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SATURDAY afternoon in Villeréal and it is time for a game of pétanque, the classic French game. The Pétanque Villeréalise ground hosts about forty players, who play in pairs, and with eight games being played at a time it’s a busy pitch. Stood to one side you can hear the... Read more →
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IT’S not every year you get the chance to play Santa but for my first Christmas in France the honour was all mine. A friend had been twisting my arm since arriving in the Dordogne asking me to be Father Christmas for her daughter. Naturally I had to check that... Read more →
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A USEFUL site for Dordogne property hunters is that of the region’s notaires. On it you fill find a search facility that allows you to pick an area of the department and search for everything from an apartment to a farm. You can choose any of the four Périgord regions... Read more →
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IF you spend a great deal of time in France it may be worthwhile buying a left hand drive car, that’s the easy part, the challenge is the paperwork. Just like the UK you need to be the registered owner of the car and for that you need to apply... Read more →
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WOW is the first word that comes to mind when you drive up to Elley and Gavin Reid’s home in the Lot and Garonne. And it’s not the panoramic views or the stunning stonework that makes you catch your breath. It’s the size of the challenge the couple have set... Read more →
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THE fight to bring high-speed internet access to Villefranche du Périgord is gathering pace. Led by Frenchman Georges Bolbach the plan is to petition French Telecom with the names of people who want an ADSL service in the area. The service will only be rolled out if there is enough... Read more →
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WHEN Bernard Traynor’s doctor said he should leave the UK for the good of his health, he and his wife Carole headed to the Dordogne. Living close to Rochdale, north of Manchester, Bernard and Carole took up the offer of staying in a friend’s house near Bergerac whilst they looked... Read more →
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TRAVELLING back into the UK after you have received a PETS passport for your cat or dog is not as straightforward as just getting the next ferry across the Channel. The first thing you should do is check on the certificate (PETS1) what the period of validity is so you... Read more →
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NO one’s certain how old the giant horse chestnut tree is, but one thing is certain it is big. As you walk through the wood you soon spot the large base of the tree from afar. When you arrive at the clearing the first thing you do is walk around... Read more →
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LOST deep in the woods is a small hamlet, its buildings crumbling before your eyes, evidence of the drift of people from the Périgord countryside in the past. In the woods around Villefranche du Périgord there are many small buildings that have fallen into disrepair. But the chance to see... Read more →
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