Here in France, in Brittany, moored in Tinteniac on Body and Soul, we are facing up to the Corona Virus with great fortitude and common sense.
With our doors wide open and the sun streaming through the windows - the wild goose (named Google!), a Duck (named Netflix) and, just today, a newly arrived cormorant and a signet Swan, together, sharing breakfast - one could be forgiven for feeling lucky to be alive and in good health - looking forward to plans for the coming spring and summer.
But the news and social media brings us doom and gloom in abundance. A lot of 'state applied' restrictions (decrees) to our lives, have become hard to ignore.
For instance, going out for my morning routine exercise or for any reason at all, requires that I am forced to produce a document called an 'attestation de deplacement' showing to the police just what I am doing and why I am doing it - which can only include - getting medicine, shopping for food, exercising (on your own), going to work (if unable to work from home) emergency visits to elderly relatives - the fines for contravention are from 130E upwards including an arrest for serious or repeated contraventions.
The above form is available on line, but if one has no printer (like us) a written version is OK but it has to be current to the activity and dated.
All shops, including coffee shops and bars are closed, with the exception of food providers. D.I.Y shops are included of course which puts a lot of home alterations and maintenance on hold. Not good.
We are fine thanks! luckier than most - please keep our UK pensions coming in. We have some really attentive neighbours and friends who visit us daily - checking our welfare. - See below, showing how we keep in touch with them now. It beats the ubiquitous double kissing....maybe this virus shambles will teach the world something about true values. The air is already much fresher ....perhaps it is a new beginning? We really really hope so.
Violette, Anne-Claire, me, Marie (Loo is behind with her bike) doing our bit taken from 'Body and Soul' .