This French Life

Price of red priority stamp breaks through one euro barrier

HOT on the heels of a new look Marianne found on La Poste stamps, comes news that the price of a stamp in France will pass through the €1 barrier from Janaury 1, 2019.

La Poste has said that the price for a red priority stamp will increase from €0.95 to €1.05 and the price of a green letter stamp will rise from €0.80 to €0.88.

An increase of 10% in both cases.

Pick of musical styles at Les Pieds dans l'Herbe, Loubéjac: August 11

THE fourth Les Pieds dans l'Herbe takes place in Loubéjac on Saturday August 11, promising a long, mellow, musical evening for young and old.

Set around the church, and with a view across the valley, five different groups will be performing occitan music, Celtic tunes, tziganes and Jazz manouche, with snacks and drinks available from 17h.

The musicians (all times approximate):

19h – Irish Rollers (Celtic)
20h15 – Mena Bruch (Occitan Ragga)
22h45 – La Pompe Nomade (Jazz Manouche)

Walking around the festival will be music from Medieval times performed by Troupaï.

There is a small entrance fee of 5 euros, and free entry for the under-14s.

Campaign to raise awareness of risk of forest fires

WITH 90% of forest fires in France caused by human activity, and with the summer set to be long and hot, the gendarmerie of the Dordogne are warning people to take care in the woods.

The warning comes as part of a national campaign to raise awareness of how easy it is for fires to start accidently, be that by a BBQ that gets out of hand or working with small machinery and tools in the forest.

Gendarmes and forest personnel will be undertaking regular patrols to both look out for potential fire risks, but also to make sure people are properly informed about the steps they can take to stay safe.

An open air showing of Incredibles 2 in Villefranche-du-Périgord: 3 August

AN evening of open air cinema is on offer early next month beneath the atmospheric halle in Villefranche-du-Périgord.

Everyone’s favorite family of superheroes is back in Incredibles 2 – but this time Helen (voice of Holly Hunter) is in the spotlight, leaving Bob at home with Violet and Dash to navigate the day-to-day heroics of normal life.

It’s a tough transition for everyone, made tougher by the fact that the family is still unaware of baby Jack-Jack’s emerging superpowers.

When a new villain hatches a brilliant and dangerous plot, the family and Frozone (voice of Samuel L. Jackson) must find a way to work together again, which is easier said than done, even when they’re all Incredible.

The film showing , in French, takes place on Friday 3 August from 22h, with tickets priced 6€.

Art work on display at tourism office in Villefranche-du-Périgord

A NUMBER artists will be displaying their work in the tourism office of Villefranche-du-Périgord, here in the southern tip of the Dordogne.

Potters, painters and other artists will be showing off their passion for their work, with the exhibition open until 5 August, from 15h to 19h.

Linky: Do smart meters actually help reduce electricity consumption?

“No Linky” posters in Montreuil, near Paris. The first one reads “Linky: You can say no.” The second reads “Linky spies on your private life.” Some residents fear data surveillance rather than looking at possible advantages of smart meters.
Carole Salères, CC BY-SA

By Corinne Faure, Grenoble École de Management (GEM) et Joachim Schleich, Grenoble École de Management (GEM)

THE roll-out of electricity smart-metering devices is well under way in the European Union: a recent official report indicates that most EU countries are on track to have 80% of households equipped by 2020 (European Commission, 2016). Yet the roll-out is facing significant resistance in some countries, especially in France – the smart meter to be deployed in the French market, “Linky”, is facing a widespread and persistent “anti-Linky” campaign.

In some towns and neighbourhoods, anti-Linky stickers are being distributed and slogans are tagged on walls. A national “Stop Linky” day was announced for May 5, and a number of municipalities organised informational meetings, allegedly resulting in 500 recommending that residents refuse to allow the smart meters to be installed.

There is a new look for Marianne from La Poste

LOOK out for the new look Marianne found on La Poste stamps that go on sale from Monday 23 July.

The new stamp was announced in the Dordogne during President Macron's visit to a stamp printing factory just outside Périgueux, and it features the work of artist Yseult Yz.

And rest assured, existing stamps featuring the older Marianne can still be used.

Weekend village fête in Besse : 17, 18 & 19 August

YOU have the chance to enjoy three days of festivities in Besse as the village fête will be open to all over a busy weekend of fun.

On Friday 17 August the village will open the weekend with a farmers market from 19h, with the chance to have a bite to eat, a drink and enjoy some of the small amusement stands.

Then at 20h30 there is a Zumba session and from 22h the disco music starts with an evening of 'mojito'.

Saturday 18 August is also set to be a busy evening with a mechoui on offer as well as music long in to the night.

On Sunday there will be a three different cycle routes to explore, as well as two for walkers, with a small entrance fee and for those staying closer to Besse there is a church service starting at 11h and the fête comes to a close at 19h.

Music and more at Loubéjac village fête: 4 & 5 August

YOU are sure to have a great time at Loubéjac village fête, set beneath the old church and looking over the most beautiful valley, which takes place early next month.

On Saturday 4 August there is an evening meal, starting at 20h, of roast lamb as well as a starter, cheese, desert and wine priced at 17 euros for adults and 8 euros for under-12s.

From 22h the dance floor is open to all with music from SDF Animation.

The fete enjoys a quieter pace on Sunday 5 August, with a service in the church in Loubéjac from 10h30 and then in the afternoon there is a treasure hunt for children, a pétanque competition and then aperos from 18h and a bal musette from 21h.

Open air showing of Jurassic World: 19 July

AN evening of open air cinema is on offer this Thursday 19 July when the dinosaurs visit the atmospheric halle in Villefranche-du-Périgord.

Set twenty-two years after the events of Jurassic Park, Jurassic World takes place on the same fictional Central American island of Isla Nublar, off the Pacific coast of Costa Rica, where a theme park of cloned dinosaurs has operated for nearly a decade.

The park plunges into chaos when a genetically-engineered dinosaur escapes and goes on a rampage.

The film showing, in French, starts at 22h, with tickets priced 5€.