Last Days of Freedom

31.10.20: Put my head outside the door to go to the market (food shopping is allowed) where I ended up buying a cabbage! Must have been a lockdown association; there was always one on Jill's grocery order. Sat out in the sun; such a bonus for this time of year

Weather: 25°, blue sky

30.10.20: First day of lockdown came with a trip out with the requisit paperwork. Another covid test ready for my 2nd cataract op. Otherwise: reading the papers, magazines while enjoying the sunshine, computer, tv.

Weather: 25°. Blue sky and sunshine

 29.10.20: Legs refused to find their way downstairs to the treadmill so I just read the papers instead until it was time to get up and see the family off. Prepared some lunch and soup for this evening, did a quick lockdown shop locally then met Nicole for coffee.

Computer class was cancelled so I tidied up the store cupboard, getting rid of some dubious looking marshmallows, 2 types of flour and toffee sauce that should have been thrown away years ago and I don't mean just a couple.

Had tea and crêpes with Michel at his place catching the last of the sun.

This evening was less amusing; Jean Castex, the PM, fleshed out the new regulations. Lockdown until 1st December will be reviewed in 2 weeks time but there has been a few suggestions that it could go on longer though this might just be scaremongering speculation.

Weather: 21°, sunshine and blue skies

Livening up the House

28.10.20: Early morning sunshine in the village promised well for our trip up to Prats de Mollo, a large walled village dominated by a 17th century  fort built by Vauban at 1,540m. Took the covered tunnel route up after exploring the ramparts around the church What a test of determination, leg and knee strength. Came back by the much easier winding path. Because of the new regulations we were unable to find just a drink so we  drove even higher, to eat our picnic. Considerably cooler and cloudier, the views were splendid. Carrying on afterwards to the Col d Ares, on the border where thousands of Spanish refugees fleeing Franco crossed, we once again marvelled at spectacular countryside.

Wound our way back, stopping at Amelie les Bains, a spa town where (on the whole) elderly folk come to take "the cure" grace of the French health system. Not an awe inspiring place though we did find somewhere serving drinks. 11€ not very well spent.

After another cuppa at home, Valérie set to and planted up the violas and cyclamen that she'd treated me to. Here's hoping for some sunny days to let me sit on thd patio to enjoy them.

Fortified by an apéro we all gathered around the tv to hear Président Macron announce the latest covid measures. Long and short of it, there's another national lockdown with certain exceptions to be reviewed after a month. So, I'll only be allowed out to shop for essentials, keep medical appointments and take an hour's exercise day within a 1 km radius. Each trip out will need an accompanying form. Hope I'll be able to pass a month without falling out with myself. Non essential shops and businesses will be closed. Comes into force tomorrow at midnight.

Weather: 18° at the bottom of the valley, 10° at Prats and 7° on the border.

27.10.20: All but one bar/restaurant was closed in Céret so J & F came over here for

coffee. Ève could serve coffees etc but not alcohol without food. After lunch we went to céret to buy plants for my very sad looking window boxes and had a drink at the France. Don't understand the logic but Christophe was able to have a beer. Valérie did dinner which was a welcome relief. All the discussion today is that there's another lockdown coming and that an announcement will come tomorrow. Feeling is that it won't be general because of the economic situation; maybe the 65+ will be the target. Others think that there will be more restrictions at  weekends. Que sera!

Weather: 19° feeling a lot warmer in the sun.

26.10.20: Family were out most if the day. Finished the Longmire series. More cooking. Supermarket with Nick. My first visit to the new Lidl. Surprising what passes for fun these days!

Weather: 17° Overnight showers. Sunshine later.

25.10.20: Ah well, an extra hour in bed due to the clocks changinging didn't do  much for my brain cells as I ended up spreading red Thai curry paste on a tart base, thinking that it was red pesto!

Coffee at the bar and then despite the fridge being fuller than it's ever been for a very lonc time, I said yes to the invitation to have lunch at the café. Yet again, there was no time  for a rest as dinner for JJ needed to be prepared (fish pie topped with sliced potato). My goodness, I was tired by the time all was finished.

Weather: 19°, blue sky clouding over

 24.10.20: Of course the market and a drink at the bar under the new rules that bars were to be closed but bar/restaurants could open as long as drinks were served with food. So, teas and coffees came with a a wrapped biscuits for 10c extra. Alcolol with bread and paté. There is also a 9pm curfew starting in place for 2 weeks (initially). The restaurant has decided to close up as the new regime just isn't workable for them so Jacques, Véronique, JJ and yours truly went for a last lunch. Good that it was warm enough to sit outside. Couldn't rest up and digest my meal as I normally would as there was dinner       (chicken and chorizo traybake) to prepare  for this evenings meal. Christophe and family arrived and after dinner, it was early nights all round.

Weather: 23° sunny, later cloud bringing a rain shower

Still Eating Out

 23.10.20: Well, a couple of days without an invitation. Had to make do with a couple of computer workshops, neither of which gave me anything new, but no gasps of horror, I won't go into grumble mode here. This morning I went with Ann to the supermarket ready for the arrival of family from Normandy. This afternoon Michel stopped by for a cuppa this evening, yes, it was over to Jacques's for an impromptu dinner with Evelyn and Jacko.

20.10.20: Went with Nicole S for a curry at Namaste https://namaste-masguerido.business.site/on the outskirts of Perpignan and then went back to hers for a
cuppa.

 

19.10.20: Yesterday was something of a change. No treadmill and lunch at home. Redeemed myself this morning exercise wise, but not my calorie intake. Made some nibbles to take to Jacques who was entertaining JJ, Nany, André and myself to lunch. Yes, another one. A very substantial cassoulet. Spent the afternoon with Jacques who  acted as DJ spinning tracks from  wide ranging jazz, blues, rock and 60's music from his large LP collection.

Weather: 22°, sun

More Eating Out

17.10.20: JJ's birthday. An apéro at the bar, a really good lunch in the sun at the restaurant after which we retired to Jacques' terrace for cava, more cava and some snacks. Bit by bit folk Nicole, Carmen, Antoine, Sandrine) fell by the wayside leaving only JJ and myself by the time it was cool enough to send us inside. Was nearly 10pm when we went home. For me it was straight to bed.

Weather:22°, sunny

16.10.20: Made it to Perpignan with Francoise for the expo, "Queens of France"

showing paintings from Versailles. There was also another temporary exhibition in contrast featuring local modern artists. Bits of rusty metal and splodges were not my thing. Lunch was no great shakes either. A fast food place where we could sit outside.

Weather: 18°, chilly start, wind lighter, sunny.

15.10.20: Lunch at the restaurant, too cold to be on the terrace.  The computer and tv filled the rest of the day.

Weather: 14° windy

 14.10.20: Lunch chez JJ  with André and Nany, Michèle and Henri. Took advantage of a lift afterwards with the latter to see Briget’s expo. Rather than wait in the cold for a bus, Hortense drove me home after we’d had a cuppa sitting out in front of the bakery. Didn’t even have room for one of their delicious pastries to brighten up the day.

Weather: 15°, cold and miserable. Rain came on late afternoon

13.10.20:

Was going to go to an exhibition in Perpignan today with Françoise but the uncertain weather put us off. Yeah, yeah. I know, we were wimps but you need to understand that the least little bit of rain sends us scurrying indoors! By mid morning the sun was out  so Françoise and I were able to take our coffee out on the terrace of the café.

I'd banked on having lunch out so  it was with pleasure that I accepted Jacques' invitation to join him for a lunch of duck breast and wild mushrooms that had been gathered by our neighbours, Gérard and Anna. I can confirm what you've probably read in articles about rural France; people do hang bags of produce on your door. I found my little bag of mushrooms on Sunday which went into last night's omelette.

Spent the most part of the afternoon actually getting some admin done and all of the evening watching tv. Yes, again.

Weather: 19°, sunshine and showers

11.10.20:

The wind blowing hard woke me up during the night so after losing a bit of sleep, I was surprised that I did my treadmill stint. Well wrapped up, I joined Nicole for a coffee and listened to the local banda. Jacques should have come with us to Martine's for lunch but he cried off. JJ was a last minute replacement for an excellent meal. Battered courgette flowers, mozzarella balls and pesto tomato mini skewers, homemade cheese biscuits and cava got us off to a good start. Smoked salmon, duck, cheese and apple sorbet well doused in calvados followed.

While the other two went off home, Martine and I went to a brass band concert given by musicians of the Toulouse Orchestra.The Gershwin was brilliant and the rest of the programme filled your ears with rich sound.

Weather: 16°, blue sky, strong cold wind