Fiona Alderman: The Salignac Story

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Fiona Alderman: The Salignac Story

I don’t know where to start this month so I will start at the beginning. Barry and I came to France in 2000 from Glasgow. That’s in Scotland for those who don’t know! Keen and enthusiastic for our new lives and with our faithful pussycat friend Gemma, we started our adventures. There have been many. From learning and integrating into the French language and way of life to meeting people of all nationalities.

I am still learning even after all these years.

French administration comes quickly to mind. So complex that even some French people have great difficulty in understanding the minefield of paperwork and the fonctionaires attitude.France has the highest number of civil servants apparently in the world. Then of course technology has advanced at an amazing rate.

We started 26 years ago with the old dial up style and a big white block of a computer that Barry had brought over from Scotland. He set up the Internet and designed our website The Salignac Foundation . I didn’t do anything on the computer until much later as I wasn’t terribly interested in it then. However the years passed and it is a necessary tool in today’s world . I now have the fibre optic installed which is much quicker . How well I remember the storms that would cut the power off sometimes for days.

Candles filled the house and it was quite romantic !

A lot has changed though in Salignac. The commerce, the housing and the local Mairie which has just appointed a new woman Mayor..New beginnings for her and for a brighter time after the last few years of problems.

The photos are of some early days here in Sillygnac as Barry used to say.

The Red Carrot

Danielclauzier, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Sitting in the sun at my local Cafe/Tabac I looked up at the sign overhead. Why is it called la carotte ? I believe that tobacco leaves were originally rolled and twisted up into a long carrot shape. Then they were grated. Also I learnt, when I asked the owner, that carrots were used before to keep the tobacco moist.

The first bureaux de tabacs opened in 1716 after the first arrival of tobacco in France in the mid 16th Century. The symbol of the red carrot only started in the early 1900’s. Before, it was dark brown in colour. Tabacs are controlled heavily by the State and strict rules apply from the Customs Department.

However in recent years there has been a decline with many closures due to high increases in tobacco and also less smokers. I see an increase though in vaping and the young people using this more and more. The red neon light is also charming and welcoming on a cold grey day.

Fire crews fight fire at Glasgow Central Station

My thoughts are with the people of Glasgow after the recent fire caused by one of these vaping shops. Another iconic building has been sadly lost.

The first day of Spring. 20th March 2026.

Fifi’s stories from rural France.