Still making the most of my time with the Bambina and my 100km of freedom, I found another cute little village called Milly La Foret. Even the bank was cute. I was hoping to visit the nearby Chateau de Courances with its gorgeous gardens but it was still closed thanks to the C word. I could at least get some pictures and see how the other half live – it’s still privately owned and inhabited. Once it and the cafes in the village are open, I will be back! There is a nearby national park great for walks which I’ll also do sometime. Definitely worth a stroll through the streets even if the delightful typically french stone village church had a somewhat un-typically model of Jesus Christ inside.
Nothing unusual to see here
Pigeon nest-building
Not quite so typiquement francais
The bank
Postmodernist art I believe
The beautiful blue windows
Chateau de Courances
Gardens at Chateau de Courances – what I could see anyway
Ah the joy of semi-freedom. For the first time in over two months I am allowed to go up to 100km from home. For the first time in nearly a year I drove a car. On the right hand side of the road too. For the first time in over two months, shops were allowed to open. There is a new rule in place that only 1 person per 4m2 is allowed, so this means only around 10 people at a time in a shop, depending on its size. In some, only 1.
Hand sanitiser is at the entrance and exit of each shop, and is compulsory in most shops. You are only allowed to move in one direction around most shops to avoid crossing paths with someone. One metre distance must still be respected. Most shops make you wear a mask, and they are compulsory on public transport, at train and bus stops. Which basically means most people are permanently wearing one on their face while walking around. Coming into summer, my biggest first world problem is how to avoid the tan lines I will have on my face.
One particularly entrepreneurial chap who seemed to be the proprietor of a vape shop has decided to diversify his offerings and sell masks and hand sanitiser. He was doing a roaring trade when I walked by. I only hope people don’t confuse his products…
I decided to rent a car for the weekend to enjoy my newfound freedom. So excited to be given a Fiat 500 Bambina to zip around in. Same as my one that I sold to come here! First stop was the supermarket to stock up on food and heavy items like milk and cat litter. Six enormous bags later and I remembered I had to get them up six flights of stairs in my apartment building. No lift. Think I’ve lost the extra two kilos of baguette weight around my stomach.
Next stop was the hilltop village of Chartres (see the wanderlusting tab for pictures) to see the famous Chartres Notre Dame Cathedral. It, too, was subject to COVID19 restrictions. You were only allowed to enter if you were there to pray, and only 8 people at a time. Every so often the priest at the entrance called out to remind the long line of people that this was the purpose and that no photos should be taken. No one budged. I’m sure they were all there to pray. Yeah right. Finally it was my turn to go in. They had a really ingenious hand sanitiser dispenser which looked like a water cooler. You opened the tap with your foot on a pedal and out comes the hand sanitiser. No touching a bottle that’s had everyone else’s hands on it.
I was glad to find a Sephora (more waiting outside) open. They had strategically placed their handmasks and hand cream by the checkout. Given the state of my hands after all the sanitiser today, I succumbed and bought several.
One final first: We opened up at work again for the first time in a month. No more work from home Zoom meetings. Long working hours retraining people in COVID protection measures and some sad stories of people who have lost loved ones during this time. But in general there is a positive vibe and people are glad to be back.
Excel is apparently a really useful spreadsheeting software.
I’ve used it at a relatively basic level for years. Now I finally have the opportunity to enhance my skills in it, which I will absolutely need for work. I must do it. I must. It will help with my tax return too. Really, it will. I must do that too. Strangely these are the last two things on my list of things that I’ve “always wanted to do but never had the time.” Right up there with re-arranging the kitchen and tidying the shopping bag and recycling cupboard.
I have largely re-balanced my private life and chakras. Yoga practice re-started, my muscles are still complaining but I am determined. My swiss ball has arrived and I am dutifully doing some exercises every couple of days. I have found some time for learning other european languages. I have relegated baguettes and wine to weekends only. I know not to drink disinfectant or bleach to kill coronavirus. Instead, I’ve drunk turmeric-laced green smoothies for breakfast, and eaten so much quinoa, lentils, nuts, seeds and salads that my colon is positively humming.
Even the cat has taken to her paraffin oil now that I have bought a new variety disguised in a meat-flavoured paste. She can’t get enough of it, licks it off my finger. Our bowels are functioning correctly. Stools the shape of perfect sausages that would make Dr Libby proud (see https://www.drlibby.com if you basically want to change your life).
I just need to balance my work life and better manage my workplace wellbeing. On reflecting, I know that one thing that will make a big difference will be to be really proficient in Excel, and fast. Also, I need to organise better my work key result areas. I have now been handed a gift in the opportunity to be able to work from home and finally concentrate on these tasks.
It is a long weekend this weekend in France. A public holiday today May 1st where the tradition is to give women a sprig of muguet (lily of the valley) for happiness and good luck. The tradition originated in 1561 when the flower was given to King Charles IX as a lucky charm. He decided to offer the flower to all the ladies from then on. Although being just 12 years old at the time, I’m not sure how much of a lucky charm for him it really was. Particularly given he died 11 years later of tuberculosis.
I digress.
Excel. Must. Do. Excel. Must. Do. Tax. Return.
The sun is shining outside but everything is closed. The apartment is sparkling clean. Ooh, yes, I must go and put another load of washing on. Then Excel. I promise.
“In May do what pleases you” (Ed’s note: while safely respecting at least 1m and preferably in the confines of your own home)
This little gem arrived in the Belgium news. I just love Jacinda’s reaction to the journalist who keeps persisting for a comment on drinking bleach and disinfectant.
