Face masks are delivered to the town hall. They have been made by the local ladies face mask cooperative. We are allotted three. Our masks are made of a blue and white material that looks as though it's been sitting in a drawer since 1963. Zero chance that Angus will be seen in public sporting one of these. ' The Font ' wonders if we should boil them. We discuss for some time what the material might be - natural , synthetic, a combination of the two ?- but are unable to arrive at a conclusion. We decide that we'll stick with the face masks that we got from the hardware store for applying 'industrial solvents' .
The local paper would have us believe that life is roaring back to normal. The two gentlemen at the waste recycling centre have started work again. So has the lady who sells dried fruit at the covered market. In the photo the family buying dried fruit are all masked up. By contrast the fruit selling lady is doing a Mike Pence but her dried fruit selection is covered in plastic.
Things are not going so well in the world of ladies hairdressing where there is a ' certain stress' around the re-opening. Sandrine, Madame Bays coiffureiste daughter, will be opening up Chez Sandrine tomorrow. You will however be expected to make an appointment, wear a mask and not linger after your allotted time. The hair dryers have been culled so that where there were four now there will be two - suitably far apart. Madame Bay wonders what this will do for the 'ambience'.
It's poured overnight. Tympanums of thunder clatter away in the wee hours. The peonies flattened.This morning it's merely raining. Two owls are sitting on the garden table in the five fifty am half light. They utter an irritated screech and fly right. Sophie hurtles left and disappears 'purposefully' into the orchard. After some time she returns. Sophie and her master do a tour of the village.
Afterwards Sophie opts to fall asleep on the staircase. You know those books that say you should never walk round dogs .They should always move for you ? Doesn't apply here. We tiptoe round the sleeping princess.
And a Scottish Member of Parliament on the fiddle : https://twitter.com/AndrewBowie_MP/status/1259187775619948550
Do you find this reassuring ? : https://youtu.be/kqCkr8o7uRU
9 comments:
Bertie approves of Sophie's sleeping position and of course thinks it right at you should tiptoe around her.
Here in Scotland, the recycling centres are still closed, holiday homes off limits and there's no prospect of a haircut until 4th July at the earliest. By which time even my rather slow growing locks will be badly in need of attention.
But at least Bertie can have as many (local) walks as he and his owner desire.
Cheers, Gail.
I often feel like Sophie but haven't yet allowed myself to just lie down and nap wherever.
Your mask fabric is actually very trendy, very millennial.
A double-thickness mask of heavy cotton is supposed to filter as well as a disposable paper surgical mask--60%-80%. Wash with hot soapy water. Boiling and steaming can make the fabric fibers degrade (though probably after many years; I have antique cotton sheets that probably were boiled weekly and they are in better condition than the newer ones from Bouchara).
At the market two weeks ago, one stand of a family of local producers was missing the parents, and of the two sons working only one wore a mask; the seriously overweight son did not. Last week, both were wearing masks. At the supermarket I saw more shoppers with masks, but among the elderly there was often a failure to cover the nose--they just put it over their mouths.
Would guess that 30% of folks are wearing masks. Have been to the old barber for an appointment. Had to go in person as he doesn't answer the phone. The old worn leather sofa much loved by the old farmers has gone. As have the non matching collection of chairs. A desk has been put by the door so that you have to squeeze past it to get in. This morning he was wearing a mask but the 30 something aged plumber wasn't.
Am told that St Andrews is like a ghost town with no students, no golfers and no tourists. How many of the restaurants and shops open up again is a big question. It will probably end up with many restaurants shuttered for good along with the ephemera gift shops. Foreign student numbers will probably fall but not as much as other places.
Is there any logic why you and the Font were assigned three masks instead of an even number for the two of you? Also thank you for making me laugh trying to work out why Ryanair is providing food and drinks on thier flights while also, in the same video, asking for masks to be "worn at all times" at the airport and on board. Has the Irish company found a way for customers to eat and drink without touching or removing thier mask or are they just making money selling things that can be consumed in flight!
Typo.. meant "can't be consumed"
Hari OM
Enjoyed the mini-concert; re the eating with masks - actually what I have always done is lift the mask up off the lips but left it in place over the nose. This is dependent on the type of mask worn, of course... YAM xx
Awww sophie you look so comfy on the landing. That is nice of the ladies to provide everyone with masks. I think the ones you have sound like they will work a bit better, but I guess something is better than nothing. We are returning to normal on Thursday, and not many people are wearing masks here. Washing hands and social distancing are recommended.
'local ladies face mask cooperative' Still chuckling.
Post a Comment