker Why commute? Long distance learning is the answer!

C’est simple, call Sophie...

06 61 56 47 17 scarolinea@yahoo.fr

Gifts & Crafts

Cards et Cartes

Quality English & French greeting cards at low prices SEEDED CARDS ALSO AVAILABLE www.cardsetcartes.com info@cardsetcartes.com Siret No: 508 062 734 00019

siret: 888 464 401 00015

E

ach month I try to think about the questions I’ve been asked about the most recently... or the phrase I say the most. At the moment this seems to be “There are a lot of misconceptions about Assurance Vie...” so let’s start there. A prospective client said it perfectly to me last week: “I have heard bits from friends and people I know in the village and read bits on the internet.

Everyone thinks they are an expert, but I’m still not sure; that’s why I contacted you!”

When it comes to Assurance Vie the principles are straight forward and it is very tax efficient in many ways, as I have discussed in previous articles and re-capped below. What alters with the Assurance Vie is not the product itself, but the individual rules that are applied from the provider/company of the Assurance Vie (I often liken it to a UK Stocks and Shares ISA, in the sense that what the

Assurance Vie does is wrap up your investment in a tax-efficient manner). For example, you can obtain an Assurance Vie from your bank or local insurance company – your bank may put restrictions on withdrawals in the first 2 years vs the insurance company allowing you complete access. There are actually no restrictions on withdrawals within the first 8 years under the principles of the Assurance Vie, unless the individual company you hold your Assurance Vie with applies those restrictions.

Generally, you should look at an Assurance Vie as a medium to longer-term investment as investments can go down, as well as up and some providers have a minimum investment period, or you may be subject to a penalty for early encashment. It is essential that you take proper advice to find the solution that suits your individual needs; what is right for your neighbours and friends may not be the right solution for you.

As an added bonus an International Assurance Vie taken out via Blacktower can be held in GBP, Euros or USD and is portable, so should you move from France in the future your investment doesn’t necessarily have to be cashed in, but can potentially be taken with you.

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93

CONTINUED NEXT PAGE...

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93

DIRECTORY ♦ 19

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

ADVERTORIAL

“SolarVenti”- the solar solution to damp and humidity

A

simple solar energy system that runs on its own, even when you are not there! – And provides a free heat supplement in winter.

The Solarventi air panel was invented more than 20 years ago by Hans Jørgen Christensen, from Aidt Miljø, with the backing of the Danish government. He wanted to use the sun’s energy for airing and ventilation of the thousands of holiday homes on the West coast of Jutland, - houses that were left empty and unheated for long periods - houses with damp problems, mould and bad odours - houses that left their owners with discomfort, lots of work and expense. He wanted a system that would be safe, simple, without the need for radiators, water and/ or mains electricity. Slowly but surely, the first Solarventi

model came together.

How it works The principle behind Solarventi is simple: a small, builtin, solar cell powers a 12V fan that is connected to an air vent, a control unit and an on/ off switch.

Whenever the sun shines, the air in the solar panel is heated and the fan, receiving power from the solar cell, introduces warm, dry air into your home at the rate of 20 to 100 cubic metres per hour.

The initial models were more than capable of keeping the cottages dry (and ventilated), even with the limited sunshine hours available in Denmark during the winter season.

Since that time, the technology has really come along in leaps and bounds. Now, more than 20 years later, the 3rd and 4th

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW

Sympathetic Online French Tuition

Have everything explained by

EVELYNE DROUIN

Effective and fun

water connections and it can be safely left running, even when the property is empty. Solarventi requires no maintenance - if the property is unoccupied during the hot summer months, then it can be left running at low speeds for ventilation and dehumidification purposes or simply switched off.

With a range of panel sizes, and the option for wall or roof mounting, Solarventi is suitable for all types of buildings, caravans or even boats!!

Following the patenting of its design in 2001, Solarventi has only recently been actively commercialized. Over the last six years, Solarventi units have been installed in more than 24 countries and demand is increasing rapidly. From Greenland to Australia, Solarventi is finally getting the recognition it deserves. ■

Property Sales & Maintenance

(fully bilingual)

I offer weekly small group lessons at a level to suit you. My priority is to help you gain confidence in speaking and understanding French. My teaching in now only online, but students' progress has been impressive.

Time to save your place for September

Healthcare specialist: Mutuelle cover for individuals and businesses

35% off all new mutuelle top-up policies Ask me about FUNERAL COVER

siret: 490 323 243 00025

Email: homer.jennifer@gmail.com

A DIY Solution?

The installation process is very straightforward and should only take two or three hours. All that is needed is a drill, hammer and chisel to make a hole in the wall. Roof installations are also possible. In fact, the Solarventi was originally designed to be a DIY product - in Scandinavia it still is.

There are no electrical or

FRENCH HEALTHCARE

Jenny Homer BA Hons, PGCE

Stuck for a gift for a friend, your family or yourself?

Vouchers from €15.

generation Solarventi have exceeded all expectations.

In Southern Europe, Solarventi is not only used for ventilation/dehumidification purposes; with far more winter sunshine hours, it also provides a substantial heating supplement. Several technical and governmental studies show that incoming air temperature can be increased by as much as 40°C.

https://homerjennifer.wixsite.com/website

Contact Evelyn, your Englishspeaking advisor, for information: email: evelyne.drouin@axa.fr tel : 06 76 46 13 43

Your advert here 06 04 17 80 93 Insurance & Finance Health & Beauty

Blacktower

Financial Managment Group

Rosemary Sheppard 06 38 86 99 70 - pg 3

Covering all of La Creuse!

Taxation Specialists Ltd

06 15 78 18 04- pg 11

French & UK tax returns - see pg 6

Chez Boutique

The Spectrum IFA Group

05.55.60.08.46

International Financial Adviser

Mobile hairdresser Call Teddy:

Formerly La Petite Place See our Display Ad - pg 12

www.taxspec.com

Tony Farrell

05 49 91 20 57 - see pg 5

For enquiries north of the A89 contact Arthur Smith on 06.06.60.46.97 ...and enquiries south of the A89 contact Alan Lawson on 07.81.41.55.66

Agence Eleonor

Offices in Eymet, Villeréal, St. Cyprien, Monpazier, Bergerac, Lalinde and Issigeac

www.agence-eleonor.com see main ad - pg 8

Houses on Internet Sell to buyers worldwide

LEGGETT IMMOBILIER

see main ad - pg 5

see main ad - pg 7 & 13

www.housesoninternet.com

Cendrillon 06 83 66 83 09

www.marcdeschamps.com see main ad - pg 12

Creuse Property Care

Caring for your home in France when you can’t be there

Garden & Pool Maintenance General Maintenance & Small Renovation work including plasterboarding, tiling, painting, etc.

Changeovers/House Cleaning Ad-hoc Assistance References available Contact Mark or Trudy...

T: 05 55 67 90 47 / P: 06 40 75 74 47 E: marktrudy0506@gmail.com W: www.creusepropertycare.com

05 53 60 84 88

www.leggettfrance.com

Can your business fill this space?

Give us a call or send us an email: sales@thebugle.eu

All Property Diagnostics for Sales/Rentals Energy Performance (DPE), Asbestos, Lead, Electricity, Gas, Termites, Risks/Pollution, Measurements Fluent English speaking.

Technical comments and advice possible Contact : 06 28 94 24 00 or philippe.andre@diagamter.com See our references on:

www.diagamter.com

Arcad'Immo 05 53 27 14 34

06 04 17 80 93 Retail & Commerce

bookstop English second-hand books Tea room Art exhibitions

09 51 45 57 49

www.arcadimmo.com

Siret: 479 965 758 00028

see main ad - pg 2

bookstop24@gmail.com facebook.com/bookstop24 19 rue Victor Hugo, 24310 Brantôme

'Gite and Tidy'

La Conciergerie

Beaumont

Property management All properties looked after, main residences, holiday homes & gîtes.

Changeovers, cleaning, tidy ups, maintenance, gardening, swimming pools, etc.

Single or regular visits.

House and Barn clearances.

Oradour-sur-Vayres (87150).

Fully insured - references available.

www.giteandtidy.com 05 44 20 21 77 (Home) 06 06 40 81 07 (Portable) Siret 530 213 644 00012

Taking care of your home all year round providing you with a wintering service, managing your summer rentals or organising a happy holiday for you.

www.laconciergerie-housekeeping.com

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

Beaux Villages Immobilier www.beauxvillages.com

Freephone: 08 05 69 23 23 see main ad - pg 10

Cuisines - Intérieurs - Desig

www.agencebeaumont.com see main ad - pg 4

Stove Sellers www.stovesellers.com 05.55.63.78.72

See our Display Ad - pg 3

Fabrica

Mobilier - Cuisines - Décoration www.fabrica.boutique see main ad - pg 11

To advertise in The Bugle Business Directory, call 06 04 17 80 93

20 ♦ DIRECTORY

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

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

Alternatively, why not spotlight your business with an Advertorial, available from 1/6 Page (€50 HT) up to Full Page (€300 HT).

Both Directory Adverts and Advertorials represent a cost effective way to put your brand in front of 75,000 pairs of eyes each month!!

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

6-Month Contract

12-Month Contract

Small b&w Directory Ad

€100

€150

Large b&w Directory Ad

€130

€195

Small Colour Directory Ad

€140

€210

Large Colour Directory Ad

€180

€270

All prices exclude TVA (20%)

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

30 words max

Directory Advertising is available either in black and white or colour, and in either small (30 words max) or large (45 words max) format.

Directory adverts may only contain text (small logos may be allowed when supplied). The minimum contract length is 6 months.

Advertising is payable on publication. All prices are HT.

Scrap & Clearance

Your advert here

Cash paid for scrap 06 04 17 80 93 All Limousin covered

Anything considered Any quantity

Tel: 05 55 37 45 35 Mob: 06 74 21 47 71 www.facebook.com/willwhiting87/ siret 532 981 198 00015

House and Barn Clearances

OLD'S HEIGHT

Genuine/Reliable/Honest Fast & efficient service All areas covered

Antiquités agricoles

05 44 20 21 77 06 06 40 81 07

inc. Junque and Disorderly

I will buy just about anything in your barn: agricultural machinery, cars,motorbikes, lorries, pushbikes, old wrought ironwork, oil cans, signs, timberwork and doors... in fact, anything!! Just think... that rubbish could earn you cash!!

CALL: 0633 847 699 in rust we trust siret: 511 127 763 00015

www.frenchvanman.eu Siret 530 213 644 00012

sales@thebugle.eu 06 04 17 80 93

Support

Transport, Removals & Storage

SOS Help

anxious? stressed? feeling down? call us up!

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

www.soshelpline.org

Can your business fill this space?

Central France Storage

www.centralfrancestorage.com Dry, safe & secure storage Brexit Busting Prices!!

Vehicle storage options We also do internal moves!

14.5m cherry picker available

Tel: 09 66 03 52 89 Email: lasout@live.com siret: 494 123 847 00019

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

French Registered, Professional, Friendly Service.

+33 (0)6 73 96 38 39

www.dordognestoragesolutions.com siret: 801 146 325 00015

Franklins Removals

A family business offering a quality, professional service since 1985

Give us a call or send us an email:

www.buggscarhire.com see main ad - pg 9 & 12

Contact Stephen or Ben: 0044 121 353 7263 sales@franklinsremovals.co.uk www.franklinsremovals.co.uk see main ad - pg 3

sales@thebugle.eu

Transition Removals

Watson European

www.transitionremovals.net

www.watsoneuropean.co.uk

Buggs Car Hire Bergerac & Limoges Airports

06 04 17 80 93

(+33) 05 55 34 19 46 see main ad - pg 5

International Removals see main ad - pg 9

SALES@THEBUGLE.EU

06 04 17 80 93

COMMUNITY ♦ 21

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

CANCER SUPPORT FRANCE Charente Plus

Les petits jardiniers du Limousin

We are a gardening association based in the Mairie at St. Amand le Petit, between Eymoutiers and Peyrat le Château.

We hold monthly meetings on the third Thursday of the month, starting at 2.30 pm. Meetings are held in English, but we can also present topics in French. We have lots of different nationalities amongst our members. Our aim is to provide and promote opportunities for people to develop their interest and knowledge in horticulture and gardening and related topics in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. In-house workshop meetings, external speakers and visits are on our agenda.

During Covid-19, we were not been able to have meetings and kept in touch with members and friends via Facebook.

This has become a very popular feature so do have a look at our Facebook page, "Les petits jardiniers du Limousin", where people post photos of their garden, ask questions, share information and keep in contact on a casual, friendly basis.

Our meeting agenda remains subject to any Covid-19 regulations and restrictions in place at that time:

19 May 16 Jun 21 Jul 18 Aug

2022 Visit to Cité des Insectes Visit to Custos Apium Permaculture Car rally followed by lunch

04 Sep 20 Oct 24 Nov 08 Dec

Free confidential support for Englishspeaking people touched by cancer Volunteers & Active Listeners needed (full training will be given) If you are interested please email: bloomdenis@outlook.com

CSF 24 HOUR HELPLINE - 0800 24 02 00 email: csfcharenteplus@gmail.com Facebook : Cancer Support France - Charente-Plus

Cancer Support Haute-Vienne

Annual Show AGM followed by 'House Plants' Upcycling in the Garden Christmas Party

affiliated to

Your local Association supporting English speakers touched by cancer in departments 87, 23, 19 & 36

Members and supporters of our Association will receive emails about forthcoming meetings. If you would like to be on our mailing list then please email me with your name and email address. I shall be very happy to add you to the list and you will receive all future notifications. In the meantime... happy gardening.

For any further information contact Carolyn at pjlimousin@gmail.com

HELPLINE 0800 240 200 www.cshautevienne.org

Cancer Support Haute-Vienne are having a Repas soirée musicale on Saturday 21st May from 19h00 at Chez Julie 87360 Azat Le Ris. Tickets cost 18 euros per person.

Menu: Starter - charcuterie, camembert with salade piémontaise; Main course - steak and chips with pepper or blue cheese sauce; Dessert - ice-cream. Vegetarian option available upon request. The group Connect 4 will be playing 60s and 70s music.

To book ring Karen on 05 55 68 64 43 or email treasurer@cshautevienne.org

Indoor Short Mat Bowls

Izard

If you're a beginner or seasoned player come and join in with a friendly club where you'll get a warm welcome.

This is 6-year-old Izard, who was originally only supposed to be at the refuge for a short stay whilst his owner was in hospital for an operation. However sadly, following the operation, his owner then decided he didn't want to take Izard back!

Wednesdays 19:45 Thursdays 9:45 at Cussac gymnasium Please call Peter on 05 55 78 66 45 for more info, email cussacbowlsclub@gmail.com or come along to one of our meetings.

Like all Portugeuse Shepherd dogs (Griffons), Izard is quite a sensitive soul and as a dog that has lived in a house as part of the family for his whole life, he finds himself a bit lost at the refuge.

Izard must have been loved at one time, as this shows in his character and once he gets to know you, he is a very affectionate, happy, cuddly dog. He is well educated, house trained and is used to living with an older dog.

The best home for Izard is one without children and a family that are present during the day. This lovely boy will make a great family pet and it is heartbreaking that his owner just simply abandoned him.

If you think you can help Izard then please contact: SPA de Creuse (Guéret), 21 Le Clocher, 23000 Saint-Sulpice-le Guérétois www.spa-creuse.com - email: spa.gueret@orange.fr

Bowls available for newcomers/visitors

Peyrat Film Club The CINEMA in Peyrat-le-Château, run by the volunteers of the Association Bande Originale, regularly shows VOST films (original version with French subtitles), especially for all the non-French speakers in our region.

In May we will be showing:

The Death of Stalin – Saturday 7th, 17h The Batman – Saturday 14th, 17h Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore – Saturday 21st, 17h The Story of My Wife – Saturday 28 , 17h th

MEDIUM

The Café Franglais Boussac is organised by AIPB (Amitiés Internationales du Pays de Boussac) for its members and the community to help improve their French or English speaking and to enable cultural exchange.

The Café meets on Wednesdays at the Maison des Associations in Boussac from 18.30 until 19:45.

Members can come and go as it suits them. AIPB provide refreshments and snacks.

The Café provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in which members can speak French or English with native speakers. There is no formal teaching.

Tickets from just €3.50!!

See our website for dates & times, etc. http://bandeoriginale.jimdo.com

EASY

Café Franglais, Boussac

HARD

We try to have groups of 6 people: 3 French-speaking and 3 English-speaking.

Date for your diary: Soirée Rock and Fish 'n chips – Sat 14th May at the salle polyvalente in Boussac, 7.30 pm With the group Let's Go 15 euros.

Reservation only. Tel: 06 25 25 37 02.

Visit aipbboussac.org for more information.

22 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

Exhibition - LES BILLANGES (87) Sat 28th to Sun 29th May Exhibition and sale of paintings organised by the Association de Sauvegarde du Patrimoine - Les Billanges in order to raise funds for the restoration of the fortified Norman style church of Les Billanges, which was labelled as an Ancient Monument in 2005 after the discovery of frescoes.

To help the A.S.P.L.B. local artists exhibiting their paintings of various styles have accepted to give part of their benefits to the Association.

We hope many readers of this ad will come and enjoy the event!

Venue: Salle des fêtes - 10 am to 6 pm - Free entry

Concert: ETERNAL TRIANGLE Sunday 29th May, 7:30 pm, Salle des fêtes Villossanges (63) Special concert for the community of Villossanges as part of a tour which also includes concerts at AMR Geneva and the Citadelic Festival in Ghent.

Entry: 8 euros Trevor Watts (Saxophones/Composer) - Veryan Weston (Keyboard) - Jamie Harris (Congas/ Darrabukka) -----------------------------Eternal Triangle play the music of Trevor Watts, compositions originally inspired by rhythmic structures from Africa and South America as well as jazz and European musical forms.

The trio is built on two duos: Veryan and Trevor first played together in Trevor's “Moiré Music” in the early 1980s and since then have had a long collaboration in the 'Dialogues' project where their work as open improvisers was explored together for many years worldwide. The second duo consists of Jamie and Trevor where Jamie was involved in Trevor's 'Celebration Band' in the 2000s and later they were involved in a very successful duo touring worldwide and recording several CDs. The third duo with Veryan and Jamie is yet to be explored!

In July 2021, the three musicians began working together on some beautiful new pieces specifically conceived by Trevor. The development of these compositions, for instance, can happen during rehearsals or during a concert. Any player in the group can discover something new within each piece, and therefore the compositions are ever changing. The strengths of this trio are like the durable and inert strength of a triangle, where each side supports the other - an 'Eternal Triangle'. This is a music with a depth that is both expansive and honest.

Don't miss Cantabile d'Eymet's upcoming concerts on Saturday 4th June at the Église d'Issigeac (20h30) and Sunday 5th June at the Église St Martin d'Eymet (16h).

The programme Under the Italian Sun includes works by Pergolesi, Rossini, Puccini, Marcello, Banchieri, Giardini, De Marzi and Verdi.

Accompanied by the Mascaret Quartet from Bordeaux, Elisabeth Parry on flute and John Alley on keyboard.

Tickets can be purchased in advance for a reduced rate of 12 euros at the Eymet and Issigeac tourist offices.

Tickets on the door cost 15 euros, free for Under 12s.

WHAT’S ON ♦ 23

MAY 2022 ○ THE BUGLE ○ www.thebugle.eu

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday 21st May at 5 pm Piano Recital by Nataša Lipovšek

Programme:

Scarlatti - Sonata in E major, Kp.380, L.23 and Sonata in D major, Kp.492, L.14, Schubert - Impromptu in A flat minor, D899-op.90 No.4, Beethoven - “Appassionata” Sonata in F minor, Op.57, Chopin - Polonaise-Fantasie Op.61, Liszt - “Les jeux d’eaux a la Villa d’Este”, Rachmaninov - Prelude in G major, Op.32 No.5 and Prelude in C sharp minor, Op.3 No.2, Ravel - “Ondine” from “Gaspard de la Nuit” Debussy - “Jardins sur la Pluie” from “Estampes” Nataša Lipovšek, born in London to Yugoslav parents, started her piano studies in Slovenia and then continued at the Royal College in London. She won many prestigious awards, notably the Myra Hess and the Countess of Munster Awards and toured the country in a violin/piano duo with her sister Tatjana, performing in many London venues.

Nataša was a prizewinner at the International New Music Seminar in Darmstadt, the Dudley National Competition and in 1992 the European Chopin Piano Competition in Darmstadt, Germany. She has performed all over Europe, Belgium, Austria, Italy, Cyprus, to glowing reviews. More recently she has played in the Annual Concert Series and Summer Festival in Slovenia. She also gave a recital in Darmstadt on the 20th anniversary of her association with the Chopin Society.

Nataša continues to be a dedicated teacher at the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department, King’s College School for boys and Wimbledon High School for Girls, and at Masterclasses, as well as a soloist and chamber music player.

24 ♦ WHAT’S ON

www.thebugle.eu ○ THE BUGLE ○ MAY 2022

The Bugle Film Club Thursday 12th May

What? Downton Abbey - A New Era Where? Cinéma Sénéchal, 1 rue du Sénéchal, 23000 Guéret When? 18h30, Thursday 12th May How much? JUST €5

(mention The Bugle when purchasing your ticket)

For details of the Cinéma Sénéchal, visit www.cinema-senechal.com Details of each month's screening will be included in The Bugle, but to receive emails about upcoming Film Club nights, please send an email to editor@thebugle.eu quoting “Film Club” in the subject line, and we will add you to our contact list.

(We promise not to send you any spam!!)

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