A Little Taste of Freedom

15.12.20 -22.12.20: The long awaited day has come when we can start mixing in groups of 6 and travel freely for any reason without a document. The next day, Jacques ever ready to open his doors to friends, brough his near neighbours together. Wild boar either roasted or casserolled  was on the menu. How good it is to have a semblance of life as it used to be. And the day after there was a trip to a quiet Perpignan with Françoise. The downside, (isn't there always one), is that there's an 8pm curfew and cafés, bars and restaurants still closed. Otherwise, the days passed much as they did when we were more constrained. There's nothing happening to go out for and I have to say it won't be long before I'll be awarded 1st class honours for procrastination! Motivation is hard to come by unless Francoise gets me out for a walk. And it's far too easy to reach for those bars of chocolate filling the cupboard and pick up either the remote control or the mouse.

Weather: 12° - 17°, mostly sunny

Oh, for a bit of Excitement

 1.12.20 - 14.12.20:

First day of December so, that's us moving into the festive season or maybe this year, the not-so-festive season. In fact December hasn't started well; I heard that  my friend who was nearly 10 years younger than me had died suddenly and here in the village there was a distanced funeral to attend. 

Nothing else of note; the days rolled by with the market still being the highlight of the week. At home, it was some admin to navigate my way around with varying degrees of success, crosswords, tv and a couple of longer walks with Françoise. Just as well, I'm finding it increasingly difficult to emerge from the comfort of the duvet these dark mornings. Oh, and despite having bought a numer of Téléthon raffle tickets, in the hope of winning one of the 50 prizes, there wasn't even one with my name on it.

Weather: Tempearatures between 6° - 13° and a sky that one day would be blue and the next overcast. There was rain, too. Had a day of heavy rain and four with drizzle on and off.

Lockdown à la Française

1.11.20 - 27.11.20: Well, the days of lockdown have followed much the same pattern as they did in UK; newspapers, lunch in the sun on the terrace over a couple of crosswords, walks, computer and tv. There were, however, some differences. A form to be carried giving the reason for leaving the house, no bubbles, compulsory mask wearing and walks limited to 1 hour a day and within 1km of home. My shopping I did at the little Spar supermarket in the village and at the Saturday market,which was the highlight of the week. What a pleasure to have a cuppa on the terrace of the café while chatting (at a distance) to friends. As the café was selling a take away meal, they had the right to sell non alcoholic drinks. I suppose legally, we didn't have the right to stay chatting but a bit of human contact is essential for one's mental health, especially when living alone. The weather was good and I had some lovely walks in the sunshine and when with Françoise ventured more off the beaten track.

The only other reason that I was out, was to go for my second cataract op and its two follow up appointments, and three trips to the clinic in Perpignan for routine checkups. All were without concern and of course, provided a legitimate reason to go out and thus a welcome change of scene. Amazing what passes for fun these days!

While I was in UK, I thought of all the things that I could have been doing organising and deep cleaning the house ......... not much of that kind of thing has come to pass! 

28.11.20 - 30.11.20: Sun is back. Lockdown rules have been relaxed a bit; we can now go 20km from home for up to 3 hours exercise, go to church, have our hair done  and shop for non essential goods. More liberty will come after 15th, all being well; Christmas is saved! Lives, though, that's another thing.  Amazing, France and Britain can, at last, agree on something!

 Weather: Mostly in the 20's with blue skies and sunshine bringing fiery sunsets that is  until 26th when we had very heavy rain for three days and temperatures dropping to 13°. Sun came back and temperatures rose. One of the joys of living here; rain isnt't interminable.

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