This French Life

Autumn fair and remembrance service in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 11 November

THE annual autumn fair in Villefranche-du-Périgord takes place on Friday 11 November, offering up range of local products and items from village shops and artisans.

Armistice Day will also be remembered with a simple ceremony outside the mairie, usually starting around 11h30 where a small crowd gathers close to the war memorial which is at the head of the village opposite the post office.

The autumn fair runs throughout the day.

Peter et Elliott le Dragon in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 28 October

MR. Meacham (Robert Redford), a woodcarver, delights local children with stories of a mysterious dragon that lives deep in the woods of the Pacific Northwest.

His daughter Grace (Bryce Dallas Howard) believes these are just tall tales, until she meets Pete (Oakes Fegley), a 10-year-old orphan who says he lives in the woods with a giant, friendly dragon.

With help from a young girl named Natalie (Oona Laurence), Grace sets out to investigate if this fantastic claim can be true.

The showing, in French, takes place on Friday 28 October and starts at 20h30 at the foyer rural, Place de la Halle, Villefranche-du-Périgord. Tickets are priced €6 with reduced rates of €4.50.

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Depuis de longues années, M. Meacham, un vieux sculpteur sur bois, régale les enfants du coin avec ses histoires sur un féroce dragon qui vivrait au plus profond de la forêt voisine.

Pour sa fille Grace, garde forestière de son état, tout ceci n’est que contes à dormir debout… jusqu’au jour où elle fait connaissance avec Peter. Ce mystérieux petit garçon de 10 ans - qui dit n’avoir ni famille ni foyer - assure qu’il vit dans les bois avec un dragon géant baptisé Elliott.

Et la description qu’il en fait correspond étonnamment à celui dont parle son père. Avec l’aide de la jeune Natalie - la fille de Jack, le propriétaire de la scierie, Grace va tout mettre en oeuvre pour découvrir qui est vraiment Peter, d’où il vient, et percer le secret de son incroyable histoire…

MPs in Assemblée Nationale hear of Brexit impact on British in France

A ROUND table meeting was held in the National Assembly in Paris on Thursday to discuss the impact of Brexit on British people living in France.

I watched the full two hour discussion and I think it was the first time that any French MPs really got a first-hand account of what the UK's decision means for those with homes, family and connections here in France.

The chair of the meeting was Claude Bartolone, president of the Assemblée Nationale, and he highlighted that with as many British people in France as there are inhabitants of Bordeaux there are likely to be many questions as well.

But he said after the meeting that the last thing he wanted was for "our British friends in France" to feel unwanted.

Here are some write-ups of the morning's meeting:

Brexit may not have happened yet, but the impact of the EU referendum on Brexpats in France has hardly been positive.

via www.thelocal.fr

A specialist in EU law Myriam Benlolo-Carabot told the round-table meeting that was chaired by Claude Bartolone, the president of the National Assembly, that unless reciprocal agreements are made the impact on the rights of Britons would be "cataclysmic".

via www.thelocal.fr

BREXIT would be 'cataclysmic' for Britons' rights in France unless it is agreed otherwise in the negotiations after article 50 is invoked, an EU law professor said at the National Assembly today.

via www.connexionfrance.com

A meeting of the French National Assembly this week, chaired by the Speaker (président) of the House, Claude Bartolone, heard at first hand the anxiety now felt by British families who have chosen to make their homes in France.

via www.ecreu.com/

One thing that was raised at the meeting was that some British people had faced difficulties with social security, and other administrative, applications with French civil servants saying that British people could no longer be helped.

This is not true and whilst the long drawn out procedure of the UK leaving the EU is running its course, the right for British people in France under EU legislation remain in place.

Should you need to print off an official statement one is available here:

Lors du référendum du 23 juin 2016, le Royaume-Uni a voté pour sa sortie de l'Union européenne.

Pour l'heure et pendant une période transitoire au cours de laquelle les modalités de la sortie seront négociées, les règlements européens de coordination en matière de sécurité sociale continuent de s'appliquer entre le Royaume-Uni et la France ainsi que plus généralement avec les autres États de l'UE/EEE et la Suisse. Cette période est d'une durée maximum de 2 ans à compter de la notification officielle au Conseil par le Royaume-Uni de sa volonté de sortie (Cf. Déclaration faite lors du Conseil européen du 29/06/20016).

via www.cleiss.fr

Gastroenteritis outbreak in France arrives earlier than usual

OUTBREAKS of gastroenteritis across many areas of France have occurred in recent weeks, well ahead of the usual occurrence of the illness.

IRSAN (Institut de Recherche pour la valorisation des données de SANté) has tracked a spike in the illness saying there have been 353 cases per 100,000 inhabitants at a national level.

This compares to a rate last year at the same time of 207/100,000 inhabitants and in 2014 the figure was 266/100,000.

The usual time for a spike in gastroenteritis is around January and February

2017 Tour de France set for the Dordogne

THE Dordogne will play host to two stages of the 2017 Tour de France with the race being in the area on the 10, 11 and 12 July.

All the fun will start on the 10 July with a rest day in Périgueux, then on the 11 July the race takes in a 178km stretch through the Dordogne, via Lascaux, to Bergerac.

The cyclists and caravane then head to Eymet on the 12 July for the start of a day's racing that will see the day finish in Pau, before heading off into the Pyrenees.

The 2017 Tour de France will start in Düsseldorf on 1 July before finishing on the Champs-Elysées on Sunday 23 July.

Fire at Parquets Castagné in Loubejac sees 70 sapeurs-pompiers attend

A FIRE took place at the local wooden flooring firm, Parquets Castagné, in Loubejac that saw around 70 fire personnel attend the scene over a 24-hour period.

The fire started in a drying chamber late Saturday evening and spread to a woodchip storage area close by, a number of fire vehicles were deployed to the factory including a foam spraying pump that was used to contain the blaze.

Fortunately no one was injured and none of the machinery or office buildings were damaged, so Parquets Castagné should be able to get back up and running very soon.

The collection of photographs below comes from the sapeurs-pompiers of the Dordogne who dealt with the fire.

Watch out on the roads after series of accidents

DRIVERS are being warned to take care on the roads during autumn, after a series of accidents in recent days in the Dordogne.

Sud Ouest reports on a number of accidents where vehicles have slid off the road due to surface water.

There is also the risk of petrol and diesel being on the road, especially after short downpours that bring it to the road surface and which is very difficult to see.

The Dordogne préfecture has posted a notice to its Facebook page about being aware in the autumn offering up advice about fog, the risks of wild animals on the roads and ensuring your car is prepared and safe to drive.

Fête de la Châtaigne et du Cèpe in Villefranche-du-Périgord; 15 and 16 October

ON Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 October, Villefranche-du-Périgord will be hosting its popular festivities marking the chestnut, and if available the cèpe mushroom.

The 28th Fête de la Châtaigne et du Cèpe sees the village play host to giant cèpe omelettes, the brother and sister hood of the châtaigne and even a chestnut spitting competition.

Saturday will also have a busy market day where you can try many artisan products based around chestnuts and other delicacies, and local restaurants will offer up special menus and you can walk off the excess with forest walks.

Detailed information will be available from the Maison de la Châtaigne, on Rue Notre Dame.

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Une fête traditionnelle pour celebrer, le Châtaignier, la Chataigne et le Cèpe

Les 2 jours : Vente de châtaignes grillées et de jus de pommes frais, marché fermier, produits régionaux. Marché aux cèpes en après-midi (Si pousse en cette période)

Samedi : 9h/10h : Marché et concours primé aux châtaignes, exposition variétale.
12h30 : Repas de la Châtaigne
14h: Randonnée de la Châtaigne
16h30 : Concours de ramassage de châtaignes à l’ancienne
20h: Repas de la Châtaigne. Sur réservation au 05 53 29 98 37 ou 05 53 31 71 00
22h: Bal de la Châtaigne

Dimanche Animation folklorique
09h: Cyclo de la châtaigne
09h30 : Messe (bénédiction des Confréries)
11h30 : Intronisations par la Confrérie de la Châtaigne de Villefranche du Périgord
12h: au Foyer rural : Dégustation d'une omelette géante aux cèpes
15h: Concours de craché de châtaignes
16h: remise des prix des concours.

Salon du Chocolat in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 23 October

INDULGE your sweet tooth at the fourth Salon du Chocolat in Villefranche-du-Périgord on Sunday 23 October.

A chocolate sculpture will slowly take shape during the day, while you can also marvel, and enjoy, some of the chocolate creations on display.

The fair takes place in the foyer rural, from 10h to 18h, and entry is just one euro and free for the under-12s, with the ticket price also entering you into a prize draw.

Le fils de Jean in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 14 October

ALTHOUGH Mathieu has never met or known his father, he is called one morning and notified of the man's death in Canada.

After learning he has two brothers, he goes to the funeral and encounters hostility from the rest of the family.

The showing, in French, takes place on Friday 14 October and starts at 20h30 at the foyer rural, Place de la Halle, Villefranche-du-Périgord. Tickets are priced €6 with reduced rates of €4.50.

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À trente-trois ans, Mathieu ne sait pas qui est son père. Un matin, un appel téléphonique lui apprend que celui-ci était canadien et qu'il vient de mourir. Découvrant aussi qu’il a deux frères, Mathieu décide d'aller à l'enterrement pour les rencontrer.

Mais, à Montréal, personne n'a connaissance de son existence ni ne semble vouloir la connaître.