The Poitou-Charentes Journal - August 2011

journalTHE POITOU-CHARENTES

Your monthly paper for the Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres , Vienne & surrounding areas

GRATUIT/FREE | ISSUE 2 | AUGUST 2011 thejournal.fr

jYour monthly paper for the Charente, Charente-Maritime, Deux-Sèvres , Vienne & surrounding areas

GRATUIT/FREE

FREE

ALL ABOARD THE CHIP PAN EXPRESS! THE TOURIST TRAIN LEADING AN ECO-REVOLUTION: PAGE 15 > Story continues on page 6

€1.6 BILLION COST OFSUPER-FAST INTERNET

T he next internet revolution in the form of � bre optic cables giving super-fast connection speeds is set to come to

the Poitou-Charentes, say o� cials. Under plans being drawn up by coun-cils, the entire region could be covered by a network providing speeds of up to 100 Mb/s for the general public within 15 years, providing a major boost to small businesses who want to set up in rural areas but who increasingly need fast internet connection.

As the demands on the internet grow ever-greater, experts predict that the current ADSL internet connection down copper phone lines - which give speeds of barely 2 mb/s in many rural areas – will not be able to meet the needs of most consumers and small enterprises. Broadband coverage in the region is now around 97 or 98 percent, with remaining gaps being made up with wireless systems or in a few cases satellite connections.

But there are still major question

marks over the rolling out of � bre optic cables across the four departments, especially about who will meet the massive � nancial investment involved.

'� e estimated cost for the whole region is around €1.6 billion,' says Christophe Ramblière, the regional councillor in charge of information and communication issues for the Poitou-Charentes.

� e funding of this telecommunica-tions infrastructure is now the central focus of the expert studies being put together by the region and four depart-ments and which will be published late this year or early in 2012. � e state has already pledged at least €2 billion, but that is for the entire cost of rolling out � bre optic cables across France, estimated at a total of around €25 billion. � ere is also talk of ge� ing the giant telecommunication � rms such as Bouygues and SFR to contribute.

However the experience of the Poitou-Charentes already shows that

Fibre optic lines across region for all ‘within 15 years’ – but who will pay?

PLUS: THE DIRECTORYYour great pull-out local business listings guide + Property

THE NEW PARTRIDGE FAMILY!Local bird resurrected thanks to DNA of a stu� ed relative > page 3

02 PRACTICAL INFORMATION

The Poitou-Charentes Journal | ISSUE 2 - AUGUST 2011

Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal

EMERGENCY NUMBERS18: Emergencies: Calls the sapeurs pompiers, the fi re brigade, but they deal with medical emergencies and are usually the fi rst port of call in rural areas. 112: Emergency calls from your mobile: Be ready with your name and where you are calling from and do not hang up until told to do so. 17: Police (gendarmes) 119: Child abuse; 1616: Sea and lake rescue01 40 05 48 48: Anti-poison centre (Paris)08 10 33 30 + your department number (eg 17 for the Charente-Maritime): Gas & electricity emergencies

UTILITIESFRANCE TELECOMWebsite in English: www.francetelecom.comTo report a fault online: www.1013.fr (click on the UK fl ag). English-speaking helpline:09 69 36 39 00 (from France); + 33 1 55 78 60 56 (outside France). ORANGE: English-speaking helpline: 09 69 36 39 00.EDF: 24 hour breakdown line: 0810 33 30 87; Helpline in English: 05 62 16 49 08; From outside France: + 33 5 62 16 49 08; Email: [email protected]

GOVERNMENT ORGANISATIONSCAISSE D’ALLOCATIONS FAMILIALES - CAF:Charente: Boulevard de Bury, 16911, Angoulême; tel 08 10 25 16 10. Charente-Maritime: 4 bis avenue du Général Leclerc, 17073, La Rochelle; tel 08 10 25 17 10. Deux-Sèvres: 51 route de Cherveux, 79034, Niort; tel 08 10 25 79 10. Vienne: 1 Montée Saint Marcel, 38200, Vienne; tel 08 10 25 38 20.

L’ASSURANCE MALADIE (AMELI, formerly known as CPAM – the health service): www.ameli.fr. Tel: 36 46 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm) English spoken

URSSAF: English-language website: www.an-glais.urssaf.fr. Charente: Rue Victor Hugo, Zone industrielle n° 3, 16340, Angouleme; tel 05 45 38 62 62. Charente-Maritime: ZI de Belle Aire - 12 rue Newton, 17445, La Rochelle ; tel 05 46 51 70 00. Deux-Sèvres: 60 rue des Prés Fau-cher, 79032, Niort; tel 05 49 26 19 00. Vienne: 41 rue du Tou� enet, 86046, Poitiers; tel 05 49 44 55 87.

PREFECTURE: Charente: www.charente.pref.gouv.fr; tel 05 45 97 61 00. Charente-Maritime: www.

charente-maritime.pref.gouv.fr; tel 05 46 27 43 00. Deux-Sèvres: www.deux-sevres.pref.gouv.fr; tel 05 49 08 68 68. Vienne: www.vienne.gouv.fr; tel 05 49 55 70 00

OTHER HELP IN ENGLISHCounselling in France: for a qualifi ed therapist near you or counselling over the telephone; www.counsellinginfrance.comSOS Help: similar to the Samaritans, listeners who are professionally trained; tel 01 46 21 46 46; www.soshelpline.org. Open Door: support for those su� ering from long-term illness and their carers; tel 05 49 87 97 36; www.opendoor-civray.com. No Panic France: for help with anxiety disorders; tel 02 51 28 80 25; www.nopanic.org.uk. Alcoholics Anonymous: for a group in your area: www.aa-europe.net/coun-tries/france.htm; tel 01 46 34 59 65. Cancer Support France: for advice and someone to talk to: www.cancersupportfrance.info. National O� ce: [email protected]; tel 05 45 89 30 05. Charente Plus (16,17, 86, 87): email: [email protected]; tel 05 45 29 66 24. Deux-Sèvres (79, 85): searchfi [email protected]; tel 05 49 64 59 96. Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association Forces (SSAFA): In France: 05 53 01 64 54. Email: [email protected]

OTHER INFOYellow Pages: www.pagesjaunes.frSpeaking clock: 3699Weather: 08 92 68 02 + dept. number Last incoming call on your phone: 3131, then ‘5’ if you wish to connect

BRITISH CONSULATE, BORDEAUXAddress: 353 Boulevard du President Wilson33073, Bordeaux Cedex; tel + 33 (0)5 57 22 21 10; http://ukinfrance.fco.gov.uk/en

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE RADIOAngloFile: www.rcf.fr, 8pm on Tuesdays and 11.30am Sundays. Charente: Angoulême 96.8 FM; Ru� ec 95.4; Chalais 96.9; Confolens 95.4; Charente Limousine 104.1; Cognac 89.9. Charente-Maritime: La Rochelle 95.5; Saintes 90.5; Royan 88; Saint-Jean-d’Angély 88.1. Radio Val d’Or, Deux-Sèvres: One Saturday morning each month at 11am; www.radiovaldor.com. Radio Liberté: www.radioliberte.fr, Culture Gap, 1pm Wednesdays and other programmes (see the website for details); 96.1 Mhz Charente, Gironde & Dordogne.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS August 15 - Assumption; November 1 – All Saints; November 11 – Armistice 1918;December 25 - Christmas.

When you live in a foreign country, it is not always obvious which steps to take to make a complaint, whether to a supplier or

an artisan or other professional whose prod-uct or service you’re unhappy with. Here are a few hints to help you � nd the right path…CONSUMER COMPLAINTS (réclama-tion): put your complaint in writing, in French, and send it by registered post with proof of receipt (recommandée avec accusé de réception) to the customer services department (service clientèle) of the com-pany you wish to complain to, for example, a utility, company or a shop - this customer services address should be on your invoice. State your issue, any costs incurred and how you would like to be indemni� ed. You must always give a timescale for them to respond – usually within 15 days. If you do not receive a response within that timescale, then address your le� er to the consumer department (service consomma-teurs) of the company you have sent your complaint to – this is not always on the invoice and may need to be researched via the internet or by phone. Again, you must send this le� er by registered post and give a timescale for them to respond, as above, with a copy of the original complaint. If you still have no joy or do not receive a satisfactory outcome, you then have the right to contact an ombudsman. If you are dealing with a public authority or utili-ties such as electricity, gas or the railways or post o� ce, for example, you contact the public ombudsman (médiateur de la république) who is obliged to study your � le and respond within two months. If it is a private company, you contact the consumers’ association, which is also the fraud o� ce (Direction Départementale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes – DDCCRF), nearest to the head o� ce of the company you are complaining to. Again, you must send this le� er by registered post and give a timescale for them to respond, as above, with a copy of the original complaint and all correspondence.OTHER COMPLAINTS: the above rules still apply relating to sending a le� er, in French, by registered post with proof of re-ceipt, highlighting the issues, costs incurred and indemnities or action required, and giving a timescale for a response. If you do not hear back within that timescale, you can send a reminder of your complaint (rappel) with an additional timescale and a threat

to take legal action. If you do not hear back from a private company or professional a� er several reminders, your only option is to take legal action. If your complaint relates to a value of less than €10,000, you may be eligible for a court injunction. � is involves completing an application form (in French) and provid-ing the ORIGINALS of all contractual documentation and correspondence relat-ing to your complaint directly to the judge and will also involve a� ending at least one court hearing. You do not require a lawyer but if you do not speak French, you will need an interpreter in court.INSU� NCE CLAIMS: for general insurance contact your insurer as soon as you are aware of the incident - always put-ting your claim in writing, not just making a phone call, as in France you need to keep wri� en proof of everything you do! � is should be done in French and must give the date you discovered the ‘incident’, together with photographs or any other evidence of before and a� er the incident where possible. If your claim relates to part of your prop-erty being damaged by a storm or earth tremor, the dates are very important as the insurers check on their weather databases to see whether any storms or earth tremors were reported during that period and will only pay out if the dates tally! With road tra� c accidents: complete the incident form (constat amiable) that is usually included with your car insurance documentation, together with the other party and, depending on the seriousness of the accident, you should also inform the po-lice and a police statement may be required. You need to provide your documentation to the insurance company when making your claim and, again, any photographic evidence you may have. Importantly, if your claim is for a value in excess of around €500, the insurer is likely to send an expert to evaluate the damages and in the case of a road accident, if the vehicle has had to go to a garage, the insurance company will liaise with the garage to � nd out whether or not the vehicle is a write-o� .

Debbie Bradbury runs A La Carte Consultancy Services, a translation and consultancy company dealing with all kinds of administrative and legal ma� ers. Fully bilingual, with a diploma in French law, she has worked as an intermediary between the French and English speaking people for more than 20 years. To contact Debbie: www.alacarte-consult.com; email [email protected]; tel 05 45 38 73 76.

French paperwork has a deserved reputa-tion for being frustrating and sometimes, more than a little scary. To the rescue is our red tape expert DEBBIE BRADBURY.

THIS MONTH: MAKING AN OFFICIAL COMPLAINT

BUREAUCRACY BUSTER Useful info...

MAIN PAPER2 Advice3-7 Local & regional news8 Editorial & analysis9 Money & You 10 National news11 Community12 Language

13 Quiz & puzzles14 What’s on & puzzle answers

LIFE 15-20 from real life to food, books, music, gardening & ideas for great days out!

CONTENTSTHE DIRECTORY CENTRE 8 PAGESYour pull-out & keep business advice guide with local listings + Property

AMM Fran

ce


discoverPOITOU

CHARENTESwww.discover-poitou-charentes.com

Having just bought Living Poitou-Charentes magazine, Anglo Media & Marketing France is now the region’s leading English-language media group. We can help you with all your English-language needs, from websites to brochures and magazines...

Avec près de 20% des visiteurs en Poitou-Charentes qui parlent anglais, êtes-vous sûr de trouver les mots pour les accueillir? Anglo Media & Marketing France est votre expert local pour vos traductions, avec la qualité d’un anglais londien sans les prix de la capitale brittanque, ici en Poitou-Charentes.

CONTACT US:www.ammfrance.com; [email protected]; Tel 05 45 89 28 29 / 05 49 87 29 71

POITOU CHARENTES

Living

03REGIONAL NEWS

visit us on www.thejournal.frvisit us on www.thejournal.fr

Follow us on twittertwitter.com/ThePCJournal

Once upon a time there was the perdrix rouge – known in English as the red-legged or French partridge – that used to wander happily through the woods

and � elds of the Poitou-Charentes. � en, just to spice things up a bit during the swinging Sixties, hunters introduced a new bird into the region, the chukar partridge from Asia Minor. It was a disaster. � e two birds got on rather be� er than foreseen and started inter-breeed-ing, producing a hybrid perdrix rouge that is both less fertile and less hardy that the original red-legged type. � e experiment was quickly stopped, but by then the damage had been done. � e hybrid's weaknesses combined with a vanishing habitat soon meant that the local partridge was under threat. Now, however, thanks to some ingenious use of genetics, the perdrix rouge is being reborn, though the new version of the partridge has been given a new name – perdrix royale or royal partridge. � ousands of them are cur-rently being released into the wild to replenish lost stocks and to help bring back some rigour to the local partridge population.

� e project is the brainchild of the hunting federations of the Charente and Charente-Maritime. Five years ago they set about trying to replenish the depleted stocks of partridge by reverting back to the true, hardier perdrix rouge. Feathers from stu� ed birds who pre-dated the time when the chukar was introduced were sent to the Genindex laboratory at La Rochelle. Here the DNA of the pure red-legged birds was identi� ed and then cross-referenced with that of birds in game bird-rearing units. � ose that turned out to be still pure perdrix rouge were then selected for a special breeding pro-gramme, so that gradually a new pure version of the breed could be restored.

'In any given number of perdrix rouge that you are breeding some will be pure-blooded red-legged partridge,' says Alain Belair, who runs the domaine du Maine-Porchet at Feuil-lade on the Charente-Dordogne border, one of three game bird breeders in the region used in the creation of the new pure bird. '� e trouble is you don't know which ones – the hybrids look the same as the pure ones. � e only way you can tell them apart is through the DNA.'

� e result of the careful breeding programme has been the perdrix royale, whose name has

been trademarked and which comes from the description of partridges used by the celebrated novelist and � lm-maker Marcel Pagnol in his book ‘La Gloire de mon père’ (My father's glory). But though this new royal bird may not look any di� erent from the old hybrid, its behaviour certainly is. 'I was surprised by how di� erent its behaviour is,' Behair told � e Journal. He has already overseen the release of several thousand of the new birds into the wild. '� ey are much hardier and be� er at defending themselves,’ he continued. ‘If you go near their enclosures they immediately move away from you, which the perdrix rouge doesn't do. � ey are more wild.’

� is means the perdrix royale is be� er at � nd-ing food in the wild, hardier and also be� er at avoiding predators. Six months a� er one early batch was released 90 percent of them were still alive – a vast improvement on the survival rate of the 'traditional' perdrix rouge when it is set free. Many thousands more are to be bred in the future for release.

One key question now is how to stop the pure royal partridge inter-breeding with the less hardy hybrids. 'To begin with the birds will be introduced into areas where there are currently no red-legged partridge,' says Alain Belair.

Dominique Martinaud, president of the Charente hunting federation says he is happy 'to � nd once more what was in nature 30 or 50 years ago'. He says the scheme is in line with their desire to increase the biodiversity of the environment. '� e red-legged partridge is a sign of the good environmental health of an area,' he says. Belair, meanwhile, admits he is delighted to be involved in a project which is focused largely on conservation, that as a breeder of game

Stu� ed birds help revive local breed of partridge

NATURE WEATHER

THOUGH THE DROUGHT is still continuing (see page 7), the main talking point in the second half of July was the unusually cool and wet weather that gripped much of France including the Poitou-Charentes. Paris, for example, recorded a near-record low maximum temperature of just 14°C on 19 July – just 0.2° C above the lowest July day maximum temperature recorded in 1942. Here in this region it was not quite so bad; though the thermometer struggled to get much above 17° C on some days it was still well above the record low of 11.9°C registered on 18 July 1932 in Poitiers. However, it was unusually wet. Météo-France forecast-er Étienne Chabot told � e Journal: ‘In a normal July Poitiers gets around 47mm of rain. Between 1 June and 21 July this year so far Poitiers has had 140mm of rain – the same amount as usually falls during all the summer months.’ However, Chabot points out that while parts of July were cool and wet, the � rst half of the month was slightly warmer than usual in Poitou-Charentes. And warmer weather is on the way back. ‘Temperatures should � nally get back to normal seasonal levels for the start of August, with at last more summery values,’ Chabot says. � e forecaster adds: ‘Cooler and we� er periods in the summer such as we’ve had are a sign of the natural variabil-ity of the climate.’

A� er a chilly July, what next?As Paul Allen reports, experts have used DNA from long-dead

game birds to re-establish the purity of a breed which is now to be known by a di� erent name...

ON 19 AUGUST 1944 a group of Resis-tance � ghters ambushed a lorry and captured a group of Lu� wa� e personnel without bloodshed in the centre of Chauvigny. � ey also found a high-quality tenor saxophone marked with a swastika and the German eagle, and made in 1939 in a village in what was then Czechoslovakia. It was an unusual � nd be-cause in the � ird Reich the saxophone meant jazz and degeneracy, and was banned. In some cases people were sent to concentration camps simply for owning jazz records. � e saxophone and other instruments found were later used by the local harmonic orchestra

until the 1970s, and then ‘retired’ to the Vienne orchestra’s o� ces. � en in the mid-1990s, in circumstances that remain unclear, the Nazi saxophone went missing. Until now, that is. By chance the mayor of nearby Tercé Christian Richard, who helped create his commune’s WWII museum, came across the instrument at a brocante and bought it for a small sum. Pleased to have their saxophone back, the orchestra has donated it and the other instruments con� scated from the lorry to the museum at Tercé. At an o� cial handover ceremony mayor Christian Richard described them as ‘exceptional gi� s’.

Missing Nazi saxophone found

birds he is sending out partridges to restock and repopulate areas rather than to be shot. '� ere's something not very glorious about breeding birds to be shot the very same morn-ing that you set them free,' admits the boss of Maine-Porchet, who is himself a very keen hunter. 'My dream is to be able to breed birds just to re-populate areas,' he adds.

HISTORY

Alain Belair in front of one of his

rearing pens

04 REGIONAL NEWS



Many had thought the idea had been abandoned. But there is now talk that in addition to the link to the train station at Angoulême, the new

high-speed railway or ligne à grande vitesse (LGV) linking Paris to Bordeaux could have an extra station on the line itself, between Angoulême and Cognac. According to reports, this new station would be at Asnières-sur-Nouère, close to the RN141 road to Cognac.

It was only last September that the regional pre-fect Bernard Tomasini appeared to rule out any other station being built for the new line in the Charente, and that the only stopping point would be Angoulême, via a feeder line. '� e decision has been taken and it's irrevocable,' he told a meeting. At the time a number of local politicians were pushing hard for a station on the new railway line itself, away from Angoulême. � e argument was that it would be cheaper and would open up the new line to more of the department.

Now that the idea is that there could be a second station, in addition to the stop at the Charente capital. 'Don’t think that the plan for a station at Asnières-sur-Nouère has been aban-doned,' says Claude Maumont, president of the Cognac chamber of commerce, repeating what a senior � gure in the subsidiary company build-ing the line told him. 'It is not too late.'

In a recent visit to the Charente Hervé Tricot, head of Liséa, a company set up by the railway construction � rm Vinci, con� rmed that they had bought up land options 'for additional sta-tions'. � is apparently referred to one not just in the Charente but another near Poitiers in the Vienne. And Philippe Marcombe, a farmer at Asnières, said he and other landowners in the

area had been approached by o� cials looking to buy up land totalling 100 metres wide and a kilometre long. 'I asked them “what's it for?”,' he told the Charente Libre. '� ey replied “it's for the future station”.'

� e mayor of Asnières-sur-Nouère Gilbert Campo has also revealed that he has received a le� er from the railway line builders talking about a possible 'new station' in his commune. Plans are already being considered, he says, for a large electricity sub-station on a three-hectare site in his commune. 'When you build this kind of structure it's because you want to create a railway station,' he says.

� e plans appear to centre around a station at a site known as Les Plats, on the Fléac side of the commune. � ough this would still place the station much closer to Angoulême than Cognac, it would make the new line far more accessible to western parts of the department,

including the cognac capital itself. Chamber of commerce head Claude Maumont says: 'If you want the Charente to be accessible [from the line] then the choice of an outlying station becomes obvious.'

However, while the rail builders and those who will run the new line have not discounted a new station in the Charente, they say it is not likely to be built soon. '� ese new stations are not being considered as part of the plan for 2017,' Hervé Tricot himself admi� ed, referring to the year when the new LGV will open. And a source at the railway owners the Réseau Ferré de France played down the 'sensitive' story. 'Don't expect a station at Asnières before 2035,' he warned.

� e mayor of Angoulême Philippe Lavaud was also sceptical about the likelihood of a new station in a rural area. 'I can't see SNCF forking out €50 million, the cost of building an addi-tional station,' he told the Charente Libre.

Could there be an extra LGV station for Charente?

CHARENTE

FIRMS ACROSS the Charente-Maritime have found it hard to � nd temporary workers this summer, with some blaming a lack of quali� ca-tions and motivation among potential candi-dates. As of mid-July around 800 seasonal jobs had still not been � lled across the department, where the tourism industry and other trades rely heavily on temporary sta� . One of the worst-hit areas was the tourist island of Île d’Oléron. ‘We have at the moment 111 non-quali� ed positions across the whole island,’ Magali Ars-lanian Gallais, from the job centre Pôle emploi at Saint-Pierre-d’Oléron, said last month. A number of reasons for the lack of seasonal work-ers have been put forward. One is that, on the island itself, a number of large businesses have changed hands and requirements and pay have changed, while a rise in the cost of accommoda-tion may have deterred some from seeking work there. One young waiter on the island blamed the wages available. ‘� ose who don’t get sta� are those who don’t o� er pay that compensates for the hours that people have to work,’ he said. But some employers blame the a� itude of the mostly young potential workers. ‘� ey can party as much as they want but it becomes a problem when they don’t respect their work hours,’ said one employer. Meanwhile one restaurant owner said: ‘� ey are o� en surprised by the rhythm of work, especially in the restaurant business.’

A LEATHERBACK SEA TURTLE has been found dead on a beach at Grand-Village-Plage on the Île d’Oléron. � e � re brigade were alerted by passers-by to the presence of the animal, which was already dead, and o� cers then called in experts from the Aquarium at La Rochelle to examine it. ‘We found it trapped in a � shing net with traces of plastic in its stomach,’ said the aquarium’s Florence Dell’Amico. Leath-erbacks, which are the largest sea turtles in the world, measuring up to two metres long and weighing up to 700kg, are frequently found in the Atlantic and in the waters o� the Charente-Maritime. However, they are less commonly seen at this time of year. ‘� ey arrive more in the autumn,’ said Dell’Amico.

Shortage of seasonal workers

LA ROCHEBEAUCOURT ROUTEIt’s been talked about for decades, but � nally the bypass around the village of La Roche-beaucourt on the border with the Dordogne is close to completion. � e 1,050m road will link the RD12 and the RD939 so tra� c can avoid the narrow bridge at La Rochebeau-court over the River Nizonne that marks the boundary between the Charente and the Dordogne. Mayor Jean-Noël Lefranc admits it has been a long wait. ‘When I arrived here 21 years ago we were told then that the bypass would be coming soon,’ he told the Charente Libre. � e road is due to be � nished by the end of 2011, but that is not the end of the roadworks in the village. � e next step is

to rebuild the bridge, which means the route through La Rochebeaucourt will be closed for three months at some point next year.

CHEAP RAIL TICKETSResidents in the Saintes area can get cheap rail tickets for the beach at Royan this sum-mer. � e o� er, which runs until 31 August, is open to anyone who lives in the area covered by the Communauté de communes du Pays santon. Return tickets for under 18s for €1.85 and €2.50 for adults can be bought at the tourist o� ce at Place Bassompierre in Saintes. Tickets usually cost around €12. � e tickets must be used on the day of purchase and proof of residence is required.

BODY FOUNDGendarmes investigating the disappearance of missing Briton Jane Kennedy from Aigre in the north Charente found her body in Saulgond forest in the Charente-Limousine at the end of June. � e sad discovery was made around 15km from Confolens where 42-year-old Jane’s car was found a� er she went miss-ing in early April. � e judicial authorities are still awaiting the � nal results of a post-mortem examination but say there is no evidence of any crime and told � e Journal they are work-ing on the theory of suicide. Jane’s husband Mark had spearheaded the search for his wife, launching a Facebook page in the quest for information about her whereabouts.

In briefTurtle’s sad end

British insurance agent DaviD atkins

With over 25 years experience our friendly and

bilingual staff offer professional advice on:

t: 05 45 70 43 76F: 05 45 70 43 70

E:[email protected]’Rue 16380 Marthon

No Orias 07 013 492

Motorhouseholdhealth

BusinessBankinginvestments

PPP P

PP

A� ordable UK DesignsFitted Kitchens and UPVC Double Glazing

FREE PLAN, DESIGN & COSTING THROUGHOUT POITOU-CHARENTESUPVC windows, Doors & Conservatories made to UK Spec in French styles

Email: [email protected]

www.a� ordableukdesigns.comSIRET: 513 577 809 00017

Phone: 05 49 42 99 41 Mobile: 0663 71 09 81

Made inthe UK

Fitted inFrance

UPVC windows, Doors & Conservatories made to UK Spec in French styles

0663 71 09 81

UPVC windows, Doors & Conservatories made to UK Spec in French styles

Phone: 05 49 42 99 41 Mobile:

05REGIONAL NEWS



The support of the mayor of Chauvigny for its police of-� cers to be armed has caused a row. Gérard Herbert came out in favour of the town’s three o� cers to carry � rearms

following recent law and order incidents. ‘Per-sonally I am not opposed to it,’ said Herbert at the opening of the police’s new o� ces in the mairie. ‘� ese days you can see crime every-where and not just in big urban areas.’

� e mayor said that Chauvigny is a busy town. ‘Our three municipal police may, like the gendarmes, be called upon to deal with trou-blemakers. � ey are responsible o� cials, not cowboys. It seems quite normal to me that they should have a weapon for their protection, but also as a deterrent.’ He added: ‘� at could allow them, for example, to patrol at night.’

Traditionally in France the municipal police – who are employed by the town council and answerable to the mayor – do not carry � rearms and do not patrol at night.

� e mayor’s intervention was welcomed by Frédéric Caze� e, who is in charge of the mu-nicipal police locally. He told the Nouvelle Ré-publique: ‘When we are asked, for example, to make sure that local shops are properly locked up at Christmas because there is a risk of break-ins, we’d certainly like to be armed.’ However Caze� e insisted it would make no di� erence to the way they worked and their a� itude. ‘We would simply be be� er protected, ‘ he said.

However, the mayor has admi� ed that councillors are ‘very divided’ on the issue. And his support for the plan has come under � re from a prominent � gure from Chauvigny. Philosopher Éric Puisais is currently senior

o� cial at the mairie in Sevran, near Paris, but is still closely involved in the life of the Vienne town. He said that public safety was a funda-mental role for the state and that the municipal police in Chauvigny should play a local role within the community and also liaise with the gendarmerie. � e issue , said Pulsais, was not whether to arm town police but that the state had not given the gendarmerie the resources it needed to play its role properly. ‘When you are mayor you can’t say “� e municipal police want a shooter, so ok I’ll give them a shooter”,’ he added.

But his intervention in turn drew condemna-

tion from Jean Louis Del Pistoia of the profes-sional body the Union Syndicale Profession-nelle des Policiers Municipaux. In a statement he said that such opposition showed that the role and powers of municipal police o� cers were misunderstood, as in all their activities they face the risk of potential incidents. ‘� e municipal police don’t particularly want to have “shooters” but they do want the means to be able to carry out their job and to be able to get home safely a� er doing their job,’ he said. ‘If, however, an o� cial or o� cer has just got injured or killed and it’s shown that the mairie didn’t take the necessary measures to protect them, then the situation changes... how many more accident victims or incidents must there be before people open their eyes?’ he asked.

� e carrying of � rearms by Chauvigny police was also given cautious support by socialist councillor Pierre Rat. He said the socialist group had not yet discussed the issue but said it was worth studying. ‘Chauvigny is not the Bronx but if carrying a weapon provides extra protection, why not?’ he said.

� e municipal or city police are the third arm of the law enforcement forces in France a� er the national police and the gendarmerie. � eir role is largely to oversee the enforcement of local bylaws, including tra� c and parking, and ensuring public safety. � ey also guard build-ings and patrol at local events such as festivals. � ey are generally not armed though the local prefect can authorise them to carry a weapon, and in some cities the o� cers are permanently armed. � ere are currently around 18,000 mu-nicipal police o� cers across the country.

Row over call for local police to be armed

VIENNE

HELICOPTER HELPWorried about the number of accidents in the Deux-Sèvres in June, the authorities last month called in a helicopter to help prevent dangerous driving on the department’s roads. � e helicopter, backed up by car patrols, � ew over the A10 looking for drivers who were driving too close to other vehicles or other-wise taking risks. In June seven people were killed on the department’s roads, compared with none during the same month last year. Driving too fast and drink-driving were the main causes of the crashes, o� cials said.

EXPLOSIVE CLOSURE OF A10� e A10 motorway at Chardonchamp just north of Poitiers will be closed for brief periods during the building of the new high-speed railway or LGV to allow a tunnel under it to be blasted. � e explosives will be employed around 20 times a month for four-and-a-half months from when work begins on the access line to the station at Poitiers in February 2012. O� cials say the road will usu-ally be closed for just � ve minutes, though on occasions it will be shut for 15 minutes.

FORTY MILLION AT THEME PARK� e leisure park Futuroscope near Poitiers has just welcomed its forty millionth visitor since it opened in 1987. � e lucky person in question, thirty-one-year-old Youssef Souidi, who was visiting the futuristic park with his wife and two children, was given a VIP welcome for the day, including free meals. Last year Futuroscope, which employs 6,000 people, welcomed more than 1.8 million visi-tors, 130,000 more than in 2009. In January Compagnie des Alpes, which also runs the Parc Astérix, became the main shareholder in the park, though the land is still owned by the conseil général of the Vienne.

In brief

� DON GAS HAS BEEN found in schools in the Bressuire area at levels above recommended safety limits. � e gas, which at certain levels can be harmful for the health, was found in ‘three or four’ classes at di� erent schools in the area, said councillor Jean-Pierre Dufès, one of two o� cials in charge of educational ma� ers for the town. � e readings were above those set by the World Health Organisation, which in 2009 were brought down to 100 becquerel per cubic metre or Bq/m3. However the authorities have declined to state which schools are involved and what the concentrations of gas are. Remedial ac-tion to reduce the radon gas levels will be taken at the rentrée, when the schools go back, rather than immediately, because radon gas levels are always lower in summer. Where higher than

normal levels are found in � oor spaces under rooms o� cials will use mini-sumps, extrac-tion and ventilation to control the problem. Councillor Dufès said they did not want to over-dramatise the situation but felt that it was su� ciently serious to make it public and start the process of dealing with it. ‘We don’t want to create fear but we don’t want to look the other way either,’ he told the Nouvelle République. ‘We don’t want people to say that we knew about it but didn’t do anything.’ � e existence of radon gas in the area is well-documented, and is due to the presence of tiny amounts of uranium in the granite soils below. At high enough levels radon gas can lead to lung cancer. In the United States the gas is said to be the second biggest cause of lung cancer a� er smoking.

Radon gas alert in local schools

Hands o� our council - run golf course!LOCAL UNION REPRESENTATIVES have reacted angrily to suggestions that the municipal golf course at Romagné could be privatised by the town authorities in Niort. � e town council has just announced an audit of the local-authority-owned leisure facilities at Romagné, which include the racecourse as well as the golf club. Deputy mayor Pascal Duforestel said the study was needed to clear up any ambiguities over the current management of the site and he made it clear that they were keeping all their options open about its future. ‘We have no preconceptions,’ he said. ‘While it is out of the question to delegate services such as water to the private sector, golf and a racecourse don’t seem to us – in the con-text of looking for savings and tight budgets – at

the heart of public service.’ But the suggestion that the golf course in particular could end up in private hands has provoked dismay and disquiet at the CGT union, which represents many local authority workers. In a le� er to the mairie, the union said there had been a lack of dialogue over the issue. � e union added: ‘To have or run a municipal golf course represents a democratic concept of sport and means that access is not just based on money.’ O� cials say that if the course is privatised then fees will go up. Already one private golf course operator has expressed an interest in running the course – Blue Green, who currently run 46 courses in France, including the one at Mazières-en-Gâtine. � e results of the audit are due to be published in the autumn.

Do local police need to be armed?

06 Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournalREGIONAL NEWS


big � rms tend to cherry-pick the most lucrative areas to put down cables, and ignore rural com-munities where the cost of installing the new cables far outstrips any returns they are likely to generate from internet subscribers.

In the Charente-Maritime, for example, France Telecom is installing a � bre optic network for La Rochelle, but there are no plans for it to do the same elsewhere in the department. And in Angoulême the � bre optic network built largely for business users has been constructed with the partnership of the local authority with network specialists Sogetrel and the Canadian communi-cations � rm Covage.

Local o� cials charged with drawing up plans for the � bre optic revolution in the Poitou-Charentes know that they cannot simply leave it to the private sector to sort out. '� e problem is that if you let the market run it you will get a two-speed system as we already have with broadband phone lines,' says Jean-Marie Roustit, the vice-president of the Charente-Maritime with responsibility for high-speed internet access. 'France Telecom is happy to go into La Rochelle because it's a large compact area and it's pro� table. But to bring the technol-ogy to an isolated hamlet costs money,' he told � e Journal.

In the Charente-Maritime the department has already taken the initiative by building a 650km � bre optic circuit that stretches from La Rochelle down to Royan, to the south of the department, and then back up through Jonzac, Saintes, Saint-Jean-d'Angély and Surgères, all at a cost of €50 million. '� at gives us a head start on the other departments,' says Roustit. � e plan is now to start connecting up o� ces, businesses, public services and eventually homes to the circuit, and to coordinate the laying of the cables with other services including the water and electricity utilities to minimize disruption.

� e overall cost, just for the Charente-Mar-

itime, is likely to be between €300 and €400 million. As for the eventual cost to consumers of paying for such services, that has still to be worked out by all the departments carrying out their feasibility studies. 'In the end the consumers will pay one way or another, whether it’s through the state, region or the department via their taxes, or in their monthly subscriptions,' points out one o� cial.

And Roustit raises the question of just how much demand there will be for a super-fast internet connection.'Will people be prepared to pay more than the €29.90 a month they are already paying for broadband? What we don't want to do is build a system which is then not used by many people.' Already, not every � rm that has the option of very high speed connec-tions via � bre optic has taken up the o� er, on the grounds that they don't currently need such speeds.

However, there is universal agreement at regional and departmental level about the need for super-fast internet connections being made available throughout the Poitou-Charentes if the region is to avoid what Christophe Ramblière calls 'digital fracture' in the future, where rural communities are le� behind by large urban areas. Roustit himself likens the provision of � bre optic cables to the creation of the complete tele-phone network some 50 or so years ago. '� e good thing is that though technology is chang-ing fast we know that in 15 years time � bre optic will still be an e� ective form of communication,' he says. And Ramblière told � e Journal: '� e internet network is as important as the electric-ity, water or road systems. And it will grow even more important.' He says he is 'optimistic' that the rolling out of the � bre optic network can be achieved in the15-year time frame. Roustit is also con� dent but says that the initia-tive has to come from councils. 'I am convinced it will happen - but it is up to the local authori-ties to make it happen,' he insists.

Fibre optics across region ‘in 15 years’> Story continues from page 1

Houtch the boxer was the only dog of his breed in France to be used as a sni� er dog detecting drugs. And last month the police dog earned

another distinction when he was awarded a medal by the force in recognition of the work that he has carried out over the years.

At a special ceremony held in the Vienne the boxer was given the National Defence bronze medal by the gendarmerie. ‘He is leaving to retire and so I requested a medal for him,’ explains his proud handler Stéphane Lescarret. Now nine-and-a-half, Houtch ‘signed up’ in 2004 and went on to become a valued member of the search and investigation team at the Châtellerault gendarmerie, specialising in sni� ng out drugs. ‘In 2005 he discovered 7kg of cannabis that had been buried 40cm deep in a garden,’ says Lescarret. ‘In 2006 at � ouars he found a kilo of heroin and a kilo of cocaine,’ says his handler. � is � nd later led

to the discovery of 12kg of cannabis plus a stash of weapons. Lescarret says that animals trained in this way to sni� out drugs do so as part of a ‘game’ – for them, they are searching out a ‘toy’. He adds: ‘� ey are not, as some people think, drugged and then deprived of the drug.’

Houtch’s handler says he has no idea why he was and remains to this date the only boxer used for this kind of work in France, but points out that he was very e� ective. ‘If he hadn’t been I wouldn’t have kept him for very long,’ he says simply.

� ough Houtch is now in retirement, the strong bond he has developed with his mas-ter will not be broken. � e boxer will remain with Stéphane Lescarret - but from now on will stay at home, rather than joining him at work as well.

Boxers have a long history as police dogs in Germany where they were also used as messengers in both world wars. � e breed is also currently used in the United States as a sni� er dog.

Boxer gets medal for his ‘nose’

CARGO SHIP SINKSOFF ÎLE D’OLÉRON � e maritime authorities have been monitor-ing the pollution risk posed by a cargo vessel which sank o� the Île d’Oléron while it was being towed towards La Rochelle harbour a� er it began shipping water. � e Cook Islands-registered Union Neptune had been heading from Bordeaux to Ro� erdam when it sent out a distress signal in the early hours of Friday 22 July. One theory is that water had leaked in and turned part of the 2,000 tonnes of iron oxide pellets it was carrying into liquid, which then caused the ship to become unstable. All the crew of the 87-metre vessel were safely evacuated.

PET PASSPORT RULES RELAXEDFrom 1 January 2012 pets travelling to the UK from mainland Europe will still have to be vaccinated against rabies but can travel into the UK a� er 21 days. Currently, animals have to wait six months a� er being vaccinated before entering Britain. � e changes bring the UK into line with the rest of the EU although the reason given for the relaxation of the rules is the availability of be� er rabies treatment. Pets will also no longer need a blood test and the current compulsory tick treatment will also be withdrawn. � e requirement for tapeworm treatment, however, is still under consideration by the EU.

MISS TEEN POSTPONED� e Miss Teen Poitou-Charentes competi-tion scheduled for Bressuire in July had to be

postponed – because there was a lack of en-trants. Organisers say that one of the partner organisations had also withdrawn. It has been re-scheduled for 22 October.

CROP DESTROYERS - NEW TRIAL Green activist and MEP José Bové and seven co-defendants have been cleared by a court in Poitiers over damage caused to GM crops in the Vienne in 2008. � ough the accused had not denied destroying the crops, the prosecu-tion had charged them with targeting maize that was destined to be sold for commercial use. In fact the crops were part of an experi-ment, and under French law the two cases are dealt with separately. � e penalty for destroy-ing crops that are part of a scienti� c trial is greater than for a� acking commercial plants. � e prosecution has lodged an appeal against the decision of the court and a new trial will now take place.

MAYOR ATTACKEDA mayor who intervened to stop a car going the wrong way down a one-way street was at-tacked by two of its occupants. Patrice Déche-le� e, mayor of Saint-Martin-de-Ré on the Île-de-Ré, says he was � rst insulted by some of the seven occupants of the car, then two of them who were ‘clearly drunk’ got out of the car and started punching him. � e 62-year-old mayor was later taken to hospital where he received � ve stitches to a face wound. ‘It reminded me of the days when I played rugby,’ joked the powerfully-built mayor later. Two young men were later arrested.

In brief

07REGIONAL NEWS



Thousands of residents face potential water shortages in the coming weeks despite the recent cool and wet weather that hit the region in the second half of July.

Most concern centres on parts of the Cha-rente, where in some areas the level of water available to supply homes is ge� ing perilously low. Already at Brigueuil in the Charente-Limousine tankers are bringing deliveries of water, 28 cubic metres at a time, to � ll up the water tower that feeds the mains system in the commune. � is is because local water reserves have fallen below the 1.8 metre level that the local sub-prefecture says is the trigger for urgent action. � e water is being transported 6km from the commune of Saint-Christophe. � e cost of this emergency water is €5.7 per cubic metre, against the usual price of just one euro - the local authority has agreed it will pick up the bill.

� e problem at Brigueuil is one familiar throughout the Charente and other parts of the region; it is not connected up to any other network. � e department is full of small water authorities that rely on local reserves, many of which are not joined up to larger networks. So when local water levels fall as they have done this year – a� er a dry winter and spring - o� cials cannot simply open a valve to pump in water from another area. In all around 20,000 consumers in the Charente live in areas which are designated as a 'red zone'; places where water levels are get-ting low but where there is no way to connect automatically to another water supply. Areas a� ected include locations around Saint-Ger-main-de-Montbron, Chasseneuil, Bignac and Montemboeuf.

In some areas the authorities are examining the possibility of taking water from existing underground reserves used by farmers, in others taking water from rivers. At Saint-Claud in the Charente the local water authority is racing against time to build a pipeline between an old agricultural bore hole at Suaux and a nearby pumping station to supply the Roumazières area, which is running low on its own supplies. O� cials have hurried through the administrative hurdles and were hoping to have the emergency pipeline in place by the start of August. 'If the connection work is late, the existing reserves won't last until September,' says Yves Gendry, president of the Syndicat des eaux de Saint-Claud. Indeed, right across the region, September could be the critical month in the drought. � e already dwindling water reserves will have been even more depleted by then, and even if there is rain – as there has been in July – summer pre-

cipitation only reduces demand for water. It does not top up underground water reserves.

However, water experts hope at least that the current shortages will force councils across the region to accept that modernisation work is needed to ensure that local water networks are joined up with large networks in the future. 'Because there is always water somewhere,' says Paul Lechuga, director of public health at the regional health authority Agence regional santé (ARS).

� ere are some signs this might be happen-ing. At Brigueuil, the municipal council has up until now been opposed to linking its small mains water system to the much larger one run by the neighbouring Syndicat de Con-folens. � e sight of water tankers re� lling the local water tower has helped persuade them to agree to such a connection in the future. 'Crisis situations sometimes do some good, they make people aware that they need an al-ternative plan,' notes Joëlle Vigier, the engineer in charge of drinking water at the ARS. Even as the damp cool weather of late July set in, the national agricultural insurance commi� ee the Comité national de l'assurance en agriculture (CNAA), recognised a state of 'disaster' in relation to the agriculture industry in 41 departments, including the Vienne, Deux-Sèvres, Charente and Charente-Mar-itime in the Poitou-Charentes, as well as the neighbouring departments of the Dordogne, Haute-Vienne, Indre and Indre-et-Loire. � is means local livestock and arable farmers hit by the drought can claim from the farming insurance scheme from now. � ey can either

go to a dedicated web page – which can be found online by searching for the name Télé-CALAM – or call a helpline on 0800 000 750.

Already by mid-July 1,521 farmers in the re-gion had applied for the €1,000 in emergency aid voted through by the Poitou-Charentes regional council, and just under a thousand of them had already received it. 'We are more reactive than the state and we keep our promises,' said Ségolène Royal, in a reference to local complaints that President Nicolas Sarkozy had not yet followed through on his promises of help for farmers made during his visit to the region in June.

However, while the seaside resorts com-plained that the rain and cool temperatures of July kept holidaymakers away, farmers welcomed the brief respite from the drought.

� e rain will help make the grass grow for hard-pressed livestock farmers and watered crops for arable farmers. Nonetheless, farmers pointed out that it was already too late to save some crops. � ere was, ironically, concern that the emergency straw being brought in as fodder from the north of France could be hit by the wet weather. 'We want it to continue raining here in this region but to stop in the Aisne where it's holding up the harvest,' said the representative of one farming organisation.

Water shortage fears despite the rain

DROUGHT

PASSENGERS UPLimoges airport saw an increase in the num-ber of passengers travelling to the UK during the � rst six months of the year. Passenger numbers rose by 4.3 per cent compared to the same period last year. Numbers overall in-creased too, with 154,190 passengers � ying to or from the airport, an increase of 3.1 percent.Domestic routes also did well, increasing by almost eight percent. Seasonal routes were a success with the new route to Ajac-cio in Corsica, in particular, celebrating a 30 percent increase. � ere was also a nine percent increase in business � ights. � e one gloomy note was charter � ights– they saw a 50 percent fall, the decrease being blamed on the uncertain economic and social situation in some Mediterranean countries along with high fuel prices.

DRIVING ON THREE WHEELS A man was arrested by gendarmes for driving along in a car with only three wheels. � e car had apparently been involved in a collision with another car while parking, then hit a roundabout near Saint-Pardoux in the Deux-Sèvres. � e rear le� wheel was dislodged but the motorist, who had been drinking, had driven on for another four or � ve kilometres before he was stopped by the gendarmes.

CAT APPEAL� e École du Chat Libre association in Poitiers has launched an SOS for people to adopt a cat. Lacking space, many of the char-ity’s volunteers look a� er the animals at their own homes. Anyone willing to adopt a cat – or sponsor a home for one – should visit h� p://ecoleduchat.poitiers.free.fr

VOICE OF LES REMPARTS DIESJean-Louis Mathieu, the man known as the voice of the annual Circuit des Remparts vintage car races held in Angoulême each September, has died following a long illness. Mathieu, who had also been a popular local DJ, had been the o� cial race day commentator for 20 years.

A NEW CENTER PARCS holiday complex to be built near Loudun in the Vienne will cost €300 million to build and create up to 600 new permanent jobs. Details were unveiled last month of the new holiday village, which is set to provide a badly-needed boost to the building sector in the region. � e complex, which will be set in woodland in the communes of Les Trois Moutiers and Morton, is to consist of 800 wooden holiday co� ages – of between 50m2 and 100m2 each – and two-and-a-half hectares of facilities on a 264 hectare site. � e applica-tion for planning permission is to be made in December, and if all goes well it should be approved by September 2012. � e � rst work on the site is due to begin in the spring of 2013

and should be � nished by December of the following year. � e owners Pierre et Vacances plan to open the new holiday village in March 2015. � e scheme has enjoyed the powerful support of Vienne senator and former prime minister Jean-Pierre Ra� arin, who hailed it as an ‘important element’ in the future strategy of the department. � e village is expected to house an average of around 4,000 visitors a day. � e Vienne had been in competition with the department of Maine-et-Loire and it is thought that the proximity of the theme park Futuros-cope may have helped clinch it for this region. � e Center Parcs village in the Vienne will be the � � h in France. � ere are currently a total of 18 in Europe.

THE T� IN ARRIVING at platform one... is likely to be delayed in 2012. � at is the warning from rail bosses who have announced a massive round of repair and improvement works on the network from the beginning of next year. Overall the network owners Réseau ferré de France (RFF) are to invest €13 billion in track improve-ments across the country, and the impact will be felt in the Poitou-Charentes and the rest of southwest France as well as elsewhere. Journeys between Bordeaux and Paris are likely to take 15 minutes more in the � rst half of 2012, even though the RFF is hoping to carry out as much work as possible at night to minimise disruption. As well as the work to upgrade existing TGV and regional TER lines, the work on the new LGV line from Tours to Bordeaux will also begin, further adding to the disruption on the network. On 11 December, meanwhile, the train operators SNCF are due to publish their new timetables for 2012. � ey have promised signi� cant changes, with the aim of providing be� er connections between TGV and regional TER trains.

A 41-YEAR-OLD MAN from La Rochelle sus-pected of murdering his 23-year-old estranged wife last month was linked to the murder of a young woman 20 years ago. Caterer Yann Bello, who is being questioned over the death of his wife Charlène at their former � at in the Gene� e area of the town, was jailed for two years in 1997 for his part in the death of 20-year-old Valéry Bechtel six years earlier in the department of the Vosges on the other side of France. At the trial the court accepted Bello’s claim that he had not been present at the time the young woman was killed, and he was only convicted of helping to take her body to a nearby forest. His friend Raphaël Maillant was jailed for the murder, though he has always claimed it was Bello who killed the woman, who was strangled. No precise cause of death has yet been established in the case of Charlène Bello, but one theory is that she died from strangulation. According to Sud Ouest, when told about the latest murder Mail-lant, who was released a� er serving ten years of his sentence and who is still � ghting to clear his name, said: ‘I have always said that Yann was a bit mad. At the time no one listened to me.’

Rail delays warning for 2012

Murky past of murder suspect husband

July’s rain - not great news for everyone

Center Parcs will create 600 new jobs

THE VINEYARDS OF THE cognac region are continuing to a� ract buyers from the east. Already a number of local domaines have been snapped up by Russian buyers, and now a vodka producer from Saint Petersburg has bought 110 hectares in the Charente-Maritime. � e seller is Jacky Chat whose land is divided between 18 di� erent lots over a number of communes, including Beauvais-sur-Matha. He set up in 1973 with just six hectares and acquired the rest. But he is now 63 and has no one to pass the business onto in the future. ‘It seems to me that it was the right time to sell,’ he says. All the eaux-de-vie – brandy - he makes is sold to Hennessy, and this will continue. Chat will work for the new and as yet unnamed Russian owners for three years. � e vendor says that he had been contacted by local vineyard owners and small cognac producers but says the Russians moved fastest. No � gure has been given for the sale but vineyards in the so-called ‘� ns-bois’ region of cognac country normally sell for around €38,000 to € 40,000 a hectare.

Russians buy cognac land

In brief

08 COMMENT Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


One thing you quickly learn when you come from the UK to live in France is that it isn’t only the British who talk – and moan – incessantly about the weather. A few weeks ago the French newspapers were full of the drought that was gripping (and continues to grip) much of France. More recently they’ve been full of the cool, wet weather that dominated the second half of July. One front page headline simply urged its readers to be ‘patient’! Of course both the drought and the damp weather in peak holiday season are serious ma� ers, and have a major economic impact. But lots of my French friends, too, regularly comment on the meteorologi-cal conditions (usually blaming me if it’s raining for having brought about ‘English weather’!). I suppose the reason is that weather is just so unpredictable and varied that it’s always a talking point. Nature and its weather secrets cannot easily be fathomed. Which is why I had to smile when I heard that ministers in Paris were launching their major plan to adapt to global warming... at the very time the capital was ‘enjoying’ a record July cool spell!Meanwhile, we have recently taken over the highly-popular magazine Living Poitou-Charentes and the August-September edition is now available in tourist o� ces and other outlets. Like � e Journal, the magazine is free – and also like the newspaper, it will remain so. Happy reading.

A s in the rest of life, so in politics - what goes around, comes around. Just ask the hapless Dominique de Vil-lepin. Five years ago the for-mer prime minister snootily

remarked – and no one does snooty be� er than Villepin – that a man who couldn’t keep his wife could not be president of France. At the time his arch-rival Nicolas Sarkozy was going through marital problems and his then wife Cécilia le� him. Oops. For scroll forward to earlier this year and it was Marie-Laure Villepin's turn to pack her bags and leave her husband. One pre-sumes that Villepin – who fancies himself as a bit of a poet – will realise the poetic justice of this political karma and abandon his own planned bid for the presidency.

But Villepin is just a sideshow in French politics these days. Back in the mainstream the insults, rumours and alleged plo� ing are far more serious – and potentially far more damaging. � e latest and gravest have con-cerned Martine Aubry, who has now formally declared herself a candidate in the Socialist Party's primary election to choose who will run in next year’s presidency.

For some weeks a string of allegations and rumours concerning Aubry have been circulating in various parts of the web. One was about her husband Jean-Louis Brochen, who is a lawyer. He has been described as an 'Islamist' because he has defended some Muslim clients. It's an absurd suggestion, of course. Another more personal claim is that Aubry herself has a drink problem, and yet another that she had a problem with an eye. Again, there was no truth in these stories – but they were potentially damaging.

Eventually Aubry – who is an intensely private person – decided that she had had enough, and went public about the claims.

It was a high-risk strategy in one sense, as up until then the mainstream media had not reported on the rumours; once she came out and threatened action, the media could re-port them. But Aubry and her team reckoned that it was time to nip the stories in the bud in case they were taken seriously by mainstream internet readers.

However, the story took another turn when Aubry and her supporters started pointing the � nger over the stories. 'I know who started this rumour,' she told journalists, referring to the claim her husband was an 'Islamist'. She let her sta� reveal who – the UMP, and thus the Elysée itself, they claimed. � e governing party was also blamed for the other claims.

Predictably the UMP swi� ly denied the allegations, jeering that Aubry was trying to portray herself as a victim and that her claims said more about the PS's lack of real policies than anything else. But already one can see the start of a pa� ern emerging for the presidential election. � e socialists accuse the right of using far-right smear tactics to a� ack their politicians; the right say that the socialists are trying to mask the fact that their policies don't add up.

� e alleged smearing of politicians has a long and sombre history in France. In the 1930s the extreme right press was notorious for its a� acks on politicians of the le� . In 1936 the socialist minister Roger Salengro commi� ed suicide at his home in Lille – Aubry's � efdom – a� er being hounded by sections of the me-dia, who falsely claimed he had been a deserter in the 1914 -1918 war and was an alcoholic.

But the le� are not the only victims of smears. Only last year the absurd stories of Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni-

Sarkozy having a� airs did the rounds of the web before the Elysée stepped in and threatened legal action. � e big issue facing politicians of all hues is that rumours and allegations can be spread so much more easily and quickly these days because of the internet. Ill-informed gossip that once stayed within the con� nes of well-heeled dinner parties is now out on the web within seconds where they quickly become accepted by some as 'fact'.

� at is why the two main parties plus some of the others employ people to comb the web for stories about them and their senior politicians; the UMP has a team of six, while the PS has a group of ten involved in this type of operation. For the most serious kind of allegations, the parties can threaten internet service providers and websites with legal action. In other cases rebu� als are quickly put out, while positive stories are constantly being cra� ed and posted to try to ensure that 'good' stories about the candidates stay top of the search engine results.

No one knows for sure just how in� uential the internet will be in the presidential elec-tion, and it may be that a candidate cannot win the political war with the web. But many fear they can lose it online – if they don't respond quickly and powerfully enough. PAUL ALLEN

Dirty tricks, the internet and French politics

ANALYSIS

“THE TEAMEDITOR:Michael StreeterASSOCIATE EDITOR:Rachel LoosADVERTISING DIRECTOR:Jon [email protected] DIRECTOR:Kathryn DobsonART EDITOR:Nadia Van den RymPRODUCTION MANAGER& ADVERTISING DESIGNJustin SilvesterSALES:Sam BottomleyPHOTOS: Shutterstock & Wikipedia unless specifi ed otherwiseWITH THANKS TO:India Bottomley, Sandie & Mike GeorgePRINTED BY:The Charente LibrePUBLISHED BY:R et M Media Agency SARL499 307 924 RCS Angoulême. Email [email protected]: 05 45 89 28 29

Each month The Journal takes a look at what other regional newspapers are saying about big topics of the day

La Nouvelle RépubliqueDenis Daumin wonders at the change in fortune su� ered by green presidential candidate Eva Joly in the course of a few days. At the time that Europe-Ecologies-Les-Verts chose her as their candidate for 2012 Joly had been the ‘anointed’ one, a ‘queen’ who had commanded our a� ention. He says of Norwegian-born Joly: ‘We found ourselves moved by this uneven, rough accent from the � ords and peat moors. � is voice... was going to tell us some of the essential things that others had forgo� en. We were ready to listen to it.’ In fact, unfortunately for her, we were all too ready, adds Daumin. For everyone was paying a� ention when she suggested that the military parade on 14 July should be scrapped. ‘What malicious � y had stung her, what crazy idea had overtaken her?’ asks Daumin, who then quotes the old French proverb ‘Tourner sept fois sa langue dans sa bouche’ (which literally means ‘turn your tongue seven times in your mouth,’ or in more colloquial English ‘engage your brain before opening your mouth’). ‘� ere must be a Norwegian equivalent,’ writes Daumin. ‘Every Frenchwoman is aware...that you don’t touch 14 July. And even less so the parade of our troops,’ he writes. ‘It’s more than just a ritual, it’s a cornerstone of the Republic.’ For Daumin, Joly’s presidential campaign has ‘gone askew’ and the July message was a ‘failure’. www.lanouvellerepublique.fr

Sud Ouest DimancheIn his Paris-Province column in Sud Ouest Diman-che Jean-Claude Guillebaud looks at the role of the media in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn a� air, and is far from complimentary. ‘I love my profession of journalism enough to criticise it when it goes astray,’ he writes. Guillebaud is quick to dismiss notions that the media is controlled in any sense by a chief manipulator or ‘chef d’orchestre’, whether of the le� or right. Rather, he argues, it is in� uenced by a range of uncontrollable factors - money, competition, new technology such as the internet, the hunt for a scoop, routine stupidity, conformity, and so on. � e writer likens the media to a rhinoceros. ‘� is animal...has a power that is as destructive as it is short-sighted,’ he writes. ‘A vague smell, a slight noise is all it needs to get it moving.’ He adds: ‘Its headlong rush is straight and devastating...Strauss-Kahn guilty? Let’s go! Strauss-Kahn cleared? Let’s go again, but in the other direction!’ Guillebaud says that one minute DSK was ‘the tormentor’, the next he was a wronged ‘victim’, and all changed in just 24 hours. � e media could have re� ected for three minutes or been patient for 24 hours. But ‘sadly’, he says, that is not really feasible for the � rst rhinoceros on the scene... www.sudouest.fr


There is always the weather

EDITORIAL

� e contents of this newspaper may not be reproduced without permission. Articles in this issue do not necessarily re� ect the views of the newspaper. � e Poitou-Charentes Journal is not liable for the return of any photography or documents supplied for reproduction in the paper or the website wwww.thejournal.� . Please verify that the com-pany you are dealing with is a registered trading company in France or elsewhere around the world.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY

MICHAEL STREETEREditor

PS for breaking news check out ourwebsite at www.thejournal.�

Thanks to the internet, today rumour and gossip now quickly become fact

09MONEY & YOU



Following many months of debate, both the National As-sembly and Senate have now approved the 2011 supple-mentary Finance Bill. Here are the main points...

BOUCLIER FISCAL� is 'tax shield', which limited direct taxa-tion to 50 percent of your income, has been abolished (except for people with very low incomes and a high taxe foncière).

WEALTH TAX With e� ect from this year, the wealth tax threshold has increased from €800,000 to €1.3 million, though the rates remain the same (0.55 percent to 1.8 percent). From next year there will only be two tax rates: 0.25 percent for wealth between €1.3 million and €3 million and 0.5 percent for wealth over €3 million. � is rate will be charged on your to-tal wealth, from the � rst euro. Reductions will apply if your wealth is just over a threshold. Most people will � nd their wealth tax bill has signi� cantly reduced. � ose who bene� ted from the bouclier � scal, however, may � nd themselves paying more tax, especially if they are asset rich but cash poor. Don’t forget, though, that if you are a newcomer to France you will only be liable to wealth tax on your French assets for the � rst � ve years of residence. If your French assets are below €1.3 million you won’t be liable for wealth tax during this period.

SUCCESSION TAX � e two top rates have increased by 5 percent to 40 percent and 45 percent.

� e gi� tax deductions based on the donor’s age have been abolished and the time limit for

the renewal of tax-free allowances increased from six to ten years. � e tax payable will be reduced on a sliding scale for gi� s between six and ten years. Cash gi� s of less than €31,865 per child can now be made every ten years. � e succession tax rate charged on assets held within an assurance vie set up before your 70th birthday has increased from 20 percent to 25 percent, but only where the amount re-ceived by a single bene� ciary is over €902,828 (a� er the allowance of €152,500). � e resi-dence status of an assurance vie policyholder and/or bene� ciaries at the date of death of the life assured is now relevant in determining if a tax charge arises. Your bene� ciaries will be liable to succession tax if you are resident in France at the date of your death or if the bene� ciary has been resident here for at least six out of the ten years preceding your death.

� e tax rates, scope and reliefs may change. Any statements concerning taxation are based

upon our understanding of current taxa-tion laws and practices which are subject to change. Tax information has been summa-rized; an individual must take personalised advice.

To keep in touch with the latest developments in the o� shore world, check out the latest news on our website www.blevins� anks.com.

WANT TO SET UP A NEW business but struggling to get a loan from the bank? � en you may be able to get help from the Associa-tion pour le droit à l’initiative économique, be� er known as Adie. � is association was set up in France in 1989 by a woman called Maria Nowak, and has adopted the micro-loan system that’s popular in parts of the developing world to France. In essence it helps provide loans and business advice to people – especially but certainly not exclusively the out-of-work - wanting to set up their own business but who are unable, for one reason or another, to get loans from more conventional sources such as banks. Since 1989 it has handed out 97,000 micro-loans and helped create 74,000 small businesses. As well as the loans, it also provides detailed advice to people before they set up the business and a� er it is established. � e total � nance available is €11,000, made up of a €6,000 micro-loan and state or regional aid, and can be paid back over up to 30 months. � e loans can be used for the expansion of a small business as well as the creation of one. An advisor told � e Journal that the scheme is open to non-French citizens provided they are legally resident in France. And while the website and helpline are in French the advisor noted: ‘We try to make sure that all callers are dealt with properly.’ So even if you do not speak much French, don’t give up.

Contact details: the main website for Adie is at www.adie.org and the advice site at www.adieconnect.fr.

But it may be best calling 0800 800 566 � rst of all. An advisor will take your details, and if it seems you may be eligible for help they will put you in contact with a regional council-lor. In the Poitou-Charentes there are Adie centres at Poitiers, La Rochelle, Saintes and Angoulême.

Micro-loans from Adie

French expat healthcare law illegal

ECONOMIC FREEDOM RANKINGFrance ranks 64. Hong Kong ranks 1, Australia 3; United States 9, UK 16, Germany 23 and Spain 31.

An economically free society is considered one where govern-ments allow labour, capital and goods to move freely. This ranking measures 10 di� erent criteria including business freedom, the freedom from corruption, entre-preneurship and property rights. Source:www.heritage.org/index/ranking

FIGURE OF THE MONTH...FIGURETHE €

PERSONAL FINANCE€

David Franks, chief executive of Blevins Franks, looks at biggest fi scal reform for 20 years

Tax reforms – changes to wealth & inheritance taxes THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION has found

that the French government policy of forcing early retiree expats to take out private health insurance instead of allowing them access to the public health system is illegal. � e policy, which came into force in 2007, in-sisted that early EU retirees to France had to live in the country for � ve years before they could be eligible to join the health system through the Couverture Maladie Universelle (CMU). � e result was that those wanting to retire in France but who were below the o� cial age for taking the full pension had to either immediately take out private health cover, do so when their E106 (now S1) expired or become self-em-ployed. Many found the cost of private health insurance prohibitively expensive or were unable to be covered due to pre-existing health condi-tions. Some expats, already living in France when the ruling came in, returned to the UK to wait until they reached the o� cial retirement age. Details of the ruling were announced in a Cir-cular, an o� cial EU document. ‘� e Circular re-quires the authorities to assess whether a person is habitually resident in France,’ explains Maria Javorova, an EU spokeperson for Employment, Social A� airs and Inclusion. ‘� is is consistent with the EU rules: when an EU national is ha-bitually resident in France, he or she is entitled to equal treatment with French nationals as regards access to the CMU.’ � e French government now has to change its policy although it is currently unclear how quickly this will be done. ‘However, the Com-mission will monitor carefully how this new Circular is applied in practice by the French authorities,’ says Javorova.

HEALTH

BUSINESS

10 NATIONAL NEWS Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


GREEK CRISISFollowing the Brussels summit in July President Nicolas Sarkozy was quick to try to claim credit for having helped sort out the Greek debt crisis – for now at least – and restore con� dence in the Eurozone itself. He told ministers a� erwards: ‘Ex-plain to people that the agreement on Greece is a success, that France manoeuvred it from start to � nish.’ His election strategists believe the agree-ment can give him a boost in popularity. ‘While the socialists are caught up in the DSK a� air [a reference to the charges against Dominique Strauss-Kahn in New York] the president comes across as the man who � nds the solutions to save the euro,’ one of his advisers told Le Parisien.

END OF THE MINITEL ERAFrance Telecom has announced that the famousMinitel data access service is to be ended a� er30 years. Launched in 1982, the uniquely Frenchsystem involves a terminal or monitor that con-nects via the telephone network to databases.People have used them for directory enquiries,booking tickets and visiting message boards.It pre-dated the world-wide web and was in asense an early form of intranet. Minitel eveninspired a mini-boom - similar to the dot-combubble - as small companies were set up to tryto cash in on its usefulness. At its peak in 2002 ithad nine million private and business users. � earrival of the internet doomed Minitel, thoughthere are still 800,000 terminals in use and twomillion users. � e service will be disconnectedon its 30th anniversary, 30 June 2012. FranceTelecom says owners of terminals can take themto their nearest Orange shop for dismantling andrecycling.

CARLA PHOTO ANGER� e First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy has reacted angrily to the publication of photographs of her on the front cover of Gala magazine. Bruni, who is heavily pregnant, is not unhappy that the photos were taken – they were agreed as part of her visit to Fort de Brégançon to meet the wives of sailors who are currently engaged in military actions against Libya. But she understood that the photos were just to be used by the local press. According to insiders, Bruni is worried that the appearance of cover stories in glossy magazines may make it look as if she is using her pregnancy as a PR campaign to help her husband’s popular-ity. � e Italian-born model-turned-singer has asked for damages from Gala, which she says she will pay to a Navy benevolent fund.

VOECKLER MANIA� e country enjoyed ten days of Voeckler mania, as the 32-year-old French cyclist � omas Voeck-ler � rst won the coveted yellow jersey (worn by

the overall race leader) in the tenth stage of this year’s Tour de France and then, against all predic-tions, clung onto it until the 19th stage. In the end the popular cyclist – whose face dominated the front pages of newspapers during the period – was not able to withstand the challenge from the eventual winner, the Australian Cadel Evans. However his fourth position – behind Evans and the Schleck brothers Andy and Frank – was the best by a French rider since 2000.

BANKS GET THUMBS UP� e four major banking groups in France allpassed the so-called ‘stress tests’ carried out bythe European banking authorities to ensure that� nancial institutions are in a healthy enough con-dition to prevent a future � nancial crisis. ‘� eirlevel of capital is appropriate as it allows them to� nance the economy even in the least favourableof scenarios,’ said Christian Noyer, governorof the Bank of France, of BNP Paribas, SociétéGénérale, Crédit Agricole and Banques Populai-res Caisse d’épargne (BPCE)

MINISTER ATTACKED OVER WOLVES� e environment minister Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet has come under � re from an MP in her own party for her ‘blind support’ for the welfare of wolves at the expense of farmers who are losing livestock to the predators, which were re-introduced into France in 1992. Daniel Spagnou, an MP from the ruling UMP party and mayor of Sisteron in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, where 70 lambs have been killed or injured, wrote in an open le� er to the minister: ‘I share the anger that is growing in the mountains...I have had enough of these wolf a� acks on � ocks.’ � e ministry says that local prefects have the power to grant farmers the authority to shoot wolves – which are protected animals - if their � ocks are being at-tacked. � ere are thought to be up to 175 wolves living in France, mainly in the Alps and Pyrénées.

JOLY POLITICAL ROWA suggestion by newly-designated green presi-dential candidate Eva Joly that France should scrap its traditional military parade on 14 July caused a major political row. Joly came under a� ack from both right and le� for the claim, in which she suggested that such military parades were more suitable for countries such as North Korea. Her intervention came just a� er � ve French soldiers were blown up in Afghanistan, and a sixth was shot dead there. However, when prime minister François Fillon suggested that the Norwegian-born Joly did not have long experi-ence of French culture, he was himself criticized by some on the centre right for bringing up her dual nationality in such a way.

CLIMATE PLANSAs Paris shivered in one of the coolest spells of July weather for years, the government unveiled a programme of 230 measures it will take between now and 2015 to cope with global warming. � ese include steps to save two billion cubic metres of water, increased vigilance over tropical diseases in mainland France, adapting the country’s social infrastructure to cope with higher temperatures and heatwaves, and focusing on how to prevent forest � res in the north as well as the south of France. Climatologist Jean Jouzel, a member of the United Nations’ IPPC panel on

global warming, said France had to expect tem-perature rises of between 2 and 3.5°C between now and the end of the century. ‘Our grandchil-dren have to prepare themselves for a di� erent climate, with in particular an increase by a factor of � ve in the number of days of heatwaves in certain regions,’ he claimed.

PS PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFULS � e o� cial list of candidates for the Socialist Par-ty’s primary process to choose a candidate for the 2012 presidential election has been announced. � e six candidates are Martine Aubry, François Hollande, Ségolène Royal, Arnaud Montebourg and Manuel Valls from the PS and Jean-Michel Baylet, president of the Parti radical de gauche. Dominique Strauss-Kahn, the former head of the IMF, will not be a candidate, even though he is widely expected to have all charges against him dropped in relation to allegations that he tried to rape a chambermaid in a New York hotel in May. � e primary candidates will take part in a debate, though the format has not yet been agreed. � e two rounds of voting take place on 9 and 16 October. Hollande and Aubry are currently the frontrunners in the opinion polls.

SARKOZY ATTACKER ‘SORRY’A man who grabbed hold of President Nico-las Sarkozy’s jacket during a visit to Agen has claimed that he did not intend to a� ack the head of state. Local authority worker Hermann Fuster, 32, told Le Parisien that he had simply tried to shake the president’s hand and talk to him. How-ever as he approached President Sarkozy Fuster says he was pulled back by security guards, caus-ing him to reach out instinctively to stop himself falling – and grabbed the president’s jacket. ‘I would o� er him an apology,’ said Fuster when asked what he would say to the president if he

met him now. ‘I was not targeting the man but his politics,’ added the council worker, who received a six month suspended prison sentence and now faces possible disciplinary action from his em-ployers. ‘I have no desire to become an emblem of the anti-Sarkozy movement,’ he told the paper. ‘I just want my life to get back to normal.’

FUEL ROWAn argument broke out – again – between the government and French oil giant Total over the price of fuel at � lling stations. Having fallen slightly at the beginning of the month, the price of petrol and diesel began rising again. Total said they had no choice given that the price of oil on the world markets had risen again. Employ-ment minister Xavier Bertrand called for ‘total transparency’ from Total over its price rises. � e opposition said ministers were doing nothing while consumers su� ered and Poitou-Charentes regional boss and presidential hopeful Ségolène Royal called for Total’s pro� ts and prices to be capped, accusing the � rm of ‘abusing’ its domi-nant position in the French market.

TWEETING FRANCEFrance is starting to embrace the social network platform Twi� er and the Tweet. Out of nearly 200 million users in the world, this country still only has just under two million, but that number is growing rapidly every day. Even socialist politician Martine Aubry who until recently expressed horror at all forms of social networking media – ‘It’s not my thing to explain my state of mind,’ she said – has now opened an account. She tweeted on the performance of the French women’s football team in the world cup semi-� nal (they lost to the United States). Ob-servers say the recent DSK a� air has boosted the popularity of this rapid form of communication.

FRANCE AT A GLANCEA ROUND-UP OF NATIONAL STORIES

SO. AU REVOIR THEN, HARRY POTTER...France has said goodbye to Harry Potter mania with a bang. In its fi rst week in the cinemas the latest and last Potter fi lm ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2’, starring Daniel Radcli� e, pictured, attracted an audience of more than 3.1 million at 800 screens across the country. The media was full of analysis and goodbyes, and quoted tearful fans of the hugely-popular books and fi lms. To underline the success of the brand in France, when TF1 broadcast ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’ on 20 July it picked up an audience of 6.8 million.

11COMMUNITY



Strictly come line dancing

When it came to throwing my-self in the deep end, this was the way to do it. Joining the Association for the Develop-ment of Animation of North

Charente (ADANC) I discovered 400 new friends and a whole new world in rural France. Looking for a way to integrate, I joined one of the association’s country & line dance classes and over the next few years, thanks to my very patient dance teacher and all those at the club, not just my dancing improved but also my French (I learned some great jokes too!)

And then came the opportunity to be even more involved. Last year I was o� ered a volun-teer teaching role with ADANC. � en the as-sociation heard about a training course for those wishing to improve their dance and teaching techniques in country and line dancing, which also included the option to obtain a BREVET quali� cation. It was run by Country Form, a recognized professional training scheme found-ed in 2005 by Iréne and Gerard Cousin (she’s a professor of ballet; he a lecturer of music). � ey � rst discovered line dancing during a trip to San Francisco in 1994 and country music and dance have been their passion ever since.

Country and line dancing dates back to the 1930s and includes almost any type of dance, from the rumba and cha-cha-cha to country. It started in America with the Charleston and the shimmy and was invented to allow anyone of any age to dance, and without the need of a partner. In France, especially in the countryside, it has been a surprising hit with clubs and associations full of enthusiastic dancers. In my classes, the age range is from six to 70 years old!

Taking the training course meant that not only would I improve my technique, I would also receive a certi� cate that would allow me to be paid as a teacher, rather than simply work as a volunteer. So, along with my teacher Sylvie Damy-Berger, I enrolled. We were given 30 repertoire dances to learn before the week-long course and then came seven days of hard but enjoyable work. Four months later, in June 2011, was the examination. Buoyed by our earlier training course, Sylvie and I studied hard, did hours of revision on music terms and got to grips with the di� erences between West Coast Swing and East Coast Swing.

� e exam was taken by three di� erent panels of examiners. First, given a step sheet with a

new dance half an hour earlier, I had to perform it to music. Next I danced a random selection of repertoire dances and was judged on rhythm, dancing the correct steps and aesthetics. My legs trembled uncontrollably and my heart pounded louder than the music the entire time - how I managed to dance those steps I’ll never know! A music section followed, where I was quizzed on music theory and styles, and � nally a half-hour section testing my teaching ability by watching me intruct a group of students in a dance of my choosing.

A� er dancing my heart out, all that was le� for me to do was wait for the results. Given as either a Pass or Fail, if I had earned enough points, a ‘good, ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ comment would also be added to the result. To get an ‘excellent’ required a 90 percent score.

A few days later both Sylvie and I received the call we had been waiting for. We were told that out of the 43 candidates only three had achieved ‘excellent’ - and Sylvie and I were two of the three. Even be� er, I later found out that of all the candidates I had achieved the highest marks.

So, from next month, I will be a bona � de teacher with ADANC - and a whole new career awaits me!

ADANC o� ers line dancing classes and � tness classes in the north Charente, Deux-Sèvres and south Vienne � om mid-September 2011 through to the end of June 2012. Take the two � ee trial sessions and see what you think! For more information see the website www.adanc.com.* To � nd a line dancing club or association near you, ask at your local mairie or, if you have one, the Centre Socio-cultural in your closest town.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE PICTURE TAKEN IN THE POITOU-CHARENTES?

If so, email us and it could get published! Email: [email protected]

PICTURE STORY

‘A BRIDGE WITH A VIEW’The Charente river in the lovely village of Verteuil-sur-Charente.

PHOTO: NADIA VAN DEN RYM

EDUCATIONASSOCIATIONS

India Bottomley, aged 17, on how to arrive at the fi rst day of school with all you need…

Bonne rentrée!Four years ago Cath Cox decided it was time she started mixing it with the locals – so she joined her local line dancing association. And how things snowballed from there! She reveals how… Ge� ing ready for the � rst day of the

school year means tracking down a huge list of stu� to buy – and it’s not always easy � guring out what’s needed. On my � rst ever liste de

fournitures was a ‘servie� e avec a� ache pour le cou’. Back then my mum and I didn’t have a clue what it was so we bought a napkin and a napkin ring. Arriving at school I discovered that what was wanted was a napkin (well, at least we got that bit right!) with a piece of elastic a� ached to it that went around one’s neck. I made my grandma make one before the next day so that I could � t in.

Another time, my mum and I were confront-ed by alien words such as ‘porte vue’ and ‘a poche� e à fermeture éclaire’. We asked one of the ladies in the supermarket to help us, but she apparently didn’t know what they were either.

However, I arrived on the � rst day thinking I had it all right but needless to say I didn’t. � e teachers spent quite some time discussing if I could use the things that I had brought along instead. In the end, though, they highlighted what I needed and that a� ernoon mum and I braved heaving supermarkets to get it all.

� e moral of the story - get your supplies well before the rentrée and do your best to get the right things. To help, here’s my translated guide of what’s needed:Trousse: pencil caseStylo plume: fountain penCartouche d’encre: ink cartridge Stylo bille: biroCrayon à papier: pencilGomme: rubber/eraserColle: glueTaille Crayon: pencil sharpener

Règle: ruler Rapporteur: 180° protractorÉquerre: set squareCompas: compassCalculatrice: calculatorCahier: exercise bookProtège cahier: plastic exercise book cover Classeur rigide: cardboard ring binderClasseur souple: plastic ring binderFeuilles simples perforées: single A4 paper for foldersCopies doubles perforées: double folded A4 paper for foldersIntercalaires: subject dividersPoche� es plastiques: A4 � le pocketsGouache: set of tubes of paintPapier à dessins: an envelope of art paperCrayons de couleurs: pencil crayonsFeutres: felt tips pensCahier de texte: diary separated into days of the weekAgenda: diaryCartable: rucksack

OTHER TIPS: On the � rst day pupils should take their school bag, pencil case, note book and agenda or cahier de textes unless stated otherwise. * Your class mates will probably be wearing winter clothes. * You usually don’t have to do much work on the � rst day so make the most of it to make new friends! * School lunch on the � rst day is normally really nice too! My � rst French school lunch was ham and chips - my favourite food at the time, I thought they had put it on the menu just for me!

Cath (left) and Sylvie with their certifi cates

12 LANGUAGE & COMMUNITY Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


Translation is sadly a lost art in the digital age. This fact accounts for an English sign I once saw in Japan that said ‘DO NOT appear to a veranda’. I didn’t. Or at least, I think I didn’t. Per-haps I may have appeared a little bit. Unfortunately, translation sites have yet to be blessed with artifi cial intelligence. Yes, they translate words. No, they don’t always make sense. This is why there are hun-dreds of photographs of amusing transla-tions on signs around the world.

The problem is, words can have many di� erent meanings in another language. There are the faux-amis, or ‘false friends’ we learned about in school. Those are fi ne. It’s fun to think there might be a real cave when you buy a house, but we all know that’s a wine cellar and not a grotte. And I’ve lost count of the time that jokes have been made about selling ‘pain’ (with Eng-lish pronunciation and meaning!) rather than bread.

There are the words you think you recognise, like librarie. This is, of course, a bookshop, not a library. You soon realise the words that have a di� erent meaning: isolation means insulation; a phrase is a

sentence; a queue is a tail. Learning about your false friends is one

thing, but then comes the problem of words that have more than one meaning.

So, getting something out of your boot makes sense to the Englishman, though not to an American. We don’t mean we’re ferreting around trying to remove some treasure we’ve stowed in our wellies. Though we might. And ‘I tooted on the horn’ does not usually mean you assaulted a cow.

It’s the same in French. Vol can mean fl ight or theft. À vol d’oiseau could be ‘to the theft of the bird’. It actually means ‘as the crow fl ies’ but you’d be forgiven for thinking a bird had been stolen. Le vol de pigeons can mean a fl ock of pigeons, but it could also be every pigeon-fancier’s worst nightmare – theft of pigeons! How terrible!

What’s worse is that these are some-times complicated by whether it’s male or female. For instance, LE livre is a book, whereas LA livre is a pound in weight. LE tour is a tour and LA tour is a tower.

My favourite French homonym is the word fraise I’ve known this word for a strawberry since I was a young girl, as it

was once my favourite ice-cream fl avour. It’s probably a word – along with frites and lait – that I fi rst learned when aged about seven. However, much to my amusement, when looking for something to turn my soil over in my potager here, I kept seeing ‘cultiva-tors fi tted with four strawberries’ for sale. Sadly, a fraise is also a blade, a cutter, a mill, a [drill]bit – and so when the dentiste gets out his fraise, don’t think you’re get-ting a fruity treat for brushing and fl ossing.

And the favourite homonym of one of my French students? L’avocat. It tickles him pink to think of a round green fruit in a legal wig and gowns sitting behind a desk in a lawyer’s o� ce. To be fair, I don’t think I’m going to look at lawyers in the same way ever again.

Emma is a jack-of-all-language-trades, writ-ing English textbooks, translating, marking exam scripts for a major examination board and teaching languages. Although she started adult life as an English language and literature specialist, she has broadened her horizons to include Western European languages and Japanese. For more information see http://english-tuition.weebly.com/index.html

Healing the scars of battle For many British expats in the Poitou-Charentes, the UK charity Help for Heroes is close to their hearts. Here, volunteer John Hill explains why he got involvedHelp for Heroes has helped those wounded in the service of their country since Sep-tember 11, 2001. � e charity gives ongoing support to those who have been injured as soon as they arrive back in the UK for treat-ment and rehabilitation. One of its biggest

current projects is to help fund Personal Recovery Centres to help those who have been wounded to move onto the next stage of their lives. I became the Help for Heroes co-ordinator for France in 2008 a� er approaching them and asking if, a� er 27 years in the Army, I could help out and give something back. It was at the same time that my son, Chris, whilst serving in Afghanistan was badly injured when a suicide bomber jumped onto the side of the vehicle that had just picked him up and killed the driver and passenger. Chris took shrapnel in the head, shoulder and waist but managed to get out from under the overturned vehicle. But he was then shot several times. � e good news is that the

young repair quickly and he is now back serving again. My wife Sandie and I were extremely lucky to get him back; others have been there to receive their loved ones in a body bag.

Well that’s enough about me and mine. � e people of the Poitou-Charentes have been very generous over the past few years and the charity has been blessed with their donations to the tune of nearly £5,500 through di� erent ventures such as co� ee mornings, brocantes, 100km walks and garden parties to name a few.

Help for Heroes has, since its inaugura-tion in October 2007, raised a staggering £103 (€116) million of which more than £95(€107) million has already been spent. Direct action to the root of the cause is the principle taken and it seems that everybody

wants to help. People’s generosity never fails to astound me, especially here where most are on limited incomes yet always step up to the plate.

I try to � nd ways to raise money and I, with Sandie, and two friends Tom and Joan Cole-man, have just completed a 5, 300km rally through six countries in 14 days. � e rally was organised by a father and son in the UK and was designed for 4×4 vehicles with lots of o� -roading, cross-country and map read-ing. We had a great time and would not have missed it for the world. � e total raised by the 44 entrants was an impressive £151,000 (€171k) all of which has been donated to Help for Heroes.

My latest money-raising venture is collect-ing old and unwanted computers, stripping them down and rebuilding others with the good parts for resale. I take back what I have had to spend on them and the rest goes to the charity. However, it’s not just about raising money - raising awareness also counts. � e more people that become involved, the more support there is and eventually more people will be raising funds.

To know more about Help for Heroes (H4H)or become a volunteer contact me at [email protected]; tel 05 49 27 66 65, or see www.helpforheroes.org.uk Fundraising has started for the H4H 2012 European Rally and you can do-nate at www.bmycharity.com/britsabroad2012

LANGUAGE

Learning another language means getting to grips not just with verbs and tenses but also tricky words and unusual phrases. Our language expert Emma-Jane Lee steps into the fray, taking a look at the idiosyncrasies of the French language. THIS MONTH: I’ll have the Black and Decker with the four strawberries, please.

PARDON?

COMMUNITY

LETTERS!What do you think of your new paper? Is there something you

would like to share with us and other readers? We welcome le� ers so do please get in touch! Email: le� [email protected] or post it to: Le� ers, � e Poitou-Charentes Journal, Route D’Availles-Limouzine, 16500, ABZAC.

LETTERS!What do you think of your new paper? Is there something you

would like to share with us and other readers?

The intrepid 4x4 rally team

You’re not alone…� ree Poitou-Charentes-based musicians have also got together for Help for Heroes, composing and recording a song that they hope will raise money for the charity.Musicians Nigel Bradford and Alan Wilderstein wrote and composed ‘My Soldier’ and all royalties will go to Help for Heroes. ‘� ey wanted to produce a song with a deep enough meaning that it would send a message to those involved in the armed forces that they were not alone, that people’s thoughts were with them,’ says Belinda Isaac, who recorded the song. ‘And I have tried to sing the song with the passion it deserves.’

YOU’RE NOT ALONEI’m always with you� rough the night and all through the dayKeep that thought with youIn my heart you’ll always stayYou’re not aloneMy Soldier� e song can be heard on YouTube: h� p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EDKNH9iQ3Zg

13BRAIN WORKOUT



Road test your general knowledge and also of the Poitou-Charentes and France withour canny quiz! Compiled by L’Hibou

Sudoku Sudoku Word spiralHARD MEDIUM

Find solutions for quiz & puzzles on page 14>

The Quiz1. ‘Earth hath not anything to show more fair ...’ Where was Wordsworth standing when he thought this ?A. Beside Lake WindermereB. On Westminster BridgeC. On Montmartre

2. Which community in Poitou-Charentes has a mineral named a� er it?A. TussonB. JonzacC. Montmorillon

3. Which literary character stated, ‘Many’s the long night I’ve dreamed of cheese - toasted, mostly.’?A. � e convict in Great Expectations B. Robinson CrusoeC. Ben Gunn

4. What is triskaidecaphobia?A. Fear of falling overboard on a shipB. Fear of the number 13C. Fear of being cheated at cards

5. ‘� e past is a foreign country; they do things di� erently there’ is the � rst line

of which book?A. Michelin Guide to EuropeB. � e Go-BetweenC. A Year in Provence

6. What do the English call ‘La Tapisserie de la Reine Mathilde’?A. � e Lady and the UnicornB. � e Bayeux TapestryC. � e Field of the Cloth of Gold

7. Who composed ‘A Sea Symphony’ and ‘Sinfonia Antarctica’?A. Ralph Vaughan WilliamsB. Arthur HonnegerC. Gustav Mahler

8. A pioneer of Bande Dessi-née is known by the pen-name Hergé. � ere is a bust of him in Place Hergé in Angoulême. Which cartoon character did he invent?A. GastonB. AstérixC. Tintin

9. Who won this year’s Tour de France cycle race? And in which place did the best-performing Frenchman � nish?

A. Cadel Evans; 4thB. Andy Schleck; 3rdC. Alberto Contador; 2nd 10. ‘How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?’ Where, sings Bob Dylan, is the answer, my friend?A. Wri� en in the sandB. Frozen in the iceC. Blowing in the wind

11. In one department in the Poitou-Charentes it is tra-ditional to give three bises

(kisses on the cheek) when greeting friends. � e other three departments give just one or two. Which is this ex-ceptionally friendly department?A. CharenteB. Deux-SèvresC. Vienne

12. � e Loire is the longest river in France. How long (to the nearest estimate)?A. 772 kmB. 1,006 kmC. 1,352 km

13. Monet’s ‘Impression, sunrise’, the painting from which the Impressionist school of painting takes its name, shows what scene?A. A country sceneB. A market sceneC. A harbour scene

14. What was the outcome of the Ba� le of Poitiers ?A. Charles Martel turned back the SaracensB. Joan of Arc turned back the EnglishC. Charles de Gaulle turned back the Germans

15. Which two English kings were the only ones to die as recognised legitimate rulers of the Poitou-Charentes region?A. William I and William II B. Henry II and Richard IC. Henry IV and Henry V

TOP HAT QUIZZES

Quiz & curry nights every month5 locations

Charente / Deux-SèvresPrizes, bar & lots of funwww.tophatquizzes.com

Call Hazel on 05 45 71 70 91

Deliveries and Collections France, Spain, U.K.& Europe

(Including islands)

Personal, Friendly, eFFicient service

transport & small removals throughout europe

Frequent pick-ups B&Q, screwfix etc. or

Have your new 3-piece suite, bedroom, bathroom delivered to our store in UK

for transport to France

neW House clearanceairport, station, city transfers, shopping trips, nights out etc.

Phone for quote: 0549971556 / 0685805057UK mob: 07754732640

email: [email protected] 481 224 129 00033

Man and Van

Two kisses or three?

Looking for your own copy of The Journal?Check our website for the latest map of stockists - it’s regularly updated throughout the month

But don’t worry it you’re too late to get your own copy or out of the area, you can catch up with our ONLINE EDITION and keep up to date with the latest news on our website

www.TheJournal.fr

If you’d like to stock The Journal, just drop us an email to [email protected].

14 WHAT’S ON & ANSWERS Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


Boxes from 84EurosInstallations from

334Euros

00 33 (0)5 62 66 08 25 www.englishtvandradio.comAll things English TV and Radio here in France - Nationwide

English TV and Radio

QuizAQUIZ & PUZZLES ANSWERSHow did you do?

6 58 1 97

2

4 3

4 35 2 71

9

6 8

1 84 6 35

7

9 23 6

5 8 14

9

7 2

1 53 7 46

2

8 9

7 49 2 63

8

5 12 7

6 5 41

3

9 8

9 67 3 14

8

5 2

4 52 8 96

1

3 7

Sudoku HARDSudoku MEDIUM

* FARMERS’ MARKETSSummer evening farmers’ markets are a great way to buy fresh local produce and enjoy the night-time atmosphere. � ese Charente markets all start at 6pm:3 Aug - Nonac4 Aug - Roumazières-Loubert10 Aug - Alloue and Les Essards11 Aug - Mouthiers sur Boëme17 Aug - St Cybardeaux18 Aug - Roumazières-Loubert24 Aug - Champniers25 Aug - Mouthiers sur Boëme

* OTHER NIGHT MARKETS� ese are big events with stalls selling everything from local produce, to arts and cra� s and more...3 Aug - Chauvigny5 Aug - Montbron, Charente 11 Aug - Saint-Jean-d’Angély (with live Latin music)19 Aug - Rochefort, Charente-Maritime

* Exhibiton of old gamesThroughout AugustChâteau d’Epanvilliers, Vienne� is atmospheric château which is only open to the public two months of the year has added a new a� raction - a musuem of old games. See board games, wind-up ones including a tiny racecourse where the horses race in a circle. Open a� ernoons, except Monday, between 2pm-7pm. www.epanvilliers.com

* LA ROUTE DU SEL DES VIKINGS2-12 August Rochefort & surrounds, Charente-MaritimeFollow the pony procession by cycling or

riding, or enjoy the festivities at each of the towns that the procession, which celebrates the coming of the Vikings, stops at. www.larouteduseldesvikings.com.

* EUROPEAN HOT AIR BALLOON CUP4 - 7 AugustMainfonds, CharenteHeld every two years, see a colourful array of hot air balloons take to the air. Flights actually take place from all over the Charente, early morning and early evening. For the programme see www.mainfonds.com.

* PAINTERS IN THE STREETS5 - 7 AugustCharroux, Vienne� is village, with its historic octagonal tower, comes alive with this artists’ festival.

* MUSIC & BISTRO NIGHTSAngie Palmer (6 Aug);Somermoss (13 Aug); Steve Somers (27 Aug)Caunay, Deux-Sèvres€18 for live music, meal and wine. Mad Ha� er’s Kitchen, Le Logis, Le Breuillac, 79100, Caunay; tel 05 49 27 67 29

* FÊTE DE L’HUITRE 6-7 AugustRivedoux, Ile-de-Ré, Charente-MaritimeTuck into oysters and other seafood at this annual celebration.

* THOMAS OTTOGALLI LIVE IN CONCERT 13 Aug - Le Pub Kennedy, Angoulême, 14 Aug - village event at Champmillon (16)

His mix of funk, blues and rock will have you dancing on the tables! www.thomaso� ogalli.com

* FESTIVAL DU LIVRE13-15 AugustAngles-sur-l’Anglin, VienneBrowse at stalls selling lovely old and new books, and also enjoy street performances and traditional cra� s. � ere are also events for children at this large annual event.

* MUSIC FESTIVAL20 AugustCaunay, Deux-Sèvres� ree lives bands and a BBQ; Mad Ha� er’s Kitchen, Le Logis, Le Breuillac, 79100, Caunay; tel 05 49 27 67 29

* FÊTE DU SAFRAN20-25 AugustChampniers, CharenteAn annual festival to celebrate sa� ron, once

grown in the area and now enjoying a revival.

* CALLIGRAPHY WORKSHOP22- 26 AugustL’Abbaye de Fontdouce, St Bris-des-Bois, Charente-MaritimeOver � ve days, learn the art of calligraphy. � e workshop is aimed at beginners. To reserve your place tel 05 46 74 77 08 or email [email protected]. More information: www.fontdouce.com.

SOLUTIONS1. Adam2. Make3. Evil4. Lazy5. Yeti6. Item7. Monk8. Kiln

9. None10. Erse11. Exit12. Tack13. Keen14. Neat15. Trip16. Pest

Key word solution:Kestrel

WORD SPIRAL No.6

Word spiral

THERE’S PLENTY GOING ON AROUND THE REGION THIS MONTH…. THERE’S PLENTY GOING ON

What’s on

1 B 2 C 3 C 4 B 5 B 6 B 7 A 8 C 9 B 10 C 11 A 12 B 13 C 14 A 15 B

* CONFOLENS FESTIVAL9-15 AugustConfolens, CharenteTap your feet to traditional music and dance at this lively week-long festival where dance groups from around the world descend on this pre� y river-side town.� is year expect to see acts from South Africa, Canada (Quebec), Colombia, Peru, India, the Republic of Mordovia, the Russian district of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug , Serbia, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and, of course, France.Each year one country is designated as a special guest and this year it is Mexico with the night of August 11 being the Night of the Mexican Fiesta with 120 artists taking to the stage for what should be a noisy and eye-popping extravanganza.

� ere are also dance workshops and other events throughout the week. � e festival begins with Celtic night with performances by Carlos Nenuz from Galicia and Dan ar Braz from Bri� any. � e following night enjoy a Gospel choir from Mississipi as well as a Cajun rock band from the Charente! On Sunday, join the giant barbeque from lunchtime. � e Nuit en fête is on August 13 - have a meal in one of the many restaurants that spill out onto the streets, and then stroll around the town and listen to the groups, all of which perform on street corners from 9pm onwards. � e night ends with a � rework display over the river (the old bridge is a great viewpoint). For a full program and tickets see the festival website: www.festivaldeconfolens.com

THERE’S A LOT MORE GOING ON IN THE REGION - SEE THE WHAT’S ON AT WWW.DISCOVER-POITOU-CHARENTES.COM FOR MORE!

***HAVE YOU AN EVENT YOU WOULD LIKE TO PUBLICISE HERE? EMAIL US AT: [email protected]. DEADLINE THE 15TH OF THE MONTH BEFORE, EG, AUGUST 15 FOR THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE.

15LIFE ENTREPRENEURS


Follow us on twittertwitter.com/ThePCJournal Life

The story behind the lob-ster-inspired apéritif of the Deux-Sèvres> PAGE 17

PLUS! A day on the river..Spend time in the beautifulMarais Poitevin> PAGE 20

When told by their grandpar-ents that the train they’re about to take to the beach will run on the oil that cooked their lunchtime frites,

the children boarding Le P’tit Train de Saint Trojan on the Ile d’Oléron never fail to gasp in delight. ‘Many of our clients knew Le P’tit Train as a child, later brought their own children to ride it, and now they’re bringing their grandchil-dren,’ says François Bargain, who runs the train on the island. ‘Needless to say, there have been a few changes since then – one in particular!’

For today the li� le train that chugs around the island o� the Atlantic coast of the Poitou-Charentes runs not on petrol as it once did, but a mix of oil that includes reconstituted vegetable oil. In so doing it is part of a bold environmental experiment, for while recognised as a bona � de fuel in the UK and Germany, cooking oil is yet to be legally recognised in France. It is hoped that if chip oil mix works with the P’tit Train, the government will give the go ahead for its wider

use throughout the country. � e P’tit Train is the perfect vehicle for such

an experiment. It is a widely loved a� raction that began touring the south of the island in 1963 a� er it was set up by Pol Gala, the grandfather of François' wife. A military doctor, Pol Gala was also a train enthusiast who wanted to recreate the tourist tramway that had run from Royan to Ronce-les-Bains along the Charente-Maritime coast, but which had been destroyed during the Second World War.

However, another project was already in place there. Undeterred, Pol Gala searched for an alternative location and se� led on Ile d’Oléron. � e train was quickly a success, and today some 70,000 tourists and locals climb on board each year. � e colourful trains – there are now 10 - chug along a six kilometre track which crosses a forest that's home to roe deer and wild boar.

� e running of the train was handed down to Pol Gala’s son at the start of the 1990s and then

xxxPhoto: Roger Moss

> Story continues on page 16

WHERE TO STAY? WHERE TO EAT?

WHAT TO SEE?WHAT TO DO? WHAT’S ON?

Your comprehensive online guide to help you explore this beautiful region of France

www.discover-poitou-charentes.com

discoverPOITOU

CHARENTES

What happens to all that oil your frites are cooked in? If you’re on Ile d’Oléron, fi nds Rebecca Lawn, it becomes fuel to drive the island’s major tourist attraction

Chips with every train…

THIS PICTURE: François Bargain and the Le P’tit Train; BELOW LEFT: the

station (PHOTO: ROGER MOSS); en route around

the island

16 LIFE ENTREPRENEURS Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


Cycling is a wonderful way to discover the delights of the

Charente and Charente Maritimeregions and a great activity

for all the familyFor further information visit www.bikehiredirect.com,

email [email protected] call 00 33 (0)5 45 65 21 86

bikehiredirect.com

hassle free bike hire

in beautifu l Cha rente

Quality adult and childrens bikes delivered and collecteddirect to your holiday accommodation

Do you own holiday accommodation?Bike Hire Direct can make it easy for you to offer your guests

a great family holiday activity without any extra hassle for you...for more information please email [email protected]

to François in 2008. Today the trains on the tracks are third generation, larger than those that went before them, and a mix of German, English, French and Romanian manufacturers.

François immediately set about adapting the trains to modern times, starting with making them accessible to people with disabilities. And then, just over a year ago, he decided to become part of the new fuel experiment a� er being approached by a local association that had come up with a novel idea of using recon-stituted vegetable oil.

Roule ma frite 17 is the Ile d’Oléron branch of a nation-wide environmental association, and aims to promote reconstituted vegetable oil as fuel. It was set up in 2007 by Grégory Gendre, who, a� er years as a journalist cover-ing environmental issues and later as an activ-ist for Greenpeace, wanted to start something himself. ‘While reconstituted vegetable oil is not recognised as a fuel in France, many people use it to get around, they just don’t mention it openly,' he says. 'We wanted to be able to show properly, the di� erence in impact on the environment between it and petrol.'

For a symbolic � rst use on the island, there was only one candidate. ‘� e P’tit Train is like our Ei� el Tower,' says Grégory. 'It’s an institu-tion on the Ile d’Oléron!’

For his part, François was immediately keen on the idea. ‘With its dunes and forest, the Ile d’Oléron is a sensitive environment which has seen erosion from the sea,' he says. 'It made sense to me to be part of an environmental project.

‘� e question of cost didn’t come in to it as the fuel you use for a� ractions is tax-refunded and as such much cheaper than what you use for cars on the road anyway, so it doesn’t change anything’.

To use the oil François and Grégory had to ask permission from the Ministry of the Envi-ronment. Given the green light, Grégory and his colleagues set about asking local restaurants and bars for their used cooking oil. ‘At � rst, people thought we were mad!' laughs Gregory. 'Restau-

rants would say “you can’t be serious!” But we put it in place bit by bit. � e oil is collected by a van that runs on 100 percent cooking oil. � ey could see that it works!'

Today, some 92 businesses are part of the scheme, and the association also goes door-to-door, collecting a total of 20,000 litres of used vegetable oil each year, from which they pro-duce over 10,000 litres of fuel. Once collected the ‘raw’ oil is taken to a � ltration centre where it is le� to se� le for a few weeks before being pumped to get rid of pollutants.

Keen to get the best quality used oil, Grégory asks restaurants not to use palm oil as it isn’t possible to recover it, and to use potatoes rather than frozen chips as the water in the chips dam-ages the oil. ‘And we ask chefs to source their potatoes locally from farmers, which bene� ts everyone,’ says Grégory. ‘� e be� er quality the waste, the easier it is to use and the be� er fuel it makes’.

Using the vegetable oil has meant less pollu-tion and less waste on the island. ‘Poured down the sink, the oil used to end up blocking the pipes and cost a lot to clean up,’ says Grégory.

‘Or it was sent to Germany where it became methyl ester– a substance created by adding chemicals to the cooking oil, actually making it a pollutant. � is way, it is re-used without chemicals.’

Since June 2010 the P’tit Train has been run-ning on 70 percent fuel oil and 30 percent used cooking oil – the balance agreed with the Min-istry of the Environment for the experiment. A recent government report into the running of the P’tit Train found that the oil produced less carbon monoxide and other harmful chemicals than conventional fuels, and the success has spurred the association to think of new plans. ‘We’re looking at a forkli� which takes the boats out of the ports, and a nine-seated vehicle which will run on 100 percent oil and be used as public transport,’ says Grégory. ‘It’s a rural area and ge� ing about is di� cult without a car.’

As for the train, François hasn’t noticed any changes in how well it runs - well, except for one. ‘You can smell the di� erence - it’s like a BBQ!’ he laughs. ‘It’s much more pleasant, and actually we’ve noticed it gives people an appe-tite, and as there are restaurants at both stops...’

The Poitou-Charentes has many excellent craftspeople. This month we rendezvous with chandelier–maker Sylvie Giannettini.

Your chandeliers are quite unusual…Yes, I make then with all manner of things. They can be any shape or size. Each chandelier is unique, the materials and the bases are all di� erent. I use feathers, wood, pearls, glass, crystal, paste, clock workings... Each and every one is a challenge and they all give me great pleasure. It’s hard to choose a favourite. Those made of wood and the baroque style chandeliers too, perhaps.

Did you train as an artisan?No, I’ve had no training at all! It’s been a hobby since forever. I used to work in advertising but my friends kept on telling me to make creating my full-time job because I was so good at it. I do enjoy fi nding things and making them into something else.

Why did you choose this art form?I like too many things. I couldn't bear to be tied down to one material or style. With the items that I make I can use glass, wood, stone... I wouldn't want to be sat in front of a large block of stone every day trying to fi nd new inspira-tion for a new sculpture. Instead, with what I do, I can pick and choose what I want to work with and when.

What inspires you?Everything! I will pick things up from here and there not knowing what will become of them. Sometimes I will use the items that I found

within a day or two of their discovery or they can stay in my workshop for three years before I fi nd a use for them.

Who are your customers?Companies as well as the general public. I have made a chandelier for an estate agent out of nothing but keys and another for a chil-

dren’s shoe shop made with tiny shoes. But I also make chandeliers for theatre compa-nies. For other customers, I often make them from glass in a baroque style or using any other type material that’s asked for. I fi nd the baroque style ones are most popular with the British market.

Where do you get your materials from?It really depends. Sometimes friends tell me about things they have seen, I also fi nd items at brocantes, Emmaus and places like that. What I buy sometimes depends on if I have an order for something specifi c - I bought a job lot of Kinder toys for a child's chandelier the other day. I will also buy quirky objects that I think I could fi nd a use for in the future. I usually buy materials before I have an idea rather than the other way round.

What is the most di� cult thing you have ever made?The fi rst thing that comes to mind is a piece that I have not started yet but that someone has ordered from me. It's a lighting fi xture in a tree. It’s an outside piece so I’m going to have to be extremely careful with my electric wires and it's got to be 1.5 metres in diameter. It’s going to be quite a challenge!

Find Sylvie’s chandeliers at Galerie XXIV et Café des Artistes (24, rue de la Cloche-Verte, Angoulême; tel 05 45 92 90 27) and also at her workshop at Lieu dit Goulée, 16410 Fouquebrune; tel 06 24 64 86 33.

Meet the maker

> Story continued from page 15

TAKING LE P’TIT TRAINThe train departs from Saint Trojan les Bains station and arrives at Plage de Maumusson on the island’s southern tip. The track crosses the south of the island, going along the Baie de Gat-seau and opening out onto the bright yellow dunes of the Côte Sauvage before reaching the beach. ‘The most interesting part of the journey is be-tween Gatseau and Maumusson, says François. ‘The train goes by the sea and gets to the wildest - and most beautiful - beach on Oléron. Plage de Maumus-son is fi ve kilometres of fi ne sand with no houses on the horizon and uninter-rupted sea views.’The train runs from April to October and is open from 11am-5.30pm (de-pending on the time of year).There is a train every 45 minutes. It is best to buy your ticket 10 to 15 minutes before-hand. In busier periods, extra trains are added. For more information see: www.le-ptit-train.com

BARBECUE POWERLe P’tit Train is not the only vehicle in the area trying to do things di� erently. Over in the Haute-Vienne Jojo Rebérac runs his lorry on charcoal. When he needs to re-fuel he simply pops into his local supermarket and buys a bag or two of barbeque charcoal, tops up the lorry and continues on his way – at a maximum speed of 50km/hr. Jojo’s old Citroën lorry, type 11 U de 1936, was one of those adapted during the Second World to run on wood, coal or even char-coal at a time when petrol and diesel were both very scarce. Now with those fuels once again very expensive, if not scarce, Jojo’s lorry means a signifi cant saving. ‘My fuel consumption works out at about 250g of charcoal per kilometre, which is a lot less than using petrol or diesel,’ he says. The charcoal is placed in an adapted genera-tor. ‘Then I light it with the help of some newspaper,’ says Jojo. ‘The smoke is fi ltered through volcanic rock and then through cotton fabric. It is then cooled into gas which generates a specially-adapted carburettor.’ Fascinated by old vehicles for many years, Jojo came across the old lorry, bought it and did it up, using the plans that came with the lorry. While most of the lorries from that era were converted back to use petrol or diesel again, this one still had its original gas generator. It sits in a trailer at the back of the vehicle and generates the gas on which the engine runs. ‘It has nothing to do with steam engines, contrary to what most people think,’ says Jojo.

Feeling a little peckish?

The ticket o� cePHOTO: ROGER MOSS

INTERVIEW BY INDIA BOTTOMLEY

17LIFE FOOD & DRINK



RESTAURANTS

FAVOURITE TABLES

Hôtellerie Saint-JeanREVIEW BY AARON TIGHE� e white-washed box of a building says a clean comfy bed to break up a drive, not � ne dining. Inside the dining room however, you discover it’s been a startling miscom-munication: stunning views of � ouars château, elegantly set tables, a� entive and knowledgeable service and a wine list full of sublime possibilities. I ordered a Paris gold medal-winning Sauvignon Blanc, a steal at €11. � en there’s the food. I started with the hure de lapin, a moist and � avourful rabbit terrine layered with tasty seasonal greens and accompanied by a sliver of foie gras maison. I followed it with what I consider the restau-rant’s signature dish: gigot steak of lamb served with compote of dried fruits. My partner ordered the same and silence de-scended upon the table until our plates were dazzling white. A� er a splendid selection of cheeses, local and national, I � nished with an indulgent iced raspberry and cream mousse that exempli� ed summer.25 Route de Parthenay, 79100 Saint-Jean-de-� ouars; tel 05 49 96 12 60; www.hotellerie-st-jean.com. MENU DU JOUR: From €17-€35. Chil-dren’s menu available. Credit cards accepted.

Auberge de l’EcurieREVIEW BY MICHELLE PROBERTWhen you enter the doors of this restaurant, you step into an atmosphere of conversation, laughter and music with an incredible decor to match, as well as a convivial welcome. � e owners Frédéric & Franck have created their own eclectic style that they have shared on the tables, walls and ceiling for their customers of all ages to enjoy. When o� ered an apéritif, try the house champagne cocktail which will tickle your toes before your meal commences. You could be served my favou-rite homemade hot pastry, terrine de maison or even a tasty salad infused with herbs and spices from their garden, followed by a plat de resistance of pavé of duck, blanque� e de veau, or peppered steak... the list is endless. And there’s always steak haché or nuggets for the kids. � en delve into the amazing cheese-board with homemade conserves and � nish o� with Franck’s mouth-watering tarte tatin. � is is a local secret that I really must share... once been, never forgo� en.La Font d’Usson, 86350, Usson du Poitou; tel 05 49 59 53 84; www.aubergedelecurie.frMENU DU JOUR: midday, €11.50 or €12.50 for four courses with wine. A la carte – evening only. Credit cards accepted.

Looking for somewhere great to eat out? Each month we feature independent reviews of two restaurants in the region. Bon appétit!

DRINK

Make mine a lobster!The Thouarsais are proud of an apéritif inspired by a blague eighty years ago...

TUCK IN to the region’s specialities!

Pick up your FREE copy at a tourist o� ce near you!

AND IT’S ONLINE TOO

AT WWW.DISCOVER-

POITOU-CHARENTES.COM

Lemon and Mango Surprise Pudding‘I love mangoes so this dessert is a de� nite favourite,’ writes Lizzie Chapman. ‘Second helpings are always guaranteed!’

SERVES 875g butter, at room temperature175g caster sugarGrated zest & juice of 2 lemons4 medium-sized eggs, white & yolks separated, at room temperature50g plain fl our4 mangoes, peeled, stoned & diced500ml milkLemon sorbet for serving

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Using an electric whisk, beat together the butter and sugar until light and fl u� y. Whisk in the lemon zest and juice, and 3 of the egg yolks.Sift the fl our evenly over the mixture, then add the mango pieces and milk, stirring gently.In a separate bowl, whisk the 4 eggs whites until they form soft peaks, then gently fold into the mango mixture. Pour into a baking dish and cook for 45 minutes until golden and set.

Cocktail Duhcréole4/10 white rum2/10 Duhomard2/10 lemon juice1/10 orange juice1/10 cane sugar syrup

Half fi ll a cocktail shaker with ice, add all the ingredients, shake and pour into individual glasses.

Cocktail DuKipic1 cl Duhomard1 cl Cointreau1 cl orange juiceSparkling wine

Mix the fi rst three ingredients in a cocktail shaker. Pour into champagne glasses and top up with sparkling wine.

DUHOMARD DRINKS

It all started as a joke. Back in 1921 Emile Diacre, a broker in wine and spirits, was taking part in a � shing contest in the Argenton river in the Deux-

Sèvres. Feeling a tug on his line, he pulled it out of the water and much to his surprise discovered… a lobster!

His friends weren’t shocked, however. � rough their laughter they explained that they had played a prac-tical joke on Monsieur Diacre, placing the poor crustacean just where he would hook it.

In the end, however, it was Emile who had the last laugh – four years later he invented an apéritif which he called Duhomard in honour of his lobster catch. It is still going strong today, and is proudly recognised as an original product of the � ouarsais region. � ere is even a brotherhood to protect the drink, called the Confrérie du Duhomard.

It’s a mix of alcohol and quinquina bark, gentian roots and so� and bi� er orange peel. � e fruit is macerated in alcohol for quite some time, and the resulting drink is both bi� er and sweet. It comes in a red, white and cherry, the white being sweeter than the red

with the cherry having more of a tang. It is mostly drunk neat with ice or with a slice of orange, lemon or lime. It can also be used in cocktails (see le� ).Buy it online at the Duhomard website, which also gives a list of stockists: www.duhomard.� .

*Speaking of crustaceans, from this month to November look out for the Creve� e impériale des marais charentais. Raised as naturally as possible, it is known for its deli-cious taste of the sea.

COCKTAILS TO CUT OUT AND KEEP

RECIPE TO CUT OUT AND KEEP

POOLS BY JONATHANAgent and installer for several rectangular & shaped pools

including Seablue & Bloo Piscines

FRIENDLY PROFESSIONAL SERVICE

Competitive prices, try me for a quote

Terracing and landscaping service also available

ALL WORK GUARANTEED

www.poolsbyjonathan.com phone 0549840362mobile 0622361056

SIRET

47994761600021

LIFE ARTS & CULTURE Like us on facebookfacebook.com/ThePCJournal


18

Gençay (86) - behind the Mairie05.49.50.61.94 www.chezchristies.com

Looking for a book to enjoy? Elizabeth Sharpe gives us the pick of those just out… MUSICAL HAPPENINGS ACROSS THE REGION

Upbeat‘The O� cer’sPrey’ by Armand Cabasson (Gallic Books €9.10)� e � rst of three titles, re-issued and re-jacketed, with Captain Quentin Margont as the military detective who sets out to solve murders during the Napoleonic wars. � is title is set in June 1812 when Napoleon begins

his invasion of Russia and an in-nocent Polish woman is brutally stabbed. Margont suspects a fellow o� cer is the perpetra-tor which means he has a near impossible task. Well-wri� en, well-researched and an exciting historical portrayal. � e pub-lisher has kindly o� ered three sets of the three titles as prizes; the other books being ‘Wolf

Hunt’ and ‘Memory of Flames’. You will not be disappointed.

‘Pure’ by Andrew Miller (Sceptre €20.55)Young Jean-Baptiste Bara� e is an engi-neer who is ambi-tious to advance his career. On arrival in Paris in 1785, he is charged with the task of overseeing the destruction of the cemetery and church of Les

Innocents in Les Halles. � e revolutionary undercurrents of unrest are woven into the excel-lent prose. Li� le cameos such as the dog peeing on the parquet of the neglected Palace of Versailles; mysterious threatening gra� ti; the removal of the bones accom-panied by disgruntled priests singing prayers – all contribute

to the feeling this is a city on the cusp of something terrible.

ALSO WORTH READING

FAVOURITE READ

‘The Paris Wife’ by Paula McLain(Virago €17.60)Told from the viewpoint of Hadley Hemingway, Ernest’s � rst wife, this takes places mostly in the literary Paris of the 1920s although she explains how she met Hemingway in Chicago and describes their

bi� er-sweet marriage and trip to Europe. � ey live in Paris, have a baby, and fall in with a lively circle of expatriots including Gertrude Stein, Ezra Pound and the Fitzgeralds. McLain has created a vivid atmosphere of the jazz-age Paris and captured the highs and, eventually, the devastating lows of a literary

wife. De� nite page-turner.

WIN!We have three copies of Pure and � e Paris Wife, as well as three sets of the Armand Cabasson series of books to give away. To enter the competition, answer this question: What is the French word for a book?a) une chaiseb) un livrec) un chat

Love music? Make it happen, by letting them (and us) know...Just being there and supporting events enables venues to keep

presenting more and better live music, which in turn encourages

local musicians to work harder and talented players from elsewhere

to come and perform here. And you can help us help everyone in-

volved in making music by telling your friends about this page. And

if you’re a performer, or run a venue, be sure to let us have all your

forthcoming event details by emailing us at: whatson@the

journal.fr. We’ll list them on the What’s On page free of charge and

will also add the very latest updates to the What’s On section at:

www.thejournal.fr.

Thomas, left, on stage with Nicolas Mirande at Verteuil en Musique 2010. Photo:© Ian Wilson

Books

Send your answer to to:competitions@thejournal.� or post your entries to: � e PC Journal, Route D’Availles-Limouzine, 16500, ABZAC. Please state which book you wish to win and include your full postal address plus telephone number or email. � e winners will be the � rst correct entries chosen at ran-dom a� er the closing date of August 31. Noti� cation by telephone or email.

Our music columnist Roger Moss is wowed by one of the region’s hottest live acts - Thomas Ottogalli

THOMAS OTTOGALLI: THE DAY (available on CD or MP3 download from Amazon or iTunes)

Some great live acts somehow lose the magic in the studio, but that’s certainly not the case here. The line-up includes the recently-departed Baptiste Brondy on drums, but the overall feel remains much the same – if you’re after comparisons, imagine Level 42-meets-John Mayer. Or maybe Mark Knopfl er on steroids... Ultimately, though, it’s unique and un-mistakable, which is a neat trick to pull o� . In addition to seven of Thomas’ own songs (plus the haunting ‘I Believed Her’, co-written with Nicolas Mirande) there are interesting reworks of Dylan’s ‘Don’t Think Twice’ and ZZ Top’s ‘Tush’. Highly recommended.

It’s not everyday you see people driven by the sheer energy of live music to actually get up and dance on tables, but when it happened recently I just knew I was witnessing something pre� y special. On

that occasion the man responsible was � omas O� ogalli, who originally powered his way into my consciousness courtesy of some sample tracks from his slickly-produced album ‘� e Day’, and went on to deliver a killer set with his trio line-up at last summer’s Verteuil en Music Festival. A bigger surprise, though, was that these days he’s based locally, near Angoulême.

It wasn’t always like that, as � omas ex-plained in � awless English when I caught upwith him recently during a calmer momentat home. ‘When I was just a kid my dad was aprofessional banjo-player so there was alwaysmusic around me,’ he says. ‘He got me playing guitar, and I ended up powering out rhythm parts while he picked bluegrass banjo. It was a pre� y Bohemian lifestyle; during the late

seventies my parents decided to leave Paris, go to London and just hang out for awhile, to be a part of the vibe. In the end we stayed for eight years, so I ended up speaking English as well as French.’

With a start like that it’s hardly surprising that � omas himself has been a professional musician since the age of 18. ‘For years I played just about everything – all kinds of stu� , for whoever hired me,’ he says. Eventually, though, his own style began to emerge, fusing diverse el-ements of funk, groove, rock, folk and country, with his own songs – wri� en and performed in English. Finally, his formidable guitar technique allowed him to pare things down to the present classic trio line-up, featuring Nicolas Mirande on bass and Antony Breyer on drums. � ese guys are almost a band all on their own, so it’s a marriage made in heaven, the end result having the kind of raw purity combined with slick, polished dynamics which allow things to li� o� , and take the audience with them. And I can tell you, there’s no be� er place to be.

But don’t take my word for it. You can hear sound-clips on www.thomaso� ogalli.com or be� er still, catch one of the band’s all-too-infrequent dates around the region, and judge for yourself – just be careful on those tables...

APPEARING LIVE: August 13, 10pm Le Pub Kennedy, AngoulêmeAugust 14, 6pm Village event at Champmillon (16)

THOMAS OTTOGALLI: THE DAY (available on CD or MP3 download from Amazon or iTunes)

Some great live acts somehow lose the

19LIFE OUTDOORS



One of the nicest sights of midsummer is the Buddleia (or Buddleja) davidii shrub covered with bu� er� ies and bees, the blues and purples of

the � owers enticing the insects to gather their nectar. Enjoying full sun and being generally hardy, these large deciduous or evergreen shrubs can create a wonderful backdrop in the garden during the summer months.

But Buddleia is not just for summer – al-though B. Davidii is the most commonly planted, there are other varieties that � ower at di� erent times, allowing the gardener to enjoy the colours and scent from late spring, through summer and into autumn.

One of the early varieties to � ower is B. Alternifolia or the weeping Buddleia. With its more slender leaf and arching branches covered in small purple blooms it is a lovely sight at the start of the summer. Cut back a� er � owering as the � owers are borne on last year’s growth and

you can keep it to a reasonable size; otherwise it can grow to 3 or 4m in height. Or it is possible to train it into a small half standard tree with the branches weeping from above.

Most commonly seen with B. Davidii, are those with blue and purple � owers but they actually come in many di� erent shades and colours, from the dark purple Black Knight, through Royal Red to pink, lilac to Nanho Blue and then yellow and white. B. Davidii White Perfection is a white � ower with a golden yel-low centre and has one of the strongest scents of the family. Other favourite varieties include B. Globosa, the orange ball tree has deep golden balls of tiny � owers in spring and early summer, creating a large, tall shrub very rapidly. B. Xweyeriana is a hybrid between B. Davidii and B. Globosa; in growth habit it resembles B. Davidii but the � ower spikes are broken into small globular bunches of yellow � owers reminiscent of B. Globosa.

Buddleias are not too fussy about soil type, enjoy the sun and are fairly hardy, although they are not always long lived. Pruning is best done in early spring when the shrub can be cut back quite hard to give a more compact shape, the only exception being B. Alternifolia - too hard a prune at this time may result in the loss of � ow-ers for that year.

It is always worth trying to extend the � ower-ing season of B. Davidii by removing the spent � ower spikes at the end of branches as they fade. � is encourages new smaller heads to � ower lower down the stem, prolonging the display and giving bu� er� ies another chance to gather the sweet nectar.

Anne Clarke owns Arbres et Abeilles nursery which stocks an extensive range of trees, shrubs and perennials. It also runs workshops, for example, on taking plant cu� ings. Situated south of Civray in the Vienne, and including a tea shop, see www.arbres-et-abeilles.eu for opening hours.

GARDENING With its lovely, nectar-fi lled fl owers BUDDLEIA is an excellent garden plant, says Anne ClarkeButterfl y heaven

A fl ash of colourNATURE NOTES

TREE-HOUSE LIVINGIF YOU’RE AFTER an interesting nocturnal experience, spend the night in the trees at Parc de la Belle in the Vienne. You can dine and sleep in wooden tree-houses that are at dif-ferent levels, between 4m to 12m, depending on how high you want to go. Some have also been adapted to be safe for children over two years old. � e tree-houses have no water or electricity so it’s de� nitely back to nature. But then, you do get breakfast delivered to your tree-house door! For more information: www.parcdelabelle.com.

NATURE

In brief

The nectar-rich fl owers of Buddleia

Our wildlife enthusiast Mike George catches sight of a zippy dragonfl y

At this time of year, you will o� en see a � ash of iridescent colour zip past you in the garden. It’s usually a dragon� y, one of the fastest � yers in the

insect kingdom. Dragon� ies have two main body-shapes: needle-shaped (called hawk-ers) and � at bodied (darters). � ey are strong � iers and can travel considerable distances. � ey never fold their wings but always hold them horizontally and at a right angle to the body. � ey have huge eyes that actually touch in the front of the head and bulge out suf-� ciently to give a good all-round view - they can even see what’s happening behind them. � e facets of these compound eyes are very � ne, and experiments have shown that their vision is outstanding.

Dragon� ies spend most of their lives in wa-ter. Hatching from the egg (usually injected into a water-plant leaf ) the small nymph begins a strongly predatory life, lasting up to two years for larger species and involving several moults. Eventually, during late July or early August, the nymph (which is now a much larger creature and spectacularly ugly to the human eye) climbs up a water-plant stem for a half-metre or so. � e back of the nymph then splits, and the dragon� y does a very slow back-somersault into the world, � nally grasping the plant-stem below its for-mer incarnation (which can stay clinging hol-lowly to the stem for days a� erwards). Now an adult, it in� ates its wings so they harden

in readiness for a largely aerial existence. � e whole process takes an hour or two, and the insect is totally vulnerable throughout. I have seen some lose their grip while drying their wings, falling into the water and drowning.

� e adults feed on smaller insects, trapping them in the ‘basket’ formed by the legs in � ight. � eir serrated jaws enable them to deal with the hard skeleton of their prey.

Mating takes place throughout summer and a� erwards the male usually stays with the female, holding onto her behind the head with claspers at the tip of his abdomen. � is ensures that he is the father of her o� spring,

and that no interloper takes his place.Damsel� ies (also in the order Odonata)

are closely related, however, they are long-bodied, smaller and more delicate. � ey are weaker � iers and are usually found on or near the water they developed in. On a leaf, you can tell them apart from dragon� ies because when at rest, nearly all damsel� ies fold their wings and hold them parallel to the body.

� e varied colours displayed by dragon� ies and damsel� ies can be spectacular. However, a� er death these colours fade, and collections of dead insects are usually very drab exhibits - far be� er to photograph them!

A bright red and blue dragonfl y

A damsel fl y rests with its folded wings parallel to the body

The iridescent blues and greens of a

dragonfl y

DON’T MISS THE AUGUST/SEPTEMBER

ISSUE OF LIVING POITOU-CHARENTES MAGAZINE!

IT’S OUT NOW AND IT’S FREE!

Available from tourist o� ces and selected English-language

shops, bars and restaurantsFor where to fi nd it see:

www.livingpoitoucharentes.com

IT’S OUT NOW

20 LIFE GREAT DAYS OUT



GREEN VENICE

Imagine � oating gently along a river, through sunshine and dappled shade provided by poplars, alders and ash trees. � e water, covered in duckweed, resembles a moving emerald carpet, and around you o� ers slip

into the water and swans swim majestically by. For lunch, simply tether your boat at a mooring in one of the many villages and choose a lovely li� le restaurant or a place to picnic.

Welcome to the Marais Poitevin, a watery world of wetlands, man-made canals as well as meadows, dykes and fens, that’s the second largest wetland in France a� er the Camargue. It has been inhabited since the seventh century, with the monks living in the Marais abbeys, draining the marshes to create the ‘dry marshland’ areas 600 years later. In the 16th century King Henri IV called this unusual part of the world ‘Venise Verte’ or Green Venice and the name has continued to this day.

� e Marais makes for a very di� erent day out. � e most popular way to see some of it – it is 97,000 hectares in total - is by boat. You can choose from a traditional � at-bo� omed boat, called a plate, or a more modern one. Hire a boat to row yourself or let someone else to do all hard work with a guide who will steer you through the maze of waterways.

If you prefer to stay on land, there are 50km of � at cycle paths through the Marais, making cycling another excellent way to get around. Or you can ride a horse, sit back and relax in a horse-drawn carriage or even a miniature train.

Make sure you spend time in at least one of the villages, many of which were once busy ports. Coulon is considered the capital of the area and has been o� cially designated as one of the most beautiful villages in France. Here you can see the typical marshlander houses with their white-washed walls and brightly coloured shu� ers as well as the more elegant Renaissance architecture in

white stone. � e Maison de Marais Mouillés by the river was where river taxes were once collected. Today it’s a museum where you can learn about the history and life of this atmospheric area. For more information about the Marais Poitevin head to Pôle-Nature at Taugon where you can choose from a guided or unaccompanied visit. � ere are also numerous interactive displays to help you discover the � ora and fauna (www.poles-nature.fr). Another gem is Arçais with its cobbled streets, old stone co� ages and ruined château. � is is the place to buy angelica, either in candied form or as a liquer. � e la� er makes a delicious apéritif. � ere’s more…See the Romanesque church at Magné and one of the last working windmills in the Poitou-Charentes at Marans, the 17th century mill grinding its own organic � our which is for sale. At St Hilaire la Palaud visit the nature reserve where you can try and spot the 70 species of bird there. In fact, you’ll want to spend much more than a day in the Marais Poitevin…

THE DETAILSBoating: look out for the ‘embacadère quality’ sign for assured good service. Arçais Venise Verte Loisirs: some guides can give tours in English – it’s best to make a reservation with them a few days in advance. Le Grand Port, Arçais; tel 05 49 35 43 34; www.veniseverteloisirs.fr. Embar-cadère Cardinaud: hire a rowing boat or canoe for just one hour or as long as a day. Maps and life jackets are provided and you can also order a picnic. You will need to leave some sort of identity document as part of your deposit. La Repentie de Magné, Magné; tel 05 49 35 85 00.Cycling: bike hire shops are found in Coulon, Arçais and La Gare� e. La Libellule: Place e l’Eglise, Coulon; tel 05 49 69 14 68; La Bicy-

For a cool day out head to the fascinatingemerald waterlands of the Marais Poitevin…

cle� e Verte: 36 route de St Hilaire, Arçais; tel 05 49 69 14 68.Horse-drawn carriage: La Caleche d’Arçais: guided tours in French; 64 rue de la Garenne, Arçais: tel 05 49 35 40 29Train: the Pibalou train takes you on a 20km trip around Coulon. DLMS Tourisme, 6 rue de l’Eglise, Coulon; tel 05 49 35 14 14; www.coulontourisme.com.Bird park: the Marais in on the path of many migratiory birds and you can see 70 di� erent species at the Parc Ornithologique ‘Les Oiseaux du Marais Poitevin’. Walk or hire a boat to see some of the wilder parts of the eight hectare park. St Hilaire la Palaud; tel 05 49 26 04 09; www.oiseauxmaraispoitevin.com.Eating out: the specialities of the region include eels, frogs’ legs and white beans called moje� es. Ma Gourmadise: a well-know

gastronomic restaurant that also runs a cookery school. Its shop will provide you with a picnic. 1 Place de l’Eglise, Arçais; tel 05 49 33 22 93. La Pigoulle: good local food. 52 quai Louis Tardy, Coulon; tel 05 49 35 80 99Tourist o� ces: in the Marais Poitevin, � nd one in Coulon, Arçais, St Hilaire la Palud and Mauze-sur-le-Mignon. Niort tourist o� ce will also have plenty of information. Maps showing suggested circuits are available in English. � ey can also organise visits of a day or more. www.marais-poitevin.com

THIS PICTURE & BELOW: the tranquility of the Marais PoitevinBELOW RIGHT: The area is rich in wildlife. PHOTO: ROGER MOSS

The Poitou-Charentes Journal - August 2011

Documents

Transcript of The Poitou-Charentes Journal - August 2011