Author: Craig McGinty

By Karen O’Reilly, Goldsmiths, University of London

The UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS) has recently produced estimates of the number of British citizens living in the European Union (EU). The numbers, apparently, have declined from 1.22m prior to 2017, to “around 900,000” (Jan 2017), and more latterly to 784,900 (April 2018).

Meanwhile, our research has revealed that most informed commentators (academics, local government officials, consular offices, and others who work with the British abroad) understand numbers to have changed little since 2008, and that the correct, conservative, estimate is closer to 1.8m.

So, what is going on? Where do these estimates come from? And why does the drop matter?

According to the ONS, its estimates, which are reproduced widely by campaign and interest groups, academics, politicians and journalists, are published “in response to an increased user need for data about the people who may be most likely to be affected by the UK’s decision to leave the EU”. The ONS argues that the heretofore trusted United Nations data (source of the 1.22m estimate) are unreliable “high-level estimates” based on extrapolating out from census data. The ONS said in 2017 that it prefers to use “more detailed census data”, leading to the first, inadequately explained, reduction to 900,000.

(more…)

IF you have seen white, candyfloss like webs high in pine trees, keep a watchful eye on the ground for the pine processionary caterpillar.

It is at this time of year that the caterpillars head to woodland floors in search of a place to pupate 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.

Beyond keeping your pets close to heel, there is little you can do to keep the caterpillars at bay. Professionals will use blow torch apparatus to burn the insects, but the trees in a small area will play host to hundreds of nests.

So just keep an eye out between now and May for the Pine processionary caterpillar, stay clear of pine trees if you are worried, and let the beasties progress on their way.

BE warned, if you take your dog for a walk on the streets of Périgueux and fail to pick up its poo then you face a fine of 68 euros.

The local council has had enough of cleaning the streets, with highways staff picking up around 100 kg of poo each day and it costing €100,000 a year to deal with.

The mairie in Périgueux will provide small plastics sacks to pet owners so they can pick up after their dogs, otherwise if you fail to do so then you will have to pay a 30 euro fine and a 38 euro legal cost.

MANY people in the Dordogne will have woken this morning to a centimetre or two of snow, as winter takes a bite before its time is up.

Here in Loubéjac the snow began falling late evening and by the morning a still, white blanket covered the ground, with few people out and about.

Temperatures are expected to stay around freezing for the rest of today and tomorrow, so the gritters have been out on the main roads (marked yellow on the map) although by the weekend rain is forecast to return.

FRENCH public holidays for 2018 are set to favour the workers over the bosses as many days off take place close to the weekend this year.

One advantage of the long weekends is that they should help boost tourism numbers especially if the weather plays nice and the sun shines.

It is also important to remember that businesses and many public offices will be closed on these days, so it will be important to plan ahead.

The public holidays in France are:

New Year on Monday January 1

Easter Monday on Monday April 2

Fête du Travail on Tuesday May 1

1945 Armistice on Tuesday May 8

Ascension on Thursday May 10

Pentecôte Monday on Monday May 21

Fête Nationale (Bastille Day) on Saturday July 14

Assomption on Wednesday August 15

Toussaint on Thursday November 1

1918 Armistice on Sunday November 11

Christmas Day on Tuesday December 25.