This French Life

Author: Craig McGinty

  • Electric car charger in Villefranche-du-Périgord

    electric car charging point
    IF your car needs a battery boost, there is an electric car charging point in Villefranche-du-Périgord.

    You will find it on the square in front of La Poste, on the eastern side of the village.

    It offers two charging plugs, with a maximum power output of 22kWh, with a charging voltage of 400 Volt and a maximum current of 32 A.

    The socket type is a T2-TE-[en].

    Car charger display board

    The charger uses the Mobive system and payment is possible via credit card.

    The Mairie of Villefranche-du-Périgord is close to the car charging point, as well as La Poste, the Tabac shop offering you the chance to pick up a newspaper or something to drink and La Bastide hotel.

    Another car charging point is available in Sauveterre-la-Lémance, around 10 km away in a westerly direction towards Fumel along the D710.

    A regular petrol station is available in Villefranche-du-Périgord, you will find it on the western edge of the village.

    If you are struggling with a motoring problem then the village garage is found just opposite the hotel, and if you are driving a motorised car then find cheap petrol prices in France.

  • Bibliothèque in Villefranche-du-Périgord

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    THE bibliothèque in Villefranche-du-Périgord has a small collection of English language books for those wanting to while away the summer months.

    Found next door to the Mairie just across from La Poste, the bibliothèque is open on Wednesday from 14h to 16h30 and on Saturday morning from 10h to noon.

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    There is a range of French language books that will help you learn more about the local region, and it is possible to order books from other libraries, with volunteers on hand to offer assistance.

    A registration card is not required to reserve a book, just address details.

  • Petrol station in Villefranche-du-Périgord

    Petrol station in Villefranche-du-Périgord
    THERE is a petrol station in Villefranche-du-Périgord, just look out for the multi-coloured cow on the forecourt.

    The petrol station is found on the western side of the village, about a kilometre along the D660 and is next door to the veterinary surgery.

    The station is open 24 hours a day and is operated by Aire C, who place brightly coloured model cows outside their petrol stations.

    Three types of fuel at the pump

    There are two pumps and the fuel available is SP 98, SP 95 and Diesel, with payment possible by card using the standalone payment point to the side of the actual pumps.

    Petrol prices in the countryside are usually quite a bit more expensive than town or supermarket petrol stations, although you can compare prices online.

    Villefranche-du-Périgord does have an electric     car charging point, but if you need another petrol station one is available in Sauveterre-la-Lémance, around 10 km away in a westerly direction towards Fumel along the D710.

  • A short autumn morning walk – Loubéjac pictures

    Loubejac morning
    A SHORT walk in the Loubejac countryside this morning, just as the sun rises and the mist begins to clear in the valley…

    Mist in the valley

    Loubejac field in the morning

    Sun rises alongside spire of Loubejac church

    Sun rises at the end of the countryside path

  • EcoWatt service tracks electricity use in France

    EcoWatt website shows electricity use
    EXPECT to see mention of the EcoWatt service over the coming months as France looks to reduce its energy use this winter.

    EcoWatt describes itself as a weather forecast for electricity use across France, providing an alert service should the supply come under stress.

    The service was created by le Réseau de Transport d’Electricité, RTE, and has three levels of use to advise people and businesses to cut their consumption if possible.

    Three levels of electricity use

    Normal levels of consumption are currently in place in early October, but as winter approaches we may see the next step up which is ‘strained’ and people are urged to cut their energy use.

    The third and final level is ‘very strained’ and EcoWatt warns that power cuts are very likely unless cuts in energy consumption are taken quickly.

    The service offers a four day forecast and it is possible to receive updates and warnings via text messages and email if you register with the website.

    The French government is currently urging homeowners and businesses to reduce their electricity use by turning down heating levels, using high energy use equipment during quiet times and turning off lights.

    And if you want to check the water quality coming out of your tap in France, then an online service is available for you to look over.

  • Mon Espace Santé lets you manage health data

    Health information, tablets and bandages
    THE online health service, Mon Espace Santé, provides a digital locker that lets you store and share your medical documents such as x-rays and prescriptions.

    Mon Espace Santé has been developed by l’Assurance Maladie and the Ministère de la Santé to provide a secure, online space where people can mange and be in coutrol of their health data.

    Once registered you can provide as much or as little information as you wish, but the idea behind the site is to enable medical professionals to access your medical records seamlessly.

    But you are in control of what medical records they can access as they must have your permission, however, if you are in an accident and unconscious then details can be accessed by medical staff.

    Although if you have blocked access to certain documents previously then staff won’t be able to read these.

    This service may sound similar to the Dossier Médical Partagé (DMP) system that some people may have registered with, but this is set to be closed and the information will be moved over to the Mon Espace Santé online space.

    Exchange of health details

    Mon Espace Santé information exchange

    One of the key features of the service is that it will be easier to contact and stay in touch with GPs and other health professionals via an online calendar and a clear timescale of health care events.

    When information is accessed it is recorded within your account, letting you see who has read over your information and what they have read, you will be notified via email the first time your doctor wants to connect and access your information.

    Insurance companies, businesses and employers will not be able to access your information and it would be illegal if they did.

    People with younger children can also connect their own accounts with those of their children, ensuring you are in touch with their health issues and medication.

  • Water use restrictions remain for Dordogne homeowners

    Dry ground in Dordogne countryside
    THE Dordogne authorities have said that the current water use restrictions will remain in place, with little sign of improvement in the near future.

    Update October 2022 – The Dordogne authorities have said that from 1 October the restrictions on domestic use will be lifted.

    Rainfall levels have been low across the region with Bergerac seeing 27 mm of rainfall since the beginning of September, and Terrasson just 3 mm.

    The agricultural sector still faces restrictions, and homeowners are also being asked to do their bit, with the current measures ensuring that water supply is being maintained.

    But all homeowners in the Dordogne are being asked to continue to be aware of their water use, with a ban on private car owners washing their vehicles remaining in place.

    Other restrictions in place cover private pools that cannot be refilled if larger than 20m3 and gardens, lawns or potagers cannot be watered between 8h and 20h.

    Map of Dordogne water use restrictions

    Map of Dordogne water use restrictions
    There are four different levels of alert covering water use, your local mairie should be your first port of call if you are keen to find out the latest information.

  • Preparing for the chestnut harvest – Loubéjac pictures

    Chestnuts hang from the tree
    MANY people across this corner of the Dordogne are preparing for the chestnut harvest at this time of the year, with the initial work involving the laying of nets beneath the trees.

    Netting beneath the chestnut trees
    Tractors trundle along the forest paths, laden with large sections of netting, these are then rolled out across the ground and stretched beneath the chestnut trees.

    Chestnuts have fallen onto the netting
    As the chestnuts begin to open in the coming days they will fall onto the netting, making their collection a little easier.

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    Some chestnuts have already escaped their spiky shells, but soon enough many, many more will be scattered across the netting, awaiting their harvest.

    Then a large vacuum machine will be used to collect the chestnuts, although some will be collected by hand with hunched figures making slow progress beneath the trees.

  • Water restrictions stay in place for Dordogne homeowners

    Old tap on stone wall
    WATER use restrictions for Dordogne homeowners, and many in the agricultural sector, will remain in place despite some rainfall in the département in August.

    The Dordogne préfet has said that from 1 September 2022, restrictions will be tightened on the extraction of water for agricultural irrigation in some areas.

    Homeowners in the Dordogne are being asked to continue to be aware of their water use, with a ban on private car owners washing their vehicles remaining in place.

    Other restrictions in place cover private pools that cannot be refilled if larger than 20m3 and gardens, lawns or potagers cannot be watered between 8h and 20h.

    Map of water restrictions

    A new map has been produced by the Dordogne authorities showing which of the four different levels of alert apply to different areas of the département.

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    There are four different levels of alert covering water use, your local mairie should be your first port of call if you are keen to find out the latest information.

    The Dordogne authorities introduced restrictions for homeowners on the 10 August and it was hoped then that they might be eased by the end of the month.

    But with water levels and the humidity of the soil still very low, it seems unlikely that any changes will be made for the coming weeks.

    Across France record summer temperatures have seen most areas face water restrictions and a campaign has been launched by authorities to be aware of water use in the home, agriculture and business.

  • “Oui Pub” trial launched to tackle junk mail

    Oui Pub sticker
    AT least once a week your letterbox is likely to groan a pile of brochures and flyers offering cut price deals, a chance to sell gold bracelets or tackle the damp in your house.

    Whether you want to receive all this paper is never questioned, but now a trial has been launched giving 2.5 million homeowners across France a choice.

    The “Oui Pub” pilot study is giving people the option to display a small sticker on their letterbox saying they want to receive promotional material.

    And those letterboxes that do not have a sticker will no longer receive the brochures and flyers.

    Map of “Oui Pub” trial

    The test will run from 1 September 2022 until 2025 in 14 areas across France, including ville de Bordeaux, agglomération d’Agen and Grenoble Alpes Métropole.

    Homeowners were provided with the stickers earlier this year and it was explained how the scheme would work, with unaddressed mail banned from letterboxes that do not display the “Oui Pub” stickers.

    Map of Oui Pub towns

    Amount of junk mail in France

    Figures from 2019 show that 894,000 tonnes of printed publicity materials are stuffed through letterboxes in France, and it is something that concerns the public.

    A total ban was proposed by a citizen’s collective, but it is hoped the “Oui Pub” trial will strike a balance, reducing the amount of waste paper thrown away and hopefully cut the cost of dealing with the rubbish.