This French Life

Dordogne authorities ready to help homeless as temperatures plummet

WITH overnight temperatures set to be around -5°C this weekend, the Dordogne authorities are ready to offer help and support to those most in need.

Around 100 emergency places will be made available in Périgueux, Bergerac and Sarlat providing homeless people a warm place to stay in the fight against the freezing conditions.

Regular patrols will also be undertaken to try and spot people in difficulty and offer support, with drop-in centres also open providing advice, warm drinks and something to eat.

A nationwide telephone number, 115, is also available that is able to provide advice on temporary homing options for those with no where to stay.

The Dordogne authorities have also warned that with the expected negative temperatures, road users should be properly prepared advising people to ensure windscreens are clear and that they drive slowly in poor conditions.

Also around 60 staff are ready to take to the roads with gritting crews prepared and salt stockpiled in depots.

Glide across the basketball court and get fit with Basket Santé

DON'T get bounced around the basketball court, take it easy and get fit with Basket Santé being staged for the first time at the sports centre in Villefranche-du-Périgord.

The basketball club in the village is holding its first session of Basket Santé aimed at older people to help boost their health, but also balance and movement skills, without the rough and tumble of the actual game.

Supported by the Fédération Française de BasketBall (FFBB) the first session takes place on Thursday 7 December, from 19h30 to 20h30 with a series of gentle exercises and ball catching games.

There will be no leaping up to the basketball net, or bursting down the wing past the point guard, instead markers are laid out on the court and participants carry and bounce the ball around the obstacles.

Those interested in the event can turn up in the evening and it is hoped that should it prove a success other sessions will be arranged in the near future.

The video below from the FFBB shows an example of the different exercise levels in a Basket Santé session:

Drones to take to the skies to tackle pine processionary caterpillars

I HAVE already noticed the distinctive 'candyfloss' nests of the pine processionary caterpillars high in the trees whilst driving around parts of the Dordogne.

And now drones will take to the skies in Cannes in an attempt to measure and ultimately destroy the nests found in the city.

The 20 Minutes website reports that Inra (Institut National de la recherche Agronomique) will use the drones to spray biological insecticide directly on the nests, with scientists saying now is the best time of year to tackle the caterpillars as they are still young.

Helicopters have been used in the past to spray wide areas, but this technique is now banned, and so the drones will have a lance attached to the body of the machine that will allow a pilot on the ground to guide the drone close to the caterpillars and target the nests.

The pine processionary caterpillars usually fall from the trees in April and it is when you will see the characteristic long lines as they follow each other nose to tail.

And while that is a view of nature to behold, the pine processionary caterpillar has a horrible 'feature', the small hairs on its back are poisonous and can be a terrible irritant if touched.

But cats and dogs are particularly at risk as the fine hairs can become embedded in the mouth, or stomach, and if not spotted quickly and dealt with by a vet, can prove fatal.

One man theatre show and music with Café Associatif in Loubéjac: 1 & 2 December

ENJOY a slice of comedy-theatre with Pierre Barré and his one-man spectacular, Ça Cartonne, that takes a comical look at the history of the pizza box.

Hosted by the Café Associatif L'Ecole, in the salles des fêtes in Loubéjac the show is open to both young and old and takes place on Saturday 2 December from 21h, with free entrance on the door.

Earlier on the Saturday from 14h you are invited to the salles des fêtes to learn how to make your own table decorations for Christmas - that are sure to take pride of place on the big day.

On Friday 1 December the café is open in the evening from 18h for you to enjoy a chat and even bring along a musical instrument for am open mic session.

L'École buissonnière in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 15 December

EXPLORE the French countryside with L'École buissonnière in the foyer rural of Villefranche-du-Périgord.

Alongside Totoche, Paul will make a school out of life, out of nature's secrets, and learn to catch fish and everything there is to know about game, mushrooms and plants.

The film showing, in French, takes place on Friday 15 December from 20h30, with tickets priced 6€.

***

Paul, jeune orphelin, n'a connu que le Paris des années 1920.

Il découvre le monde de la campagne en Sologne, lorsqu'il est emmené chez Célestine, épouse du garde-chasse et femme de chambre du comte de La Fresnaye.

Paul va découvrir des personnages uniques et inoubliables, dont Totoche le braconnier...

Queen officially invited to Sarlat's 'So British' Christmas fair

YOU don't get if you don't ask, so why shouldn't Sarlat invite the Queen to its Christmas fair this year?

In a smart PR move the team behind the organisation of the fair, which this year has taken the theme of "So British", has sent a letter of invitation to Buckingham Palace.

The letter invites the Royal family to the opening event in Sarlat on Saturday 9 December, and if the Queen or other members of her family attend they will be welcomed by a black taxi cab, an English bus, bagpipes and even a blast of punk music.

Many of the shops will be decorating their front windows in the red, white and blue of the UK, with a local British choir set to perform and even a 'Christmas kitsch' pullover competition on 16 December.

And even if the Queen is not able to attend, Sarlat hope their 'So British' Christmas fair will also be seen as recognition of the strong connection the area has with the UK.

The fair opens to visitors on Wednesday 6 December and runs until Sunday 31 December, with the stalls open until 21h during the week and 23h on Fridays and Saturdays, as well as during the school holiday period.

Full list of events:

Mercredi 6 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• 10h Chants de Noël – Chorale de l’école anglaise de Veyrines de Domme
• 14h/17h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

Samedi 9 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Troupe de cornemuses (Bordeaux Pipe Band)
Tours de ville en bus anglais / Déambulation de Punks anglais / Père Noël
• 14h à 17h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

À partir de 17h, rendez-vous, place de la Liberté pour le «Tea time» qui précèdera la soirée inaugurale, un moment magique et féérique à ne pas manquer

• 19h Chants de Noël – Chorale de l’école anglaise de Veyrines de Domme
• 20h30 Soirée Dance Floor – Patinoire de Noël

Dimanche 10 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Promenades du Père Noël et des Gardes royaux anglais
Tours de ville en bus anglais et déambulation de Punks anglais
• 14h/17h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

Samedi 16 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Promenades du Père Noël et tours de ville en bus anglais
Musiques et danses irlandaises (Les Gillies)
• 14h/17h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 10h/13h – 14h30/18h Concours du pull le plus kitsch de Noël – Place du 14 Juillet
• 18h30 Spectacle de patinage artistique sur glace – Patinoire
• 20h30 Soirée Dance Floor – Patinoire

Dimanche 17 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Promenades du Père Noël et tours de ville en bus anglais
Musiques et danses irlandaises (Les Gillies) / Orgue de barbarie
• 14h/17h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h30 Concert de Noël à la cathédrale Saint Sacerdos

Mardi 19 décembre – Centre culturel
• 18h Spectacle gratuit de Noël « Le Petit cirque d’hiver »
(sur réservation au 05 53 31 09 49, à partir du 5 décembre)

Mercredi 20 décembre – Marché de Noël et Mairie
•15h Concert du Glee Club du collège La Boétie
•16h Contes de Noël par l’association Tout conte Fée – Salle du Conseil Municipal de la Mairie

Vendredi 22 décembre – Marché de Noël
• 18h30 Concert de musique anglaise par l’union philharmonique (Beatles,
Rolling Stone, Queen…)
• 20h30 Soirée Dance Floor – Patinoire

Samedi 23 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Promenades du Père Noël et tours de ville en bus anglais
Parade des anges de Noël
• 15h/18h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

Dimanche 24 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Promenades du Père Noël et tours de ville en bus anglais
Parade des anges de Noël
• 14h/16h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h Spectacle de magie – sur le marché de Noël

Mardi 26 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus anglais
• 15h/18h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h/18h Les Acrolytes – découverte du cirque

Mercredi 27 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus anglais
• 10h/12h – 14h30/17h30 Mystérieuses coiffures
• 15h/18h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

Jeudi 28 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus anglais
• 10h/12h – 14h30/17h30 Mystérieuses coiffures
• 14h/17h30 Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque

Vendredi 29 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus anglais
• 10h/12h30 – 14h/17h Sculpteur de ballons
• 15h/18h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h/18h Les Acrolytes – ateliers découverte du cirque
• 19h30/21h Concert de Paris Londres – Place gourmande
• 20h30/22h30 Soirée Dance Floor – Patinoire de Noël

Samedi 30 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus anglais
• 10h/12h30 – 14h/17h Sculpteur de ballons
• 15h/18h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h/18h Les Acrolytes – ateliers découverte du cirque

Dimanche 31 décembre – Centre ville et marché de Noël
• Toute la journée : Tours de ville en bus Anglais
• 10h/12h – 14h30/17h Groupe de musique jazz
• 10h/12h30 – 14h/17h Sculpteur de ballons
• 14h/16h Ateliers créatifs – Ludothèque
• 16h/18h Les Acrolytes – ateliers découverte du cirque

Téléthon appeal in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 9 December

IN A couple of weeks many towns and villages across France will raise funds for the Téléthon charity, with extensive coverage on television and radio as well.

Here in Villefranche-du-Périgord there will be a number of events starting on the morning of Saturday 9 December based around the foyer rural with cakes, fresh apple juice, games, a lunch and the chance to have your car cleaned by the village pompiers.

A walk has also been laid out that people can follow, as well as routes for cyclists, each open to all comers for a small fee.

The French Muscular Dystrophy Association (AFM) organised the first Telethon in 1987 to fund innovative research programs.

The Téléthon is an opportunity for patients to show their daily difficulties, the concrete progress made in their everyday life and the hopes that research generate.

And the Téléthon also enables scientists and doctors to explain their discoveries and their projects.

France plans to go it alone and ban glyphosate herbicide

DESPITE glyphosate, the key ingredient in the world’s bestselling weedkiller, winning a new five-year lease in Europe, Emmanuel Macron says he plans to ban the herbicide in three years.

A license for glyphosate has been granted by an EU appeal committee, meaning Monsanto's popular weedkiller, Roundup, will remain on shelves and be available for use by farmers and landscape gardeners.

But President Macron was quick to say that a ban on glyphosate in France would be introduced as soon as alternatives were found, and at the latest within three years.

Nine EU member states, including France, voted against the European Commission's proposal to renew glyphosate's licence, with 18 voting in favour and one country abstained.

France was one of nine countries to vote against the European Commission's proposal to renew glyphosate's licence. A total 18 voted in favour of the licence, and one country abstained.

The EU health commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis said: “Today’s vote shows that when we all want to, we are able to share and accept our collective responsibility in decision making.”

However, the approval falls far short of the 15-year license the commission had originally sought and it will be this doubt over glyphosate's future that Macron will use to search for alternatives.

First truffles of season sees 'black diamond' sell for 750€/kg

IT was a busy, and profitable, day for those selling the first truffles of the season in Sainte-Alvère yesterday morning.

The small village, found to the west of Le Bugue in the Dordogne, opened its doors to around 50 buyers and those curious to see the sale of the black truffles found in the local area.

France Bleu reports that around 62 kgs of truffle were sold, with the best quality ones selling for between 600 and 750 euros a kilo.

And the demand was strong as the market was over within 15 minutes, but it is hoped that the opening day will herald a good season.

This year is expected to prove a good year for the Dordogne, as truffle producers in the south east of France have not done so well and buyers are expected to head to the region to get their fill of the 'black diamond'.

And if you want to see the truffle market yourself, then Saint Alvère will be hosting a sale every Monday morning until 26 February.

Related: Get set for Lalbenque truffle market

Demand to ban animals in French circuses, after escaped tiger shot

ANIMAL rights groups including the Brigitte Bardot Foundation, One Voice and the League for the Protection of Birds (LPO) have called for a ban on the presence of animals in circuses in France.

Their demand comes after the death of an 18-month old circus tiger that was shot after it escaped onto the streets of Paris.

The tiger was killed by Bormann-Moreno circus manager Eric Bormann, who claimed that the locks on the animals cage had been tampered with, enabling the tiger to escape.

But animal rights groups say that enough is enough and that France should ban the presence of animals in circuses, following the lead of 13 other EU Member States including Belgium, Italy and Ireland.

In an interview with BFM TV Eric Bormann said he was grieved by the loss of his animal: "We lost a member of the family, I raised him at home," he said.

He went on to say that using a tranquilliser gun was ruled out because of the time it takes for the sedatives to work.