Xynthia Brings Death and Destruction to France

Hurricane Xynthia battered France last weekend, with many losing their lives and hundreds of homes destroyed.

Although the Limousin escaped the worst of the weather thousands were left without electricity and hundreds of fallen trees and branches caused damage to property and blocked many routes.


North Haute Vienne and Creuse saw the worst of the damage in Limousin but all of the emergency services agreed the damage was nothing in comparison with the terrible storms that ripped through the region in 1999.


As one of the departments least affected, Corrèze sent emergency service workers to help out along the west coast of France where thousands were made homeless and the devastation led the President to declare the area a disaster zoneand make available 3 million Euros in emergency funding immediately available to help restore some level of normality to the area.

Limousin’s Mini Crime Wave Ends

Statistics confirm that the Limousin one of the most crime free departments in France, but over the last couple of months police had noted a sharp increase in the number of burglaries taking place in and around the area.



The blip in statistics appears to have been down to just one man.


Police arrested the 29 year old, thought to be responsible for an incredible one man crime wave in Haute Vienne , Creuse, Dordogne and Charente.


Private property or commercial premises , this career criminal was simply not fussy and robbed any premises he could get in to.


Police found it difficult to track down this serial burglar as before committing each break in he stole a vehicle specifically for that job later abandoning it and the man also appears to have no permanent address.


The list of burglaries the man has been charged with is very long indeed but includes over the last 2 months;


Kebab shop rue Godinet, Limoges

Hairdressers rue Adrian Dubouché, Limoges

Mini Market rue Montmailler Limoges

Zoom Café Place Denis Dussoubs Limoges

Carwash at Intermarché, Palais sur Vienne

Carwash Beaune Les Mines service station on the A20

Orient Express Restaurant Guéret

Bar Guéret

Kebab shop Guéret

Grocery shop Guéret

Also included in the c harges are at least five separate shops in Charente and at least five business premises in Dordogne including a florist and clothes shop.


The man was finally arrested at the Balladins hotel Limoges in an early morning raid on Monday.

Rogue Feytiat Postie Caught

A 21 year old woman was arrested this week for a serious of offences alleged to have been committed whilst the women worked at the post office in Feytait between April and September of last year.

She is believed to have stolen between 19 and 30 cheques to the value of approximately €3,800.

She is also being charged with using stolen bank account information from La Poste customers Releve d’Identite Bancaires (RIBs) to order luxury goods and mobile phones via the internet.


In total it is alleged she bought over €4,000 worth of phones which she sold on.

The woman has been remanded in custody.

Drugs Raids in Egletons

At the request of the training organisation Afpa ( Association nationale pour la formation professionnelle des adultes) in Tulle, police carried out a series of searches for illegal drugs last week.



In total 240 students had their cars and accommodation searched with the aid of sniffer dogs.


The dogs identified the property of 21 students as containing traces of drugs.

A thorough search of the property of these 21 found seven students to be in actual possession of illegal substances.

All seven have been issued with fines.

Break in at Chanteix Bar

Farmer Fallls Following Storms

French Entrée- Limousin on Facebook

French Entrée Limousin now has its own page on the social networking site facebook.


This a great place to meet like minded Limousin lovers, by joining in with a chat or sharing your pictures of this beautiful region.


The page is being administered by a long standing member of our discussion forum “Robbie” , a technical whizz and a long standing lover of Limousin who will be around if you have any suggestions, ideas or would like more information about the page.


The page has only been in existence a week and over 40 members have already added themselves so why not come and join us .

Look forward to seeing you there.

Big Bills for Billboards

Limoges is exhibiting caution in the application of the new tax to be imposed on signs and billboards advertising commercial premises.


Enforcing the new tax is a legal requirement placed on the council, but they have decided to utilize their resources to minimize the impact of the tax on businesses, in particular smaller businesses many of who are already struggling in the current economic climate.


The law passed on the 4th August 2008 as part of the governments modernization package of policies and applies to posters, luminous signs, billboards, fixed vehicles displaying company liveries, in fact any kind of fixed publicity visible from a public highway.


For the first year at least, Limoges is opting to give as much leeway as possible whilst staying within the letter of the law;


Signs between 0 and 12m2 exempt

12 to 20m2 are to be charged at 5€/m2

20 to 50m2 are to be charged at 20€/m2

Over 50m2 will be 40€/m2

Businesses had to declare their signs falling under the new legislation by 01/03/2010.


Application of the new tax and the policing of the declarations is to be carried out by each individual commune.

For information on tariffs in your area you need contact the mayor’s office of the commune concerned.

Looking for a Loving Home

Firstly this I am delighted to say that Domy the spaniel has now found the loving home he deserves.
We wish Domy and his new family good luck and hope they all have lots of fun getting to know each other.



This week we are looking for homes for three handsome chaps who are seeking homes following an unexpected change in circumstances which means there current owners must return to the UK.


YOYO
Yoyo bit of a live wire which is all part of the charm of a the Lurcher

Yoyo is the oldest, born on the 26/06/06, He is the father of Charly and Jake. Yoyo has been castrated and has a UK identity chip implant.

The lack of a blood test for rabies means he cannot at present return to the UK although the process has been started.


Charly and Jake

These brothers are both Lurcher/German Pointer cross offspring and have not been castrated or chipped.


Both had Primovaccinations on the 18/06/09 and they are just over a year old.


They all respond well to people although can be a little enthusiastic in their affections at the initial meeting.


They are not fussy about food and will eat what they are given but a treat of some pasta now and again goes down well.

Dog biscuits are received with a relish especially in the evening’s main meal.


Due to the family situation they have not had as much training as the owner had hoped but are generally quick and willing to learn.

The first picture is Jake....He broke his leg/shoulder as a young pup and has pins inserted meaning he walks a bit funny sometimes and is not too keen on the cold.

X rays are available and, no further treatment is required.



Second picture is Charly, who just loves human company and affection




If a home is not found soon the boys will have to be placed in to the already overcrowded SPA pound which may of course lead to euthanasia.


The owners are understandably desperate that this does not to happen and so are also looking for a possible temporary foster home as an alternative option.


They are offering to pay to cover costs and expenses of the foster family whilst the passports for the dogs are obtained.


The amount is obviously up for negotiation and can be discussed privately with interested parties.


Please contact Howard if you can help either by offering a permanent or temporary home or would like more information about any of these lovely chaps.

And Finally…… A Packed program for Pompadour 2010

It will not be long now before we have lovely warm days and we can begin to plan for things in the summer sun.

As ever Pompadour has a full program of equestrian related events from March through to November. So get out your diaries and make some appointments with Pompadour.


Click here for a comprehensive agenda of all the equestrian events taking place in Pompadour 2010

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