Apart from that it's quiet. The village is remote at the best of times but with the schools, old folks home and special needs centre shut down there is no through traffic. From maybe 50 cars a day we're down to the occasional tractor, the old mayors car ( he still drives through every day to check up on things ) and 'The Font' heading off to the local supermarket.
The Old Farmers house remains shuttered and bolted. We give him a call. Both he and his new lady friend are in isolation in her house thirty miles away. The government delivers a hot meal at lunchtime, the baker drops off croissants in the morning and the supermarket prioritizes online deliveries for senior citizens. The Old Farmer spends much of his day scrolling through the supermarket website to find what it is he wants delivered. They potter in the garden.
'The Font' reports that the greengrocer has instituted a new system. It now opens at seven and closes at noon. Only one person is allowed in the shop at a time. A thick yellow 'isolation' line has been painted on the floor two metres away from the fruit and vegetables. The solitary shopper is instructed to stand behind the line.The greengrocer asks the shopper for their order and relays the information to his wife who fills plastic bags with what is needed. The bags are then placed by the greengrocer on a trestle table. The door is opened so that shopper 1 can leave with their purchases and shopper 2 enter. Payment is only by contactless credit card. After each transaction the door handle is wiped down with an antiseptic wipe. Contactless credit card transactions are something of a novelty here in deepest deepest France profonde so things do not necessarily proceed smoothly ... or quickly.
It's been warm but a cold front is on its way in from the Atlantic. From a rather bucolic 70 degrees we're heading towards freezing over the next week or so. Sophie who does not enjoy heat will be delighted.
Something rather lyrical and gloriously adult about this writing style :
Yo Yo Ma plays the cello every dy. He also posted this :https://twitter.com/YoYo_Ma/status/1241489147338129409
11 comments:
Lovely photo of Sophie sniffing around the pond. And the breath of spring tweeted by Yo Yo Ma much appreciated, thanks!
A great start to the day. Pictures of Sophie and a lovely poem. Thank you! I do also agree that I feel a guilty sense of liberation. My brain is usually so crammed with to do lists that currently cannot be fulfilled, that my mind instead has created space for how I might take my camera out on my one permitted walk to capture images that I might try to paint. Feels very indulgent.
Oh the photos are lovely today. It really looks like spring at your place. Our lockdown starts in 2 hours, but as I work at the hospital life carries on with work as normal.
We love your walks, which many of us can't do now - thanks for sharing.
Hari OM
In these times, a daily dose of Sophie in the garden brings much relief! YAM xx
Oh, look at those beautiful peonies! Ours are still in tight bud. Thank you for the latest offerings from our virtual world. We too have small shops being rigorous with their anti-contamination. Like you, we are grateful for the lack of cars and motorbikes, with only the occasional tractor. Our world has slowed down remarkably.
That's a delightful photo of Sophie and peonies - just the right setting for the family diva! Though the image is rather spoiled by the one of her slurping (does Sophie slurp?) out of the old tin bath! Surely nothing less than a beautiful china bowl for our girl?
Anyone still trying to pay at the supermarché by cheque ? Perhaps this time of change will see cheques disappear.
Yes, I too very much enjoyed the writers style and point of view. What a conundrum he and his wife find themselves in right now. It put my minor issues back into perspective.
Sophie among the peonies and those wee blossoms in the lawn have brighten my day.
As I write, we have 5 inches of new snow cover here in SW NH. Sigh. So seeing our favorite "delicate flower", Sophie, with her delicate flowers, is warming my heart and starting my day with a smile. Thank you Angus!
I am finding your "lock down" experiences so interesting. My husband is our designated shopper so far he has not reported much change. We will see next time he goes out.
Let's hope the green grocer line isn't too long.
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