Saturday, March 13, 2021

Bright and cheerful.

What's not to like about this time of the year ? The days are getting longer, the fields have turned emerald green and there's a hint of warmth in the air.


On our morning tour of the village we note nine cars outside one house and six outside another. Lockdowns and social distancing apparently not an issue for some folk. The nine cars are parked outside a new build  that can have two, three at most, bedrooms. Now the weather's better weekend family gatherings are going to take place no matter what the government says.  Meanwhile, in Paris, all the ICU beds are full and patients are being transferred to the regions on specially adapted high speed trains. We dutifully check with the health centre for an indication when the vaccine will arrive but so far they're struggling to give shots to the over seventy fives. Our hope for a first jab in April is shifting to the right.


The builder phoned to say he would come by in the afternoon to measure up some terrace tiles that have cracked. This is only a year overdue. Needless to say he didn't show. Perhaps he'll turn up today. The cracked terrace tiles we can live with. The bigger worry is the swimming pool which remains a large open sore in the middle of the garden waiting for the grey pool liner to be fitted. The pool men have that frustrating message on their phones ; ' Your custom is important to us. Please leave a message and we'll get straight back to you'. 'Straight back' in this instance means we'll ignore any and every message for a month.


Good for the Ontario building community but not sure renaming fast food as building supplies so the order can be expensed is entirely legal :https://www.ubereats.com/ca/toronto/food-delivery/good-fortune-burger-college/SlS7Rn6dQ1SVb59NxiWt5A

There is a local restaurant that specializes in serving these - boiled, fried, grilled - as you like them. It is place we went to once and have not returned :https://gizmodo.com/a-bloodsucking-fish-may-not-be-the-vertebrate-ancestor-1846447167


11 comments:

Lisa in France said...

It sounds like a frustrating day for you, but it is nice to see the sunshine. Now, I am looking forward to seeing the wisteria bloom. That menu is very funny - they can't be serious, can they?

Coppa's girl said...

How infuriating the builder is! Would he be quite so unreliable if you took the same attitude towards paying him?
Poor Sophie, even she looks embarrassed in the third photo - not a good hair day for our lovely diva!
The vaccine roll out is slow here too, and I've recently learned that far from getting to my age group in April, as originally forecast, the local health centre is just starting on those who are in their mid 80's. The way they arrange appointments is somewhat hit and miss. The health centre will phone (up to 22:00 hours!) and if you don't answer, they will try again - twice, and then that's it - you've missed your slot.

Kerrie Roberts said...

We had our first vaccinations yesterday from our GP in the Gironde. Now I have a sore arm but still looking forward to the second shot and hopefully being allowed to travel.

Angus said...

Wonder how long before the Canadian taxman gives them a call ?

Angus said...

Missing your slot because you were out when they called would be decidedly unhappy making !

Angus said...

Congratulations on getting your 1st dose !

Yamini MacLean said...

Hari OM
Lamprey Pie is a very traditional dish... each to their own! I adore that last image of Sophie awaiting the doorman... YAM xx

~Kim at Golden Pines~ said...

A rain/snow mix is forecast for us in the next few days, and I wonder if we will ever see the green grass that you have, that looks like it will need to be mowed soon.

Getting an appointment for the vaccine has been a challenge for many here too. My 2nd dose about a month ago was at what used to be a Nordstrom. With the left behind signs and the lighted displays being used as "stations" the escalator running and music overhead, it all felt a bit surreal and straight out of a movie.

Camille said...

It seems unfair and frankly, surprised me that President Biden refused to share the 30 million+ doses of stockpiled AstraZenica to help with worldwide shortages when, due to lack of FDA approval, they cannot be used here in the states. Quantities of the other three vaccines currently in use over here have been ordered and are ready to be fully rolled out by May 1st at the latest. I simply do not understand this situation. We're one year into a pandemic...sharing excess vaccines is the right thing to do.

Angus said...

Guess it's too dangerous politically to be seen shippin doses of vaccines abroad .... even if they're not approved by the FDA.

Angus said...

The grass is on its third cut and by dinner time will be ready for a fourth. It doesn't grow so much as sprout ! A jab in a disused Nordstroms is almost apocalyptic.