Days 31,32, 33: Lockdown in France - Attempt at Daily Tasks & Routine

Thursday 16th April passed driftily - thoughtfully - but with action and probably too much in other people's business!!!!!!!! all beyond my control .... but I wish them well with their issues.

Friday - likewise, plus  I have been trying to get back into walking... I did one of my favourite river circuits. and doing walking videos with a variety of knee lifts, kicks and steps to the beat... PLUS i started some floor work and got a shock that itv was quite hard to achieve ... so.... how do I get disciplined!!!!!!!
Saturday  - getting better balanced,  not quite so lazy, not quite so 'down or low", getting a few more things in the right place...admin to do... some of which I don't understand completely or don't want to do or can't keep up with!

This morning I was feeling too righteous about and frustrated with others. I think I get too earnest and pedantic.  I think I am better off here away from it all ... but what I need to do is another matter.
I have things to do and intend to try harder!

It was nice after last night's thunderstorm, which I think skirted the village, that rain came. This morning, not only were radish, lettuce and marigold seedlings on show, but also butternut squash a plenty, and nasturtiums.  In the vegetable patch there are lots of other seedlings which I think might  be that hemp I once planted,  which just takes over as ground cover.  Time will tell.. the cotyledons are quite distinctive and a sage green not a bright green.  The daisies are appearing again.

I went shopping for vegetables and fruit.
Now it appears that French Mayors cannot instruct us to wear masks. Oh!!!!!!!!
and ... it seems M. Macron has said that over 70s don't have to stay in isolation, but there will be  restrictions to protect the vulnerable ... Oh!
Nothing I am sure is yet in tablets of stone!!!!!!
Even so I won't be travelling yet!!!!!!!   And what happens if we travel and go to someone who has a health issues and we compromise them?   I know the economy must activate but please send the younger people back to work.   I think we should have the vaccinations but when of course will they be ready!   So many other terrible diseases have need treatments and vaccinations to control the spread... HIV, EBOLA, POLIOMYELITIS, MEASLES, CHICKEN POX, INFLUENZA  etc.....   but if the Cornoavirus mutates then, how many vaccines will be required. I am not a scientist.


Something good to kook forward to today, was a Zoom family meeting instead of being at the Italian restaurant with my cousin aged 80 this year and her husband 85.    There were ten devices that tuned in.  Everyone talking at once and then some kind of settling down ... just like at a party.
I'm glad I prepped the view beforehand as a lot more of my room was on display than I thought. However, these days it IS tidy and clean with. no animals and only me.  I don't have all the tasks in piles on the dining table adjacent to the outdoor wooden table so they form a square. The latter has nowhere else to go in winter as it does not fold!    It was FANTASTIC fun to do ZOOM  and maybe we shall do it again!
Here are pics of the 'wild wood walk to the wiver'

Love this shelf on private terrain I suspect, with  river hidden down below ... one can hear it.

Purple toothwort with wild garlic

Day 30: Lockdown In France: Not a lot to tell

15 April 2020

Nothing much to report...

Sun shine is 27C in courtyard late afternoon... wind is warm  and subsiding in strength...  A huge bumblebee got caught in kitchen  and safely dispatched. A young blackbird kept bashing its head on the glass of the atelier eventually stunning itself to the ground where I managed to escort it to the door.

FIVE things I know
1. People I know are very worked up about the UK government.
2. People I know feel that M.Macron has been more humble than Bojo.
3. 1 and 2  perhaps.  There have undoubtedly been lies, untruths, deception, massaging of egos to camouflage statistics so that Government attempts to impart a feel good factor to the nation about their decisions for trying to curb the virus.  There is Scientific criticism that UK should have done harder lockdown earlier.   It is easy to think they would like to reduce us oldies but as we now know the young are not immune.  No one is immune from tbhis virus but some are better able to tolerate it and survive than others and that has always been the case with viruses.   I am not a scientist.
4. I know that the economy is at threat, people's incomes, mental health, relationships, accommodations, debt and financial issues  etc etc etc are all threatened and at risk of collapse.
5. I know it is TIME for me to make more effort and look again into the past "MY PERSONAL BELONGINGS storage and organise it, which includes a lot of personal writings and things I suppose I do not need to carry anymore.

Day 29: Lockdown in France - Poem from Yesterday version 2

Last evening, M. Macron decreed a further 4 weeks of Lockdown In France.

A French Village In An Age of Confinement & Lockdown

All along, 
bird song.

Wondrously full of Joy
where no one, girl or boy
could be heard, or seen.

Uncannily weird to have been
in a kind of ghost town of homes 
in streets built with stones.

It's deadly quiet, but I see no bones
amongst incessantly striving green grass growth.
Flora in Springtime makes her oath
as one of Four Seasons she shows no gloom
to let wild flowers a plenty with the lilac bloom.

Seeds, bulbs, plants, shrubs and trees bud each year.
They burst into prettiness to bring mortals hopeful cheer.

Spring comes again, Earth pushes forth,
against all Doom for the Gift of Life's Worth.

New life wins when Winter springs to Spring,
when Lady Nature gathers her gowns for her King. 
She creates beauty and bounty making humans at ease
but also makes viruses, bacteria, disease.

Man and Science fight to master untimely deaths
whilst Lady Nature continues her chaos taking life's breaths. 

copyright Restless in France

Postscript.
A morning walk:  same as yesterday for 1 hour.
More grass mowed for 90 minutes..
Windy and cold despite afternoon sunshine.  5C at 8h30 morning

Day 25, 26. 27, 28 Lockdown in France - Easter Weekend

Good Friday 

Pottered about, did domestics, played accordion, sowed and watered seeds, had picnic lunch reading a book in garden sun shine, cod and vegetables evening meal, cleared weeds from roadside, dallied at computer, conversed briefly with neighbour and others by email, felt sad when the day had begun quite happily.

Baked Cod with Herb Crust and my way of cooking cabbage, fennel, carrots, onion, garlic.

Easter Saturday

In the afternoon my friend of 54 years and I did Facetime together playing two Scottish Waltzes on our accordions.  It was fun... difficult to hear her accordion at the same time as my own accordion to try and keep in time. At least we sounded in tune!  We managed and must do it again when I am sure we shall have more confidence.   It was nice to see each other with our newer accordions.
After all that excitement for 60 to 90 minutes I was exhausted with a head ache and needed the outdoors. so I sowed a few more seeds and did the daily watering of the ground.
THEN, I tried again to ignite the 3 week old prune cuttings starting with a fire-lighter and YAY... flames continued after a bit of smoke.  I loaded more on feeling good to have the garden cleanse that a bonfire gives.
We are not supposed to have bonfires in the village, but as I cannot take garden waste to the decheterie and my trailer has an electrical fault and as yet has not been used with my Kangoo.
It was a safe fire burning garden debris in a rusty oil drum.

Easter Sunday

Oh dear.  I slept until 11h30 because of disturbed sleep patterns. This is a long standing problem.
Anyway, I had eaten a boiled egg and toast when "The BELLS returned from ROME" according to Tradition - church bells pealed and caused me to reminisce and miss English Church bells and an Easter Mass - the Joy that brings.  (Later, at my evening meal I listened to Easter hymns beforehand and then THE MESSIAH.
Fearful at midday that I was mistaken, that there was a funeral, without thought, I grabbed my scarf, mask, jacket and walked to the village, in anticipation that there might be people gathered together at a distance when no one is supposed to gather together and be able to comfort me in some form. It was  an emotional reaction more than an intellectualised one!
The village was emptied of human form.  I walked past La Place but instead of proceeding past the chateau to the river, I wound back, past my Italian friend's empty house. I was wearing old wedge heeled sandals where toes must grip the soles, therefore, not conducive to slopes of village streets.

All along, bird song
wondrously full of Joy
where no one, girl or boy
could be heard, or seen.

Uncannily weird to have been
in a kind of ghost town
of homes in the streets built with stones.

It's deadly quiet, but I see no bones
amongst the incessantly striving green grass growth,
wild flowers and lilac in full bloom.
Floral Spring makes her oath
as one of the Four Seasons she shows no gloom.

She comes again and pushes forth 
against all doom
with a Gift of Worth
again her buds show Life each year 
brings us mortals hope and cheer.

Whatever human dis-ease and viruses Nature makes
New life Springs in Spring
When Madame Nature gives and takes.

(copyright Restless in France)

I was becoming more sad and wistful, urgently needing to be home but kept my slow pace.
As I walked into my own street someone called my name!
I turned to see.
Walked back.
Nicole was kind of hidden behind stationary vehicles, inviting me for 'un coup'.
I was so emotionally touched that I burst into tears and laughter at the same time...explained my sorrow and was gracefully assured that we were all feeling the same.
Chink Chink.
Bonne Paques.
Bonne Vie.
Conversation flowed but strict mothers, strict schooling, roses in bloom, weeds in the stone cobbles, and other things I did not always follow.
Three bottles of bubbly later it was two o'clock.
We parted having kept 2 m distance in a circle between each of the 7 of us!
I was grateful and loved, cared for by sweet Nicole and the others.
Touched by human kindness.

Came home for 2 hours sleep.
Lazily, I pushed myself to eat!
BUT FIRST... we must dine in a restaurant, so I made an effort and laid the table as if I was the guest, laid another place for the passer by.   I washed and changed my clothing ... not quite for going out... but it was presentable. I could enjoy THE MESSIAH and have a chat with myself. Then ... bedtime.

Easter Monday

I slept well to get up with the alarm bit in fact awake before it rang.  I readied for a walk down The American Way to the river. Rarely do I ever meet anyone but this morning had to stand aside whilst two of my Parisian near neighbours ascended the narrow path.  Later, elsewhere, a man with his dog.  A lot of trees had fallen in the storm and been thrown onto the sand spits formed in the river after the dam an the high floods we had... one could see the whole area is being logged.  Buttercups are now in bloom. Star of Bethlehem, Broom, Purple Toothwort, Wild Garlic, lots of wild flowers and grasses....and all the while the songs of birds.

In addition to that hour, I walked for two hours in the afternoon mowing the daisies in the grass. I sat for not long enough to understand a large financial matter I have hanging over my head.  I made a quiche but will eat it tomorrow.

Heard the hoopoe in the distance - hoo hoo hoo.

Day 24: Lockdown in France - Joy for Yesterday

9 April for 8 April 2020

"Vivement L'Accordéon à La Place"

"Cant wait for music in La Place with the artists..."

said the lady who passed, winding her car window open... 

the motivation for me to practise yesterday when my brain was fog dead.

``````````````````

Dinner yesterday evening was 

Salmon on a bed 

of black beans, bits of lettuce, cabbage, leek, fennel bulb 

with cherry tomatoes one shallot, sage, seasoning 

mixed with cooked old teeniest size of pasta wheels which were at least 6 years old 

(had been using in soup, but it seems to go on for ever, as I still have another jar full) 

with garden chives for decoration

Delicious with a glass of Bourgogne Chardonnay with the French evening setting sun to the West and Josiane passing by as she said Cheers and I said Bon Santé 
an exchanghe of language.

I have spoken to 4 people in the street guarding the distance and one person by phone and several by email.
I am very lucky.

Day 23: Lockdown in France: Art In A Coronavirus Era

Wednesday 8 April 2020

I am having a drifty day when my mind and body are in almost "mindlessness" and ":couldn't care less-ness"  so I have come to the computer, having tried to start reading again.

INTERRUPTION to. my written thoughts

I am determined to tackle reading again: ORLANDO by Virginia Woolf   as I bought three of her novels in January 2019 as I have always intended "to read her" but it has been challenging. 
In the last few years reading has been difficult to concentrate on.
I was reading P.D. JAMES "Children of Men" somewhat apt now!!!!! but after getting 3/4 of the way through it I THINK I took it to the book exchange cubicle in the village as I can't find it to finish it!!!!!   Intellectually challenging which is what I do like to read!!!!! 
I am thinking that my brain is wired to internet reading and I would like to break that addiction.

Unusually, I wished to stay in bed and stay I did until the afternoon...mostly asleep in my cocoon of comfort of my beautiful bed with two duvets in a cold, dark shuttered room.  At this time of year, it is warmer outside than in, a cold temperature to reside in, not a refreshingly cool place to escape the onslaught of 40C outdoors.  So  if I go in and out I am donning extra jumper to be indoors and almost in beachware to be outdoors. Isn't that rather bizaare?

Today so far it has been 25C in my courtyard where I sat and enjoyed the late breakfast of croissant and apricot jam with a large cup of hot water and small cups of coffee with my square of dark chocolate melting stickily on my fingers n the heat.  My mind was adrift into nothingness, yet thoughts of giving myself permission to do nothing as well as thougths about how do I re-energise.

The so called buttery croissants from the supermarket in a pack of ten were bagged by me for the freezer. Even so, they don't like being frozen and have dried out. They do not last more than a few weeks if that.  So they are not a culinary delight but are cheaper than the crumbly ones sometimes over-baked ones from the local boulangerie.

ANYWAY I wish to share this:   
https://www.bbc.com/news/in-pictures-52188627
and my thoughts...
would love to know yours...
would love a cultural debate and maybe the bbc article will promote such debate.........

 I shall call it ART IN A CORONAVIRUS era...    plus it is about Nottingham where my daughter, grand daughter were supposed to have gone last weekend for a conference she had so looked forward to and that I was financing.. Disappointment all round and we don't know if it will be postponed to the next date that has been organised.

This is fascinating
a) that these items are littered in the streets...
b) the mentality of society, of people, of circumstance as to why these are littered in the streets
c) that debris from a dangerous disease causing distress and death can create creativity from creative artists
d) how technology can help create artform.
e) about how and who is clearing litter from the streets,  when governmental dictates of rules and regulations to keep people safe from this virus  have closed down departments and divisions of the ORDER of COMMUNITY
f) so that  gloves are left strewn with potential virus attached to them
g) and then the question of how these products will be destroyed to protect the planet... are they too going to be washed up in the ocean like plastic bags??????

P.S.
I am gradually thinking that I could DO something practical now that my mind has engaged with its thinking wires!!!!!!!!!
There is cleaning to do... and a mammoth list of admin, gardening, dreams and lists and plans to address, and accordion music to play, singing to practice in the absence of group meetings, and I dream of having a grand piano ... or an electric keyboard wqith piano sensation in the interim.

It's nice to write.
A bientôt.

Day 22: Lockdown in France - Collier du Boeuf

Tuesday  7 April 2020

Sunday was Dining Alone in Lockdown... well ...
I do it every day and have done it alone for countless years.
Good tobe independent.
Saturday 4th April:  This is how I prepped  meat purchased from the village butchery van which arrives on Thursday. mornings.

BEEF CASSEROLE
PART ONE

1.200g portion collar of beef butterflied, stuffed with garlic, herbs of garden sage, garden basil, coriander, using old herbs) tied with string, seared on outside with onions. 

2. 250g beef collar in strips sautéed in olive oil high heat onions + diced turnips behind.

3. carrots, leeks, fennel bulb, moroccan lemons, tomato purée,

balsamic, olive oil, white wine, stock, Italian parsley, garlic, then the meat, cumin, ginger, 

marmalade jar scrapings instead of sugar. 

The pot at the back is circa 1970 a wedding gift and that at the front belongs to DW who bought it from the first independent second hand but not antique shop before charity charity shops were born.
in Beccles, where we used to live,
I never knew this, but both are made by Pearsons of Chesterfield est. 1810.
The second is dishwasher and microave proof... 

 PART TWO

Sunday 5th April evening at 7h30: I dined al fresco in France in my courtyard shade.. temperature 21C fallen from about 25C . Earlier, I had played my accordion in the courtyard as so cold indoors.

 The meat was very good and shredded, not keen on turnips, veg were too mushy apart from carrots.
The jacket potato variety melted in the mouth with the butter. A nice meal; worth the effort.

Tuesday 7th April ventured forth from my cocoon home to buy good bread, take prescription to pharmacy,  fish and wine from suoermarket.  I was very very lucky to find hardly any people and I managed to get the quiet slots in each shop!  I wore the mask for a prolonged period and discover I cannot breathe easily with it... too many layers of cotton perhaps?
Also: who can hear me speak?????
It was out my home zone but permissable for three categpries: food, pharmacy, exercise and mental  health.
I met a friend and we kept a big distance as we walked along the track into the woodland, sat on tree trunks and chatted.  On the way there I heard the cuckoo once and on the return journey the nightingales were singing but stopped as we approached where they were. Lots of butterflies , yellow and speckled browns, masses of bees around the yellow rapeseed.
It was a joy to be out, to have distant contact with a friend and to be able to wander in the supermarket with few people mid afternoon!
Lucky me!

Day 21: Lockdown in France - The Vegetable Plot

The Vegetable Plot Revitalised
Today 06 April 2020
for YESTERDAY 05 April 2020:
John the Gardener who cannot return to work in the garden because of the Lockdown turned over one quadrant of my vegetable patch on March 16th.
Since then, Parts 2, 3 and 4 of the quadrant which I had hoped to leave grassed over are now finished.
Warm sunny weather helped me to fork dig friable soil where grass and other weed fell easily from the soil where there are not many worms after years of digging in domestic garden waste and scattering with log ash. I have no idea about Ph levels of acidity and alkaline!

I shall have to find another subject to write about!
Postscript:
Today - First rain (currently light drizzle) since 21 days or more... the ground and seeds need it.
Yesterday - In courtyard shade at 17h30  +25C - the skin and morale needs it.

Day 20: Lockdown in France - a. bubble of isolation

Sunday 5 April 2020  Day 20 but I write on Saturday 4th  Day 19 for Friday 3rd April which was Day 18..

I think the effects of Days Passing without calendar agenda is having an effect on my postings and Days of Confinement marrying!!!!!... however, in my defence, posting and editing sometimes takes me time and effort. Not as fast as I used to be ....  plus there are more things to life.  BANISHMENT OF HELPFUL or UNHELPFUL thoughts is required!

I hope that yesterday was the last of several days of trying to process LIFE in France in my isolated bubble.
A blue bubble balloon, sky blue, which was ready to burst and end its life but not mine.  I persevere.
Mercifully, it became deflated by news media overload of information and stories of life, death, science, medical, political, governmental information concerning the VIRUS pandemic, the loss of hope and the gaining of hope and my worry and concern about many people who I have not yet contacetd but some of whom have contacted me.... to see if I am coping and alive.  Hey ho!

I am TRYING TO pump air into my solitary blue bubble balloon to increase its buoyancy in the wind, whilst anchored to my house and garden.

It really helped a few days ago when the instigator of a French Amity Language Group that I joined just before Christmas sent me a funny video where a dog was copying moving yogic moved....and a hilarious "Bonnie and Clyde" style pic of themselves in home-made masks.  I don't have permission to publish. She is unwell for other reasons so I admire her tenacity for humour.

I dont get enough play time and  humour... but the accordion is suggesting that I open the box.
Thing is: I dont like playing on my own.

Recently, I did 30 minutes practice in front of 'an old friend' who made no mention of the new accordion or the playing, which was not good at the time. I  can't remember if much later he made some comment but if he did it was without grace and politesse as was most of the visit.
The weekend was like a fog,  as I processed this person and what I thought we meant to each other sone 23 years ago and 15 yeasrs ago, in these 3 days that had been granted to WORK an clear old stuff and junk to Emmaus and the decheterie. That which is left is for me to dispose of.
Hey ho indeed!!!!!!

Day 19: Lockdown in France - Seeds

Today: Friday 3 April 2020
First Part
Yesterday, and today, I sowed straight into the ground short rows of various OLD seeds in packets. 
If they germinate, good, but if not, no worries.
I have benefited in mental and physical exercise and so my morale is mainly raised.
As the soil is dry I hauled the hosepipe to the end of the garden to use rain water in the cistern.
In order::
Found in the soil potatoes are replanted / lettuce and lettuce / radish / Italian chicory / Parsnips / Italian Parsley / Black Magic Kale / Coriander / Basil / Edible Flowers protected by string from hungry birds / Oriental Poppy harvested in 2018 /19 from poppies in the garden.
There are Yellow Raspberry Canes moved from being near the rambling roses by the wall and an ageing Gooseberry plant which fruitfulness depends on my ability to prune or not prune.

That's half of  two quarters sown.
Now to continue fork digging / weeding the other half before it rains.
I am slow!  Need to make more effort!

Second Part
A few days ago I had a terrible psychological meltdown about people I know in UK who seem to go out every day for a newspaper or food shopping and how their lives have suddenly it seems to me diminished into talking about trivia, others and the absence of toilet rolls.
These people may have lived alone but they do not know cultural social isolation. Equally, I don't know how those who work in the Arctic or Antartic or other challenging, hostile environments or live as a couple on a remote isaland mange their social isolation. We are all different.
My point is THAT it IS NOT SOCIAL ISOLATION,  nor social or physical distancing, to be seeing people and vehicles whilst they are out buying newspapers or going for a cycle ride or a drive to buy pants or items here considered to be non essential.   Nor is it social isolation when people entertain friends in their own home whom they have kept away from for two weeks, when those people have been going out and about into the social world, even if at a sort of distance from others, and now they say it is safe to meet up again. Maybe they should just move back together. Maybe they already have.
IS IT SAFE? Who knows?
My brain wonders at what point do I go out into the world as I have not been out for a drive to a supermarket for 3 weeks.
HERE in this village the few people in the street keep a good distance from each other.  It is safe from meeting others in close proximity.

Day 18: Lockdown in France - Eating

3 April 2020

I should have been in Nottingham by now with my daughter and grandduaghter.
Hey ho!!!!!


One day I ate scrambled eggs.... two.. with milk, butter, seasoning and added about one heaped tablespoonful mashed cooked sweet potato, chopped flat leafed Parsley beaten vigourously over heat until cooked. Delicious on toast.

Another day I made from The Guardian Tamal Ray's Swedish marzipan toscakaka. Another day I made itas it keeos and is delicious with fruit as a dessert or morning coffee.
It's dead easy to make. BUT we are alive.  Praise be to God!

40g unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus extra for greasing- 100g caster sugar- 2 large eggs - 90g Greek yoghurt - 50g plain flour (i added baknig powder)- 100g ground almonds

For the topping

50g unsalted butter- 25g caster sugar- 00g marzipan, grated- 25g double cream or yoghurt - 10g plain flour- 60g almonds in slivers.  Icing sugar, to dust

Line base of 20cm round cake tin with greaseproof paper grease with olive oil.

Heat oven 170C (160C fan)/gas 4.

Cream butter and sugar,  stir in all ingredients. Pour into tin & bake 30 minutes.
Melt together butter, sugar, marzipan in a saucepan over a low heat.  Remove from heat, add cream, flour, almonds. Mix. Once the cake is ready, remove from oven, increase heat to 190C (180C fan)/gas 6.

Pour topping over cake, covering the surface, return to the oven for six to eight minutes, until golden. Set aside to cool, then remove from the tin. Dust with icing sugar just before serving.

The second time the second bake took longer I don't know why!

Day 17: Lockdown in France - Masks and Gloves

2 April 2020

I haven't been anywhere to buy a mask. but have been wrapping two 100% cotton scarves around my face, when in the village shop for fruit, vegetables, eggs.

Today, at the Village shop, I was gifted a pink material mask made by the ladies in the village.  This village is renowned for a different type of sewing,  but without doubt the ladies have excellent sewing skills.  I am grateful.  It should be 100% cotton to be effective so I hope it is... It is not easy to wear and my glasses get steamed up.

I know that a mask or scarf can prevent the sudden clearing of the throat, cough or sneeeze sending particles of moisture to be airborne aw well a prevent myself breathing in germ-laden particles.
I am happy to wear one but will continue to wear scarf or scarves as well as the mask does not fit snug to the skin. The suppose my spectacles to some extent prevent particles arriving in the eyes.

The NEW RULE is we must wear a mask and gloves... disposable or material , when we go to the village shop and presumably, the bakery, but I haven't been there today; presumably other food shops.
I was told to wear it and wash it when I got home, ready for the next time.
I am happy to protect the community, myself and others.
I have washed it before use.

I've not been out since March 16th to anywhere and the supermarket, apart from a drive to the post office which was closed.
Apart from the village shop and boulangerie, I have had short walks in the local environment when I don't meet anyone.  The rules for the attestation form say not to walk for more than an hour and we must not go further than a km distance... this is not easy|!!!!!!

Everyone keeps a distance in the village ...
French bises and handshakes are now a thing of bygone times!!!!!!

Day 16: Lockdown in France - Gates and Doors

April Jour du Poisson.  - but I hope I am not the Fool

Cowslips

Recently cleared of neglected overgrowth which I was very fond of!

Day 15: Lockdown in France - Church, Shelters, Signs

A rare view of the church tower.

Two of the special cabanes near my house.

Day 14: Lockdown in France - Tulips

Photos

Tulips dance brightly in sumptuous dress on the day before clocks Spring forward and Winter arrives!