Articles and Letters France Information

Welcome to France Information web site!

updated 10-02-12

Articles and Readers Letters

Do you have a story to tell? An experience you can share with others? Something amusing about your time in France? Or perhaps a hint or tip to pass on?

We want to know about it and others would to.

So please send us your interesting items and we will publish them HERE!

General letters to the web site can be found here too!

Email www.franceonlinewebsite@gmail.com

Articles so far      Aquitaine Coatings Winter Article      Auto Entrepreneur Info January 2012    Dordogne Cycle Hire Newsletter        Dorothy Race Author

Dunkirk Spirit Competition      Equine Rescue France      Galgos France Rescue      General Letters      George East Author       Guide Dog School Limoges

Gun Ownership and Shooting in France - a book by Alan Pearce      Mobile Phones in France      North Eastern Dordogne Womens Association

Phoenix Association      Pompadour 2011      Pont Lasveyras Memorial Ceremony Beyssenac      Seniors Village Dordogne

The Living Room Celebrates One Year Old!!      Twilight - Retirement Home for Dogs Dordogne      Variety Show Champsac December 2011      Yoga Retreat Gers

General Letters

A CAUTIONARY TALE REGARDING DOUBLE GLAZED WINDOWS

Living as we do in the arctic wastelands of the Northern Dordogne, our commune is twinned with a similarly sized collection of igloos in Greenland, we decided to order some double glazing online using Vial. We were told that the order would take 6 weeks so were delighted when they informed us after 3 weeks that everything was ready for collection.

I duly collected the order and spent a good hour admiring the windows and then picked up the smallest window and placed it over the existing window just to see how it would look. It was very clear that the new window was 3 cm too wide on both sides and the same problem length wise! This has proved to be the case with all the windows and doors.

On taking the windows back we were told that this is standard practice in France and in fairness the Vial magazine warns about the extra widths but their online site does not.

Our experience of French retailing has been pretty negative in general with my wife singing "Sorry seems to be the hardest word" on a regular basis during our shop woes. However, Vial have been helpful and have taken the windows back and we have ordered made to measure replacements. I guess there will be plenty of people who will be aware of the above but sadly for a self confessed DIY numpty if it helps one person from making the same mistake this little tale of woe may prove helpful.

Mike Drake 4th December 2011

OUR FIRST VISIT TO TWILIGHT

Leanne was on a mercy mission and so we spent the morning with Mike learning about the history of the 23 dogs in their care at TWILIGHT.

I had imagined that the dogs would be in an enclosure or similar, but no, they were all there (in the house) to say hello. Good job we are doggy people as it was mass hysteria for a few minutes. Never had 23 dogs greet me with such enthusiasm, they were all so happy to see us it was wonderfully chaotic.

It is quite obvious that Leanne & Mike have taken these amazing animals into their hearts. The dogs have the run of most of the house, and large enclosed grounds.

Listening to some of the life histories was heart breaking, thank goodness there are people like Mike and Leanne to help. Many of these dogs need constant everyday medication and special care.

Unlike most dog charities re homing the animals is not their main objective, they take in older, blind, deaf, badly mis-treated or ill animals, and give them a wonderful home, lots of good food and tons of tender loving care.

We took our van filled with your donations, blankets, towels, old duvets, dog beds etc, Mike told us they also accept food, dry croquettes mainly, but tins are good too.
(I took some dog treats and they loved them).

They also accept used stamps.

We will be doing a fairly regular trip to see them so please keep your generous donations coming in.

The shop is open all day Tuesday to Saturdays 9~6pm.

These dogs really need our help, (Leanne and Mike are also very grateful).

Thank you all so much.

Lynn & Steve

ZEN & The ENGLISH BOOKSHOP
ST SEVERIN
(opposite pharmacie)
16390
05.45.78.13.44

www.zenjewellery.eu www.english-bookshop.eu www.twilightchiens.com

www.galgosfrance.net

Dear Dordogne on Line

We cannot speak more highly of this charitable organisation who do the most amazing work in finding loving and secure homes for these, so often, mistreated/ abused/ abandoned dogs.

Everyone involved works on an entirely voluntary basis and are totally dedicated to the well-being of the dogs.

They seek out and find homes for the dogs throughout Europe and bring them up from Spain.

Their web site is very well set out and easy to navigate.

Having completed an application form, (in English is fine) the response from them is immediate and within a few days you receive an e-mail and then a phone call.

Shirley Richard, who oversees the adoption process, has excellent English, both spoken and written, with wonderful communication skills, and is just a delightful person.

We’ve had two lovely Spanish podencas and are in the process of adopting another through www.galgosfrance.net (having just very sadly lost our lovely 10 year old to cancer).

Not many people outside of Spain are familiar with the breed.

They make lovely pets; are gentle, intelligent and loving.

If anyone would like any information about the breed please don’t hesitate to contact me either by e-mail: gaynor.gunn@gmail.com or by phone 05 53 62 37 52 (leave a message if there’s no reply, I’ll come back to you).

Or contact www.galgosfrance.net direct.

Of course their aim is to find loving homes for the dogs, but that’s not always possible, but, in any event, a donation to help them in their work is always most acceptable.

Thank you for reading this.   As you’ve probably gathered I’m rather passionate about the plight of some of these lovely dogs.

Gaynor Gunn 29th May 2011

Flybe

"Hi there, I no longer live in France but have used Flybe loads of times, and after learning something today, I'm furious at my own stupidity and at how many times I have fallen for their seating charges. It may be only me that has been fooled by the seating options at Flybe, but I suspect not. When you get to the seating page, a red seat is already selected. You are then offered two options. 1. choose new seats or 2. accept seats There is a third entirely invisible option that allows you to 'choose new seats' but then not make a choice, thereby avoiding the seating charge. I thought that the information may be of interest to your readers. Kind regards Jennifer"

18th April 2011

Chimney
"Just a note maybe worthy of a posting - Our regular chimney sweep called the other day, did his work and I was presented with a bill for 130 euros, 70 for the clean and 50 for the "obligatory course of sachets"

Just wondering if anyone else has had this new regulation thrust upon them

Phil & Jane Nicholson

Jane & Phil Nicholson

www.lesbregeres.com
www.theexchangerochechouart.com
www.accommodationrochechouart.com
87600 Rochechouart

Articles

Aquitaine Coatings Winter Article
10th February 2012

We hope you are all coping well with this relentless cold we are having.

When the thaw starts we will certainly be relieved, but spare a thought for the stress and damage that the snow and frost has caused our homes, roofs and walls.

Every day our buildings are bombarded by the ever increasing UV rays of the sun, acid-filled rain, blistering snowstorms, and smog & dirt. The forces of nature will have hit them hard, so now it is the time to think about their protection.

Aquitaine Coatings can not only protect your homes from these elements but also revitalise your roof, walls and patio’s, so they look as good as new.

We have coatings that can Save You Money - Climate Cooler which reflects the suns UV rays and will keep your homes cooler in the summer and also keep your heat in during the winter months, therefore reducing your CO2 emissions.

Isonit Roof Coating which will replace your worn roof surface giving protection from the elements for many years to come, saving you money on replacing your tiles in the future, it will also give a new look to your roof, preventing moss and algae.

We have many more Eco Friendly Coatings available which can be viewed on our comprehensive Website.

All work is Guaranteed A Survey by our Qualified Roofer and Coatings Expert is given along with all our Free Quotation’s.

Please take a look at our website, and if we can provide any further information or advice about our Coatings then we will be happy to help.

www.aquitainecoatings.com

peter.suttill@wanadoo.fr

Auto entrepreneurs!

Please see details below that might concern you this year - 2012!

Actualité de l'auto-entrepreneur Auto-entrepreneur : pénalités encourues en cas de non-déclaration de chiffre d'affaires Rappel : depuis le 1er janvier 2011, l'entrepreneur relevant du régime micro-social doit adresser une déclaration mensuelle ou trimestrielle de son chiffre d'affaires, selon l'échéance qu'il a retenue, même si ce chiffre d'affaires est nul. Un décret fixe à 46 euros pour 2012 le montant des pénalités encourues, à compter du 1er janvier 2012, en cas d'absence de déclaration de CA dans les délais. Par ailleurs, lorsqu'une ou plusieurs déclarations de chiffre d'affaires n'ont pas été effectuées à la dernière date d'exigibilité de l'année civile, les cotisations sont calculées à compter de 2012 à titre forfaitaire et provisoire par les organismes sociaux. Leur base de calcul correspond au chiffre d'affaires maximum réalisable sous le régime fiscal de la micro-entreprise, ramené au trimestre ou au mois en fonction de la périodicité choisie par le déclarant et ce, par déclaration manquante. Pour sanctionner ce manquement, les cotisations ainsi calculées seront majorées de 15 % ou de 5 % selon la périodicité applicable. L'entrepreneur sera informé par lettre recommandée avec accusé de réception des cotisations sociales à payer au titre des déclarations manquantes. Il aura 3 mois pour déclarer son chiffre d'affaires réel et ainsi permettre la régularisation de sa situation. Source : décret n°2011-1973 du 26 décembre 2011, Journal officiel du 28 décembre 2011, p.22 407 http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr

In other words, don't be late with making your declarations even if they are zero!

Why not get an account with net enterprises so that you can do it online.

Get in touch if you need help to getting started.

Link St Yrieix web site

Variety Show Champsac

The theatre group which operates under the umbrella of the Choeur de Lion based in south west Haute Vienne, produced its second variety show in Champsac on 3^rd December 2011.

Directed by Sandra Richardson and compered by Terry Parsons, the show was enthusiastically received by almost a hundred people in the function room of Le Champsac Hotel in Champsac.

Two boisterous musical numbers from Cabaret opened the show. Willkommen and Come to the Cabaret were performed by the whole cast and choir in colourful 1920’s costume and was a pointer to the excellent music, dance and comedy to follow.

We were entertained to a diverse selection of acts including a slick umbrella dance routine set to Singin’ in the Rain, a boisterous comical version of Two Ladies and a hilarious routine of If I were not upon the stage plus music from the Choeur de Lion and the blues trio Strange Brew.

A knock-about routine loosely based on the traditional Mexican Hat Dance and a somewhat risqué musical tale about the pros and cons of booking Cheap Flights added further to the humorous elements of the evening.

Linking the music and dance routines there were sparkling individual presentations by Sandra Richardson performing Victoria Wood’s Fatitude, Hazel Baker reciting Pam Ayres’ Hedgehog, Vicky warning us what she will do when she is old and eccentric and David with a burlesque tale about the Battle of Hastings.

The finale, performed by Terry and Vanessa Parsons plus the whole cast and choir accompanied, as was the case throughout the evening by Sylvia Teale at the piano, took us to Les Miserables and Master of the House, a rousing ending to a thoroughly entertaining evening.

YOU TUBE VIDEO OF THE EVENTS

The Living Room, an intimate and comfortable eatery, bar & events venue celebrated their official opening during September and announced its programme of events for the rest of 2011.

This new venue, situated in Saint Cyr (87310), with free parking 100m away, is also available for private hire for parties, celebrations or as a location for business meetings.

The hosts, Jennie and Granville, offer events tailored to your own special requirements.

The Living Room is tastefully modernised and presents a warm ambiance. It is a perfect place for an evening out with friends or as a meeting place.

Highlights of the programme include a twice monthly Quiz, held on Thursday evenings, where teams compete for “The Living Room Quiz Trophy”- without doubt a quiz with a difference - and a monthly Music Night featuring Motown or Jazz, showcasing local musical talent with vintage video clips shown on a 60” TV screen.

It is also a chance to bring your own vinyl or CDs for a public airing and sharing!

If you’re looking for a great night out then take a look at our forthcoming highlights:

a Race Night (complete with “funny money” and prizes)

a Murder Mystery Experience (the chance to be Columbo or Morse for the evening!)

not forgetting the end of year festivities.

Join us for our Christmas Party on 10th December and our New Year’s Eve celebration on 31st December.

The Living Room is not open every day, however by prior arrangement we will open for any party of 4 or more.

A very warm welcome awaits you!

For all forthcoming events and further info please visit our website

at www.thelivingroomfrance.com or give us a call on 05 55 48 92 37

Seniors Village Dordogne

We own an 1683 estate, a typical “Mas”-square shaped farm with a very large court-yard in a lovely rural setting in Atur. Only 10 minutes south of Perigueux, 5 minutes to shopping centre and access to motorway A89. Not far from Bergerac and Bordeaux airports.

We intend to transform the buildings into a so called Seniors-Village with 9 individual housing–units.

Two separate barns could be converted to a caretakers–home and a communal space.

We intend to make an initial contact with people who might be interested in more information.

Moving to a retirement village is primarily a lifestyle decision.

The benefits can include:

being part of a community enhanced social contact, interaction and companionship, enhanced physical and emotional security, reduced home maintenance and upkeep, easy and cost effective access to services and facilities, assisted access to support and emergency help services and facilities.

A first informal general information afternoon will be organized on

17th of September at 15 hrs.

We are open to all reasonable suggestions.

Please send us an e-mail and we will send you all details.

Carola and Robert van Os visitwithcarola@gmail.com

Dunkirk Spirit - Alan Pearce and our competition

Best-selling author and journalist Alan Pearce explains why he chose to write the first comprehensive novel about the Dunkirk evacuation of May 1940.

A few years ago I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. I was just back from a gruelling year in Afghanistan where I had been the BBC correspondent and I was convalescing from a nasty injury. As a result, I rented a lot of films from my local Blockbuster.

Before long I found myself watching just about every classic British war film. I felt like crying when I sat through Carve Her Name with Pride and I was riveted to my seat by Ice Cold in Alex. Then one day I rented the Ealing ‘classic’ Dunkirk and could not have been more disappointed.

It lacked everything I wanted from these classic films. John Mills and Richard Attenborough did their usual good job but it failed on just about every other level. To get the cast of thousands needed, director Leslie Norman (Barry Norman’s dad) had been obliged to work hand-in-glove with the War Office and they had tampered with the script to such an extent that I sat there cringing. I was not expecting total reality but this was myth-making taken to the extreme. One scene added at the insistence of the War Office has two rescued soldiers looking back out to sea saying, ‘It was shambled but you can’t blame the generals.’ Actually, you could blame the generals.

For many of the British Expeditionary Force, Dunkirk was a total rout with whole units told to fend for themselves, amid cries of ‘every man for himself’. Worst still, the film failed to convey the actual desperation and the thoughts and feelings of the time, when invasion loomed and our Army lay trapped on the beaches of France.

The film had originally been based on the novel The Big Pick-Up by Elleston Trevor. It was a good read but it only followed one small party of men, led by the John Mills character Corporal Tubby Binns, on their way to the coast. But what else happened, I wanted to know? What about the role of the RAF, the Royal Navy, the civilians in their little ships, and the men and women churning out tea and sandwiches for the returning troops?

I had the time and I felt I should redress the balance. Over the next few years, I devoted my life to the story of Dunkirk. I read every official account I could. I studied the Met Office weather reports and tide tables. I even pulled all the news reports and programme schedules from the BBC vaults and weaved those into the story.

One of my greatest discoveries was the Mass-Observation Archive where thousands of war-time diaries had been transcribed along with the conversations of ordinary people who had unwittingly found themselves eavesdropped by under-cover M-O observers. Suddenly, I could tap directly into the thoughts and feelings of the civilians at that critical time. I spent weeks at the Imperial War Museum’s library pouring through after-action reports, official histories and memoirs from both sides, and reading diaries that had not seen the light of day in decades. When I opened the journal of a naval officer who had worked as a beach-master organising the troops onto the boats, I noticed fine yellow sand still resting in the spine. And then I found myself in Belgium tracing the soldiers’ route back through France to the harbour at Dunkirk and the beaches of Bray Dunes. Just outside Wormhoudt, a small village on the road from Cassel to Dunkirk, I came across a renovated barn where members of the SS Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler regiment had herded around 100 men of the The Royal Warwickshire Regiment – along with remnants of The Cheshire Regiment and The Royal Artillery. In that tight space, all but one of the men were massacred with machine-guns and grenades while someone in the dark chanted aloud The Lord’s Prayer. Some historians claim Hitler chose not to crush our Army but let our boys escape so we could reach a negoiated settlement before joining to fight Russia. Contrary to the myths, Dunkirk was as bloody a battle as the British Army had ever fought. Hundreds of British and French soldiers stayed behind in the rear-guard knowing they faced death or years behind the wire so others could get back to Britain and fight on. I now see Dunkirk as the most pivital battle of the whole Second World War. If Hitler had cut off our Army, and the 338,226 men ultimately saved had been slaughtered or interned, there would have been nobody left to fight the Nazi war machine. Our war would have ended there; the Americans would never have joined the conflict in Europe, and life as we know it today would doubtless be very different. All that remained was to work these facts, figures, feelings and personal nightmares into a readable novel; one that covered the home-front as faithfully as the front-line. That took a few years more. This is the result, and it is as truthful and accurate as I can make it. I’ve had reviews on Amazon that describe the book as ‘tragic, gut-wrenching and uplifting’. But one of the greatest compliments came from an American reader who said: ‘To anyone wanting facts, figures and strategy of Dunkirk, pick up an encyclopaedia. For anyone wishing to get the boots on the sand feel of the place, get this book.’

To win a copy of ‘Dunkirk Spirit’, answer the following question correctly and let us know your preferred digital format – Kindle, PDF, ePub, etc.

The official code name for the Dunkirk evacuation was:

(A) Operation Turbine
(B) Operation Dynamo
(C) Operation Mincemeat

Email your answers to dordogneonline@gmail.com to be forwarded to Alan

Closing date: September 30, 2011.

About the Author: Alan Pearce was born in London and has worked as a journalist, broadcaster and author for the past thirty years. A former managing editor at both the International Press Institute and The Phnom Penh Post, and foreign correspondent, he has covered conflicts around the world for a variety of news organisations including Time Magazine, The Times, Sunday Times, Sunday Telegraph, Paris Match, and Sygma Photo News agency. He was injured covering the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 1996 while working as the BBC Afghanistan correspondent.

He is the author of the bestselling Playing it Safe (2008) and Whose Side Are They On? - How Big Brother Government is Ruining Britain (2009).

His latest book ‘Gun Ownership and Shooting in France’ was published in August.

Check out other books by Alan Pearce at www.alanpearce.com

Dordogne Cycle Hire Newsletter August 2011

Hi All,

This being our very first Newsletter we would like to start by saying a HUGE thank you for all your support and enthusiasm for our new venture and special thanks to all those who have kindly linked their website to ours – go to http://www.dordognecyclehire.com/places.html to check if we have your details correct.

We have had lots of cycle hire customers over the last few weeks and fantastic help and support from the tourist offices who have all been really enthusiastic. By far the most popular choice to date has been the Cycling Day Trip option, cycling the Voie Verte from Thiviers to Saint-Pardoux-la-Riviere! Because of this we have decided to enhance our existing service and will be producing a new flyer to make this offer clearer to our customers. For those of you who aren’t familiar with The Voie Verte, it’s a stunning traffic-free byway, passing by the ‘plus beau village’ of Saint-Jean-de-Cole, where incidentally we now have a restaurant offering a free aperitif to our customers (French energy drink!!). Customers can choose to be collected from one of two points en-route at set times and relayed back to their vehicles (some hardy customers have also cycled back to the start point at Thiviers!).

We have other routes and venues to add soon but if you know of any suitable routes for our hybrid bikes near you then please do let us know. We will pop some flyers in the post to you as soon as we can, but in the meantime please tell your clients about this great new service! Details will be available on the website next week, but do give us a call if you would like more details.

We are also looking at ways to improve on our offering to individual gites, and Mike plans to spend any ‘free’ time mapping out easy cycle routes direct from gites – so once again if you think you may be able to help here then please do let us know! We do accept that some areas are just too hilly – but these might come into their own when we add our mountain bike option (for the Autumn/winter/spring seasons we hope – watch this space!).

In the meantime we wish you all a great season, and fingers crossed for a dry and sunny end to August!

Best Regards from Anna and Mike

Dordogne Cycle Hire 0033 (0)637149 380 enquiries@dordognecyclehire.com

www.dordognecyclehire.com

Gun Ownership & Shooting in France

‘To a Brit gun ownership seemed as unlikely as walking on the moon’

When best-selling author Alan Pearce moved to France and wanted to join a gun club he found the process so complicated he almost
gave up.

‘My French was really poor and I had no one to hold my hand and steer me through the seemingly complicated process,’ he says.

But one year on and Pearce has a gun collection that includes a Colt 1911 and an M4 assault-rifle. He has now written a straight-forward guide - Gun Ownership & Shooting in France - which he hopes will help other expats take up one of the most popular sports across the Channel.

‘Actually, the process of gun ownership here is remarkably easy; I just needed some patience and help filling in the forms,’ he says.
‘In all, it took me less than a year to build my gun collection. And, knowing what I now know, it seems only right to pass my knowledge along.’

His short e-book contains everything you need to know to own firearms or take up shooting with details on how to join the three main sports federations – Tir, Ball Trap and Chasse. There are also sections on buying arms, storage and transport, and making your own ammunition, together with links to important documents and websites.

‘Back home in the UK if I declared in polite society my own interest in guns I would get a few askance looks,’ says Pearce who has written a series of books on health and safety madness in Britain. Not so in France where just under a quarter of all households have guns, often between three and four per house, with around 20 million registered firearms in circulation – that’s with a population of 66 million. ‘In France, having a gun is not considered odd,’ he says. ‘So I joined my local gun club. I started off with a simple, inexpensive black powder revolver and now I have a shotgun, a hunting rifle, a semi-automatic assault rifle and a .45ACP handgun.
To me, this seems just as unlikely as walking on the moon.’

Pearce says joining a club helped improve his French. ‘I got the numbers system off pat within a week because everybody at the club talks about calibres, distances and powder weights. I made friends and got to fire their weapons, too. ‘And I was lucky in my choice
of club. Some can be a bit sterile where you just shoot at paper targets at varying distances. Others, like my own, are more anarchic, although just as hot on safety. If I want to drag along a giant refrigerator and blast it to pieces with a shotgun, no one will bat
an eyelid.’

Pearce says his book is a continuing work in progress. E-books can be updated more swiftly and easily than conventional books and it’s hoped to continue to bring out improved editions. ‘So all help, comments and suggestions gratefully received,’ says Pearce.

Gun Ownership & Shooting in France is published on August 10 and is available for all digital e-book readers via Amazon and www.smashwords.com or direct at a discount from his website www.alanpearce.com/gun price Euros 3.99.

Note to editors: to request a review copy in PDF or for Kindle, email: books@alanpearce.com

Galgos France
Association loi 1901
232 av des Landes 47310 Brax

www.galgosfrance.net

Our association’s mission is to rescue “Galgos” dogs from Spain.

They are Spanish Greyhounds raised for hunting who suffer from violence from their owners (hangings, mutilations, blows, etc).

We also rescue any kind of dogs who may need a second chance given by nice a human.

We realized that these dogs mostly coming from Spanish dogs house have negligible chances (to say none) to leave one day their infernal life and its suffering.

We have been set up to give a chance to these dogs, to give them back love & dignity, to save their lives …

See below few pictures of our beloved adopted dogs.

Our mission: Rescue, cure and offer a new life to these Spanish oppressed dogs, providing help and support to Spanish dogs’ houses particularly the most stripped ones.

To be the most efficient in our mission, we need your help, they need your love.

So if like us, you are sensitive to cruelty of the men towards the dogs, join us in our fight against cruelty and engage yourself concretely using the following meanings:

Adoption
Be a host family
Bond
Sponsor
Donating equipments
The financial donation
The carpool
Be the spokesman
Purchase of solidarity

If you are interested by our cause, please click here www.galgosfrance.net to visit our website.

Thank you so much for them

GALGOS FRANCE
1 June 2011

Fund Raising for the Guide Dog School Limoges
17th July 2011

An update on the fundraiser organised by Roger and Christine Thomas

The Fundraiser for The Guide Dogs for The Blind on the 19th June finally reached its conclusion on Friday evening the 8th July when Diana Dabinett, of Galleries Gabriel raffled her portrait of Etoile, painted at the Fundraiser and subsequently mounted and framed for free by Encadrement D'Art, raising 165€. for the fundraiser.

There were a great many very willing helpers for this worthy cause putting in a lot of time effort and planning which paid off with a smooth running afternoon leaving Christine, Etoile and Myself to Mingle whilst the band of helpers ran the show. M. Lémann, The President of the School, with his wife and helpers were representing
The School and two Guide Dogs, Atome and Velvet and trainee Guide Dog Frosky
were also there to support and to ecstatically greet Etoile.

We had a large Vide Grenier thanks to wonderfully generous donations, and supporting artisans who all donated generously to The Fund, and definitely not forgetting the ladies who baked and sold the cakes. Everything went wonderfully well and the weather, though threatening at times, remained good for us.

Etoile picked the numerous winning raffle numbers at the end of the afternoon, and the helpers, who cannot be thanked enough, magically cleared everything away whilst this was happening.

The public were very generous, frequently paying more than asked for things and several personally came to me with generous donations of cash. Many asked if we could make this an annual event, so by popular demand we will do so, but we will need the continued support of the generous public to donate good items to enable us to do this. We certainly hope they will continue to do so.

Etoile is continuing to make good progress with Christine, (they say it takes six months to one year to fully cement the partnership) and this wonderful dog has brought so much to Christine at this difficult time in her life.

We hope the amount of 1,965.00 Euros raised by our Fundraiser demonstrates the esteem in which the Expat community hold Guide Dogs for The Blind, with the Expats and the locals coming out in force to support them with their euros.

There was a Ladies Ascot Day held by Paul Phillips MBE at The Champsac Bar on Friday the 17th June, Etoile, though not a racehorse, put in an appearance, and the evening and the Hosts, Richard and Tina, donated 260.00 euros to the School.

Also The Charente/Limousine/Exchange Christmas Fair on the 27th November is being held this year in support of The Guide Dogs for The Blind School, Landouge, Limoges.

Organised by Roger and Christine Thomas because....................

Many years ago Christine had a large black hole appear in the vision of her left eye. Doctors could not find a cause or do very much to help. All treatment was done as an outpatient and the final result was permanent loss of most of the vision in her left eye.

Move forward to 2007, here in France and it happened again, this time in the right eye and again without warning. Treatment was immediate and intensive as an instant inpatient resulting in saving some of the vision that would have been lost.

Every test in the book was done, but still no cause was found. A further deterioration happened a few weeks later, another rushed stay in hospital, a bit more vision lost.

In 2010 an Opthalmologist at CHU Limoges recommended a Guide Dog and so started the process.

The local pharmacist, Mr. Lagorce, who is a supporter of the Limoges Guide Dogs for the Blind School (Ecole Limousine Chiens Guides d'Aveugles) helped her make the approach, and also the local Social Services lady was, and continues to be, a wonderful help.

Sophie Diodore, one of the Limoges guide dog school trainers, paid a home visit to Christine in June 2010. There followed various assessments and visits, including a two day stay at the school.

In January 2011 Etoile was brought to see Christine for compatibility assessment and happily it was love at first meeting for both of them.

In February Christine had an intensive weeks stay in the School in Landouge, Limoges, and came home with Etoile as her permanent companion.

The School, and in particular Etoiles' trainer, Sophie Diodore, closely and meticulously monitor everything and nothing is too much trouble for any of them. Home visits and regular phone calls to offer help and guidance are the norm.

Christine is their very first English Client, and speaks un peu de français. They all accommodate her, Sophie manages valiantly with her English, Olivier Campistro, who did locomotion training with Christine with her white stick is even more competent in English, (Studied at Oxford University) and Vanessa, the communications officer, does as her job title says, and communicates in perfect English.

A wonderful and dedicated team to whom Christine is extremely grateful.

Article from Le Populair newspaper - please click to enlarge

So please support our Fund Raising event in June Full Information HERE

Programme of Equestrian Events in Pompadour 2011

Once again the spring and summer season approaches with all the equestrian activities in Pompadour. A few notable changes will take place but many of the traditional days remain, as can be seen from the full list of events this year.

This note just highlights a few of the events, and a full list is available elsewhere.

Most notable is probably the transformation of the previous National Donkey Day on 14th July to a 2011 Fête Nationale. The day will still be organised by the Association of Réunir au Pays of St Sornin Lavolps, and there will certainly be donkeys there. But the emphasis is more on the party atmosphere rather than donkeys!! There will be a grand picnic with plenty of opportunities to eat, and regular entertainment throughout the lunch and afternoon. Entry price is but 3€. In the evening the traditional dinner will take place in the Panoramic Restaurant of the Hippodrome from where you have a great view of the late evening fireworks. Pompadour will have its regular funfair and late night open-air dance.

Also organised by Réunir au Pays will be the ever popular Ascension Day (Thursday 2nd June) Rando-Calèche. This year it will start in Pompadour and then enter Concèze for casse-croute, before continuing to the village of Concèze.

This is a good morning walk in one of the local communes followed by a picnic and an afternoon to relax. You can come on foot, in a calèche, with a dog,, a vélo, or even a horse. All are welcome.

A favourite day for many is the Picnic Race Day. This year it will take place on 24 July and it will build on the success of last year with more food outlets.

Following the twinning of the racecourse of Pompadour and Folkestone, a race meeting in July was named Folkestone Day, but no longer. This has now evolved into a more interesting concept with a three nations cross country race, for champion amateur riders from France, Ireland and the UK. This year the race will take place as a part of the Amateur and Ladies Race Day on Sunday 11th September. Other races with the same riders take place in the participating countries.

A big day though is Sunday 15th August (Assumption), which starts with a Mass held before the stand on the racecourse. This is followed by a race meeting in the afternoon with the prestigious Grand Prix de Pompadour, the richest race in the Pompadour calendar. Throughout the day there is also the last day of a three day, high level, show jumping competition.

One of the greatest events of the year is the Grand Week of the Horse (12th-18th September). Over 500 horses will be in Pompadour competing in dressage, show-jumping, and cross country events. Again one of the most charming events is that for mares and foals.

A ‘village’ of shops and cafés will be set up and the whole event is well worth a visit.

For more information see the full list of events and use the contacts as given.

However if all fails then do e-mail us and we shall do our best to help.

Neil Spoonley

sue.neil@orange.fr

A GUIDE TO HORSERACING IN FRANCE

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS FOR 2011 AT POMPADOUR

Pont Lasveyras Memorial Ceremony Beyssenac
        Wednesday 16th February 2011: 15:00 Hrs

Every year on the 16th February some 500 people assemble at the old mill near Pont Lasveyras, or Laveyrat, for a short ceremony to remember a massacre that took place at that spot, on that day, in 1944.

Some 39 died, either killed at the mill or from being deported.

This occasion is an important symbol of the wish of local communities to never see, or hear of, such an atrocity again.

Those of us who now live here can stand alongside those whose families were touched by the massacre, offering our support for the same ends.

The mill has now been acquired by the local communes, turning it into a museum of the Resistance, with the avenue along the river between the Pont and the Mill becoming a memorial walk with educational panels concerning the resistance activities.

The principal ceremony will take place at the impressive Memorial by the Mill at 15:00 hrs.

There is a turning on the right hand side of the road from Pompadour to Payzac, just after Pissac, which leads to the Pont. Many will park at the Pont Lasveyras where fields are available, and then walk to the Memorial, about 600m.

If you wish to attend, do remember to wrap up warm and have good shoes in case it is wet and cold. It is best to arrive before 14.30 hrs to give you time to park and walk to the Memorial area.

In the morning, before

at 10 h 30, placing of wreaths at the monument in the Square of the Croix de Fer at Saint-Yrieix la Perche (Haute-Vienne)

at 11 h 15, placing of wreaths on the tomb of the three unknown maquisards at the new cemetery of Paysac ( Dordogne)

at 11 h 30, placing of wreaths at the monument erected in honour of victims of the Maquis, in front of the Mairie of La Chapelle, in the commune of Savignac-Ledrier ( Dordogne)

We count on your presence to honour the 34 young men executed at the Mill; the 5 dead following deportation; the 7 survivors of deportation and the 3 who escaped the massacre.

Please pass this around to others that you know, and of course everyone is welcome to attend if they wish.

Neil & Sue Spoonley   sue.neil@orange.fr

For details of the actual event in 1944, please e-mail to us for a copy of an article.

Yoga Retreat in

Gers

YOU JUST CAN’T BEAT A RETREAT!

This is the traditionally the time of year when you take stock of your life, looking back at what has gone before and forward to what is to come. Maybe things didn’t turn out quite the way you had planned…Maybe you didn’t have a plan at all! We all get swept along by the tide of events and the desire to please others and often wish we could just take the time to really think and put our lives back on track. So, have you ever thought of going on a retreat to find a place and time to think?

Well, I’ve been talking to Danuta Karpinska of the Radha Caudet Yoga Retreat Centre about her work, the centre and the people who go there.

You may be surprised to learn that there is nothing “New Age” going on at Caudet, it is not full of old hippes and although a lot of Danuta’s guests have practiced yoga before some of them have no experience of it at all. So what brings people to Caudet? There’s the setting, which is just perfect, in the rolling hills of the Gers.    Then Caudet itself, which is a high quality, high comfort haven, lovingly created by Danuta and Steve over the last four years. But Danuta told me that most of her guests come to Caudet because they are driven by a fundamental question, such as “What am I doing with my life?” or “Who am I?” At Caudet you are away from the distractions of everyday life and responsibilities, you’re free to concentrate on yourself, to get in touch with your intuitive side and deal with those questions.   But don’t expect Danuta to give you answers, what she provides are the tools which enable you to find them deep within yourself. “Tools for understanding how your mind works, seeing you have choices and accessing the courage to make those choices”. You don’t come to Caudet to wave your legs around for a day or two, Danuta says “Taking a course here could change your life”.

Danuta has been an instructor of Hatha Yoga for more than 25 years and is dedicated to helping others overcome problems with their lives or their work.   She is a guide to the self-reflective practices of Swami Sivananda Radha, renowned for their crystal clear guidance. You can come for a couple of days or for much longer; everyone is welcome, people of all ages and of all religions and none. Danuta offers a variety of different courses such as Strategies for Life Weekends where you will learn to stretch and flex your body, be aware of your breathing and achieve relaxation. You discover the hidden language of the postures and learn to listen to the messages that your body gives you. You explore the language of your dreams and learn to make your own interpretation, something only you can do. You can try the Steps to Freedom course which lasts five days, this uses the Kundalini system to explore how your mind, body and consciousness work together. You study the symbols which represent the whole of life and find their relationship to your own life and challenges. The insights that you gain will amaze and inspire you to find new direction and purpose. If you’re concerned about your health you might opt for a weekend of healing yoga, Danuta has experience in working with those recovering from illness or injury, from children to seniors.

An option which is particularly popular with Steve and Danuta’s younger guests is to become a Karma Yogi which only costs 30 Euros a day. Karma Yogis participate in the yoga courses but they also help with the work that needs to be done at Caudet. So depending on your skills, you might find yourself helping to prepare meals, working in the garden, repointing a wall or doing something on a computer.   Your work is carried out as an offering, simply because it needs doing and you reflect on the symbolism of what you’re doing and how it applies to other aspects of your life.

Whatever your needs, Danuta is there to help you decide and even when you go home after your retreat she is just a phone call or an e mail away. You will find your time at Caudet to be a joyful experience and although people often have to face difficult areas in their lives, there is support from other members of the group and nobody is obliged to go deeper than they wish into those areas. You don’t even have to do yoga, you can just enjoy the peace and quiet and the delicious homemade food.

But isn’t all this concentration on the self a bit, well...selfish, I asked? Danuta told me that rather than being selfish, it’s a good thing to take a kind, compassionate interest in oneself and at the end of this path of self-discovery you will find out what you have got to offer to others. I will leave you with a fantastic quote from Ascent Magazine “This process may not be exciting to view from the outside, but from the inside it has all the thrills of the wildest adventure vacation, and far more benefits.”

For more information here is Danuta’s website http://www.radhacaudet.com/

North Eastern Dordogne Womens Association

Want to meet more people in your area?

Join us for the next lunch of NEDWA at a really reasonable price.

Get to know other people in your area, English, French, Dutch, Belgian... We have eleven nationalities now! All are welcome.

Whether you work from home and want to network, are retired and feel like meeting some friendly faces or just need to get out and attend some good monthly events, NEDWA fills the gap.

Activities include cultural outings, cycling, gardening presentations, speakers, etc.

From Hautefort to Montignac, Lanouaille to Le Lardin, Perigueux to Payzac, Sorges to St Amand de Coly, St Agnan to St Genies, Thiviers to Terrasson.

Events are arranged regularly in places easily accessible from these areas.

For more information, enquiries and bookings Tel: Angela 05 53 50 54 66 Email: nedwa24@gmail.com

TWILIGHT

La Maison de Retraite pour Les Chiens

(Yes, a home for the oldie doggies, who have been abandoned, bereaved or just run out of luck)

With 21 inmates at the moment, and having to sadly turn so many away…we need your support please.

A house full of calm and love for elderly dogs who are lost, abandoned or bereaved of their owners.

We are volunteers with the time and space and share our limited income with the dogs who live with us "en famille".

We work closely with the other South Western France rescue centres and we ask that where you can you help us all with the sad and seemingly endless needs of these loveable best friends..

We need

old towels and bedding

dog food

disinfectant by the bucket load

and any other donatiions you make to us or our vets will help towards considerable medical bills.

Notes from Twilight

1 March 2011

This week a reader of www.dordogne-on-line.info donated a sofa to Twilight

A huge woof of thanks from all the Twilighters.... Peggy, Ula and Tina were the first to enjoy the luxury and

comfort of your old leather settee you donated to us. Thank you for making our old age so soft and comfy, we'd have to be on the floor without you! Twilight life just got better, thanks to your kindness xx

All our love and paw hugs All the Twilighters ... and Ma and Pa too xxx

I'm so old, stiff and falling apart .......... BUT, I now have Queen spot on your amazing settee Thank you so much, I seem to even be breathing better!

Love and paws Peggy xxx

Thank you for all your support and care

Leeanne, Mike and the Twilighters

05 53 52 62 37

La Peyzie, 24800, St Paul La Roche

George East - author

(22 April 2011)

New Title Information

Lucky for some

George East’s new title ‘French Impressions: The Loire Valley’ is to be published on Friday 13th May 2011.

Lucky for us at la Puce... and for the ‘barmy army’ of George’s fans.

About the book

More info and the cover here

The Loire Valley, is the second book in our French Impressions series which charts George’s progress on his meanderings along and around the banks of the river Loire. The Loire Valley, known also as the Valley of the Kings because of the many chateaux owned by Royals throughout history is one of the most popular destinations for Brits visiting France.

This book is, as its title suggests, an impression of the delights of the valley and its history and the people who live within its influence. Written in George’s unmistakable tongue-in-cheek and sometimes irreverent style, ‘French Impressions: The Loire Valley’ travels from the coastal towns on the Bay of Biscay to end the journey at the delightful fairytale castle of Sully-sur-Loire.

About the Author

George East has been wandering and wondering through France and writing about it for more than twenty years. His love affair started as a young boy on a cultural exchange and has lasted in spite of some of his experiences in the country we love to love or hate. But George tells it how it actually is in his writings about France, the French and life in what some would say is an idyllic place to be.

According to the thousands of George East enthusiasts, the oversized author's style is a mixture of Bill Bryson, Eric 'A Short Walk In The Hindu Kush' Newby and P G Woodhouse, while his antics resemble more closely the worst excesses of Tony Hancock meets Frank Spencer and Basil Fawlty.

As a leading critic once said, 'George does spectacular failure very well'.

In his past, George has enjoyed a diverse career path which includes pickled onion manufacturer, private detective, night club bouncer, demolition engineer, seamstress and the only human professional bed-tester in history.

An eventful spell as a publican won him the title of Worst Landlord in Britain for two consecutive years.

George’s long writing career, started with stories for young girls’ photo comic publications and, at the other end of the spectrum, racey mens’ mags.

Nowadays, George and his wife Donella live and travel in France and England as the author gathers material for new books and concentrates on his quests to discover the True Meaning of Life while meeting unusual people and going down the pub…

The Details

Title: French Impressions: The Loire Valley

ISBN: 978-0-95 62691-2-6

Author: George East

Cover: Full colour ppb

No of pages: 214

Publication Date: May 13th 2011

Main distribution: Gardners Books

Publisher: La Puce Publications

Price: £9.99

All George East books are available from www.George-East-France.com

For further information and for any enquiries regarding sales please contact Francesca - Marketing & Sales Manager

at francesca.brooks@hotmail.com

La Puce Publications

telephone 02392 468181 for answer phone enquiries

Dorothy Race Author

(2010)

Some time ago, relaxing in my garden in England, doodling on a notepad, I watched a little snail crawling on the ground who started me musing about how boring it must be to be a snail. I scribbled a couple of lines….then a few more and when, later, I read them to my husband, Roger, he wanted to know what happened next - but I couldn’t tell him! So, the next day I added some more….Roger wanted to know the outcome and encouraged me to complete the story. At that time I was secretary to a team of Primary School Inspectors and because of the educational value, as well as the actual story, they encouraged me to ‘do something with it’. Not sure that it was worthy of publication, I popped into the local village school and asked the head teacher for her opinion. She rang me the next day and invited me to read it to a class of 5-8 year olds. That was a most terrifying but rewarding experience. The children loved it. Then, I was introduced to Peter Scott who did the lovely, amusing illustrations for me and I published it in October’08. Having written poetry, stories, articles etc over the years – all for personal pleasure – I had forever hoped that one day I might get something published. Hello Little Snail is that dream come true. Roger and I met in 2003, and married in 2004. Our joint family of four adult offspring are all settled in their own life styles across England, with one having emigrated to Australia so with retirement approaching we were looking for a new a adventure. Last year we found our lovely new home here in France.

Please visit my web site www.mousetec.co.uk to read more about Little Snail and how you can purchase the book.

Phoenix Association

www.phoenixasso.com
WHO ARE WE?

When my husband, Richard, and I first arrived to live in the Dordogne, we were quick to notice the number of stray animals.

It was only many years later that we were to realise the extent of the 'abandon'. The regional animal shelters, the SPAs, were hopelessly overcrowded and euthanasia often the only practical solution. So in our own small way, we began to help them rehome cats and dogs, especially those considered 'unhomeable', such as the elderly and handicapped.

In 2001 we became an officially registered charity - an 'Association Loi 1901.' This status allows us to be in receipt of funding - essential, as before we had to dive deep in our pockets for every euro.
Phoenix is a non-profit making organisation, run on a voluntary basis. We have no paid staff and rely entirely on the goodwill of our helpers/supporters

Phoenix is a network of foster homes, not a single adoption centre. The dogs and cats are fostered and integrated happily into family life.

We operate on the principle of 'small is beautiful', concentrating on only one or two newcomers at a time, so as to give them maximum care and attention before offering them for adoption. Some stay, and become permanent members of their foster households.

Click the following links to find out more about this wonderful organisation

http://www.phoenixasso.com/gang.html

http://www.phoenixasso.com/adoption.php3

http://www.phoenixasso.com/membership.html

http://www.phoenixasso.com/links.php3

http://www.phoenixasso.com/horse.php3

Mobile Phones in France

Article prepared by www.mobiles.co.uk

The mobile phone industry in France is strong and growing stronger as the years progress and the mobile phone penetrates the hearts and minds of the population. There are over 53 million mobiles active in France itself and the country has a variety of networks providing services for their citizens. It`s interesting to note that a recent report linking mobile phone use with brain cancer was taken very seriously by the French government, who now aim to actively discourage mobile use for children under 12, with a ban on advertising to this age group. This is a progressive move that it is considered will be followed by other European nations in the future if further evidence is produced. Amongst the adult population mobile phones are of course an incredibly popular way to communicate and do business, and France also has 3G networks allowing fast access to the internet on your mobile phone as well as access to mobile broadband services on PCs and laptops. Lets look at some popular phones on the French market and some up and coming stars that are taking the country by storm.

HTC Magic - This is one of the latest touch screen handsets produced by iPhone-bothering manufacturers HTC. Called the Magic, this phone has all the smart applications and hardware that you`d expect, including a large 3.2" touch sensitive display that makes navigating menus, playing games, using applications and browsing the web simple and fun. It also features the Android operating system seen so far only on the G1 on T-Mobile because it is an OS developed by search engine giants Google. However, it works well here and it will be interesting to see how this new handset fares in the long run. It`s is available on the SFR network in France on a monthly contract.

Apple iPhone - As popular in France as it is in the rest of the world, the iPhone 3G is still a great piece of kit and is due for its second update later this summer. Available on Orange in France, the iPhone has a massive 3.5" touch sensitive screen, 8 or 16GB of on board storage space for videos, music and photos, and a powerful processor to make playing games and using applications a doddle. Then there`s the acclaimed iTunes software included to make your iPhone a fully fledged media player as well as the lauded App Store where you can sift through loads of useful applications and download them direct to your iPhone.

LG Cookie The Cookie is like a baby smart phone, featuring a decent touch screen interface, good camera and video recording functionality and an attractive design. It`s available in a range of colours, and in silver on Bouygues Telecom in France with unlimited mobile internet, which is a mobile phone deal that is hard to pass up. There are loads of great deals and handset available for every price range on the French market, and using online price comparison is the best way to sniff them out.

Equine Rescue France

http://www.equinerescuefrance.org/

Founded in 2007, ERF is a not for profit association (Loi 1901) whose aim is to improve the welfare of equines in France through rescuing, campaigning and education.

After living in France for several years, friends Jon and Kathryn Dobson (President), Jenny Lupton (Secretary) and Trina Summerfield felt that there was a need for an English speaking association to bridge the gap between UK charities and other associations in France, and ERF was born. In early 2008, ERF were accredited as a Member Society of the W.S.P.A (World Society for the Protection of Animals).

Based in the South West (with bases in Depts 24, 16 and 86), ERF offers advice and support for both English and French speakers facing equine welfare issues. Working with key UK charities, ERF are able to campaign for welfare improvements, whether enforcing existing legislation or campaigning for change. By forging links with the key French associations and welfare bodies, ERF are able to support their work as well as to instigate local actions.

ERF regularly rescue horses and donkeys from maltreatment and then rehabilitate and re-home them under long-term loan contracts, often the process takes many months. ERF offers help and support to individuals who need to re-home their equines due to changes in their circumstances – an increasing problem in these times of financial hardship. In other cases, ERF can support owners by offering expert help and advice, Trina is a Monty Roberts Registered Associate and has show jumped at a National level, and Jenny has many years of both Eventing and Training behind her. Working together with the relevant DDSV (Directions départementales des services veterinaries), they have been successful in ensuring that neglected animals are regularly visited and improvement plans implemented.

ERF campaigning efforts focus on raising awareness of the long-haul transport issues facing equines in Europe where they do valuable work alongside WSPA and WHW (World Horse Welfare).

Fund raising is an important part of their work since, although the majority of work is voluntary, there are regular vets’ and farriers’ bills to be paid. Funds are raised through association membership and fund-raising activities organised by volunteers – donations are always welcome!

ERF’s blog at http://equinerescuefrance.wordpress.com/ is a valuable source of information as it is regularly updated with news and videos of the rescues as well as other welfare news and general information about caring for equines in France. For more information on becoming a member or supporting their work, see their website at www.equinerescuefrance.org.

For further information on this article, please contact:

Kathryn Dobson (President): Kathryn@equinerescuefrance.org

Tel: +33 (0)549 971017

La Chaux, 86400 Linazay

WSPA : World Society for the Protection of Animals: www.wspa.org.uk

WHW: World Horse Welfare: www.worldhorsewelfare.org

We reserve the right to refuse to publish unsuitable text and to edit text as necessary.

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France on line English speaking articles and letters for
Alsace, Aquitaine, Auvergne, Brittany, Burgundy, Centre, Champagne Ardenne, Corsica, Franche Comte, Ile de France, Languedoc Roussillon, Limousin, Lorraine, Midi Pyrenees, Nord Pas de Calais, Normandy, Pays de la Loire, Picardy, Poitou Charente, Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur, Rhone Alpes

Galgos France Association loi 1901 232 av des Landes 47310 Brax www.galgosfrance.net Our association’s mission is to rescue “Galgos” dogs from Spain. They are Spanish Greyhounds raised for hunting who suffer from violence from their owners (hangings, mutilations, blows, etc). We also rescue any kind of dogs who may need a second chance given by nice a human. We realized that these dogs mostly coming from Spanish dogs house have negligible chances (to say none) to leave one day their infernal life and its suffering. We have been set up to give a chance to these dogs, to give them back love & dignity, to save their lives … See below few pictures of our beloved adopted dogs. Our mission: Rescue, cure and offer a new life to these Spanish oppressed dogs, providing help and support to Spanish dogs’ houses particularly the most stripped ones. To be the most efficient in our mission, we need your help, they need your love. So if like us, you are sensitive to cruelty of the men towards the dogs, join us in our fight against cruelty and engage yourself concretely using the following meanings: Adoption Be a host family Bond Sponsor Donating equipments The financial donation The carpool Be the spokesman Purchase of solidarity If you are interested by our cause, please click here www.galgosfrance.net to visit our website. Thank you so much for them GALGOS FRANCE 1 June 2011