Another quiet morning in what are turning out to be exceptional times. 52,000 new cases yesterday which adjusted for population size would be equivalent to 320,000 in the US. Sophie hasn't quite got the hang of the time change yet so PONette and master , although early risers by nature, are up and about while it's pitch dark. On our second walk of the day, when it's getting light, Sophie is allowed off her lead. This morning she can sense the presence of a C-A-T but it never enters her head that her nemesis might be sitting on the wall above her.
We think that we'll be the first folks at the fancy greengrocers. It's a thirty minute drive away along the motorway. Seems that the clock change hasn't only affected Sophies routine. The car park is unusually full at three minutes to opening time with folks who are getting used to the body clock change. Lots of '75' plates ( Paris ) with a sprinkling of 33's ( Bordeaux ) and three or four from the Vaucluse ( 84 ). Angus still manages to buy lemon and limes, carrots for Sophie and a variety of yogurts in less than three minutes. He is the first at check out and the first out.
Being a large nationwide chain the fancy greengrocers has become very American in its approach to the seasons. I'm sure Halloween never used to be this big a thing in France.
Sophie waits stoically for my return in the back of the big car . She has displayed some semblance of patience although I get a ' where do you think you've been ?' glare as the tailgate swings open. As a treat she gets taken to the drive thru bakers. Service is delayed while the manageress on duty remonstrates with two customers who have walked inside and are refusing to wear masks. The young manageress , who is a mere slip of a thing, informs them to put their masks on or get out. ' Can't you read the sign at the front door ? It says masks are obligatory and that means you !'. This later part of her message not so much said as shouted. The two offending middle aged men in shell suits meekly comply.
You've got to feel sorry for some people. After 17 years of restoration work this hotel has opted to open now -- just as travel restrictions are put in place : https://www.ensanahotels.com/buxton/en
10 comments:
What a great post today! We get to see a cat, read about the bakery manageress's victory over the foolish and see what a French Halloween display looks like. This display seems much more in the spirit of things than some of the Christmas displays you've shown us in the past. There is something about Halloween that allows it to travel well - it's quite a big deal in Tokyo as well. I sympathize with the hotel. Our favorite hotel in Hawaii has also just reopened after very expensive renovations, and we wonder what will become of it. I saw this today and immediately thought of Sophie (also made me feel bad about saying bad things about cows last week): https://twitter.com/humorandanimals/status/1320061498534862848
Thanks for the link. Am assuming that Cherry will be getting a birthday sausage to celebrate arriving at such a wonderful age !
Hmm, I've been thinking more of a healthy extra-large carrot, but maybe just this once . . .
Well done that bakery manageress! Gail thinks the cat is cute, but Bertie doesn't recognise the concept of 'cute cut'. In Aberdeen, the pandemic forced shutdown of the huge new conference centre, and the Music Hall and Art Gallery only months after they had reopened following a major renovations. Such bad timing for the city's beleaguered community. At least the Art Gallery has now reopened under a timed entry system (and is well worth a visit).
Cute cat and smart to stay out of Sophies way. The numbers are high. I feel for the medics and hospital staff.
Bertie and Sophie are in complete agreement on the subject of C-A-T-S.
The art gallery sounds like a useful centre of culture amid the winter lockdown.
Not every day a girl turns 12.
ICU bed usage is nearing capacity.
My sympathy is with hospital staff everywhere, who do such a wonderful job, in the face of such overwhelming odds. My anger is reserved for the stupid idiots who refuse to wear masks, use any form of sanitizing or distancing, so well done the manageress who told those men off! Middle aged men in shell suits - how sad is that!
On our dog walk we often pass a house where an absentee (due to Covid) owner cares for seven or eight (or more) feral cats (currently fed by kind neighbours). One cat in particular has taken a shine to Inca, and often comes running when we walk by. Inca, coward that she is, will have nothing to do with the advances made, and cowers behind me! It's taken time, but she's finally got the message that cats are not to be chased or growled at.
That message about growling at C-A-T-S is one that Sophie will never learn.
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