Dordogne ladies move into the underwear market
The entrepreneurial spirit clearly lives in Nontron, where Shirene Pickering and Sue Stagg have set up a mail order business specialising in brassières for the larger woman. Having had difficulty in finding appropriate bras for themselves, Shirene and Sue felt they needed to come to the aid of other women whom nature had generously endowed. "80% of women are wearing bras that aren't right," Sue says. "And most of them don't even know!"
They launched their new business at the beginning of May, with a well-designed website entirely in French. This is no expat venture for the British ghetto in France, but a proper business aimed at the French market. The company name, Soutifaction, is a clever play on words, combining the first part of "Soutien-gorge" with the second part of "Satisfaction". Their website is well designed and user-friendly. The orders have begun to come in already. Shirene and Sue hope to be able to take on a small number of staff in due course.
We all wish them every success!
Josephine Baker honoured
June 3 marked the centenary of the birth of Josephine Baker , former chatelaine of Milandes. The event has been commemorated with a new sculpture of this famous local personality opposite the children's home at Castelnaud-la-Chapelle. Shown embracing a child, the black American who was finally given a state funeral in Paris is remembered not only for her glamorous showbusiness life but, more lastingly, for her work with children and the adoption of the "Rainbow Tribe".
More pigeons destroyed
Mussidan has followed the example of some of the other Dordogne towns in organising a reduction in the pigeon population. Local marksmen were brought in to shoot as many as possible, while there was also a campaign to remove the birds' nests. 521 pigeons were shot, in the course of three sessions. This is unlikely to have a permanent effect, but should provide a temporary respite from the mess and inconvenience caused by our feathered friends.
(My question has to be why do people not continue to build architecturally interesting and esthetically beautiful little pigeonniers for the much maligned birds, harvest the guano - as had been done for hundreds of years, and use the natural fertilizer in the fields, and all can live in harmony once again?......--WW)
More flights into Bergerac
Bergerac airport continues to expand, with Flybe now running flights to Leeds (once a week) and Exeter (five times a week). This brings the total number of UK destinations to eight – the other six being London Stansted, Bristol, Southampton, Birmingham, Liverpool and Nottingham East Midlands. However, the airport's future is still uncertain, and is becoming something of a political football between the ancient rivals of Bergerac and Dordogne capital Périgueux. The latter has its own airport, Bassillac, which has gradually foundered, while Bergerac's upstart, Roumanière, has gone from strength to strength. However, the volume of traffic at Bergerac is highlighting the airport's shortcomings – a grassy field for carparking, inadequate departure lounges and a tent for an arrivals hall. Fine for a makeshift effort, but probably not good enough for the 350,000 passengers a year now coming through.
Sarlat's restaurateurs band together
Following a damning review of the eating facilities in Sarlat in France's wellknown tourist guide "Le Routard", the town's restaurateurs have formed an association and established a quality code. Members of the association are required to use fresh ingredients and to have been established for more than two years. One restaurateur was refused membership when he said he could not take on any trainees.
It's going to be difficult for the new association to improve quality while avoiding unfair competition and discrimination. In a town where everyone knows everyone else, allegations of unfairness are likely to surface rapidly. Travel to Sarlat and sample the results yourselves!
Profile of the typical Dordogne tourist
A survey has recently highlighted marked differences in approach between members of different nationalities visiting the Dordogne. The British are apparently noted for their fondness for guided tours, whatever the weather, as well as for their fondness for golf. The Germans head for churches and abbeys. Italians, who come principally in August, enjoy château life and the local cuisine. Spaniards, on the other hand, are visitors throughout the year, and immediately seek out the Vesunna museum in Périgueux, whose architect, Jean Nouvel, is a well-known French figure in Spain. Dutch and Belgians resume their native cycling habits and get on their bicycles to explore the countryside.
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