Second national lockdown declared in France

We had two ladies from Paris staying in their family home next to us in our peaceful rural village. They are returning to Paris tomorrow saying its 'obligatoire'.
I agree Mamie I was annoyed to think they had come here for no good reason.

Alegrias2 Thanks!

Mamie What you say is food for thought - and true. Thanks for that.

I think the masks in own homes is probably aimed at families with several generations where grandparents do childcare. Lots of those in our village, especially the farming families, where people all have houses on the farm.
As for the exodus to the countryside - last time people were pretty furious about Parisians arriving at their second homes, putting pressure on local services. Can't think it will be different now.

I can't imagine the French people I know agreeing to wear a mask in their own homes. I'm not sure I would either - a step too far.

I hope everything goes OK for you in France TwinLolly, stay safe!

Alegrias2 I had to re-read the rules again... Now I'm scratching my head about wearing a facemask at home...

Perhaps if someone comes to visit but certainly not if me and DH are on our own!

But then 'private gatherings' of any size are not allowed. Does that mean absolutely no friends in the house - 1 or 2? (Being new, we only know 2 people in the next hamlet) But we can still go to an indoor or outdoor market... Some things are a bit ambiguous.

We went to an outdoor market a few weeks ago and it was heaving with absolutely no social distancing whatsoever because rows between stalls were narrow - but people did wear face masks.

Oh well... a bit of confusion will reign but I'll do my best to be a good girl - apart from wearing a mask at home with DH!

TwinLolly I just noticed the instruction that says "wear masks when around others, even when at home" Is that serious? Are they actually telling people to wear masks in their own homes?

Taken from: www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/France-lockdown-What-is-open-and-what-is-not

I live in the countryside so it does help, but it is frustrating in a way. Our wings have been clipped again but hey ho... there is plenty to do around the house.

This sums it up, for now....

sodapop

Dinahmo yes I think that is what we will do this time around.

Just seen pics of all the cars queuing to get out of Paris, nightmare

Yes, it's just fortunate that so many Parsians have des maisons secondaires, something that is quite normal in France and not frowned upon as in the UK. Most of the properties have been in the family for donkeys' years.
My French friend delivered her grandchildren back home last night, at least she had enjoyed most of half term with them.

Dinahmo yes I think that is what we will do this time around.

Just seen pics of all the cars queuing to get out of Paris, nightmare

Plenty of time for marmalade making now. ? We have some sevilles left in the freezer from last year so must get on with it. We also make quince marmalade from our tree. I think Macron's decision is the right one, but suspect it will be harder psychologically this time of year. I agree that those of us in the countryside with our gardens are the lucky ones; our commune is very supportive and everyone looks after everyone else.

Bergamot essential oil is very useful and the essence is also used in perfumes.
I expect the marmalade is delicious.

biba70 they are a type of citrus fruit , a bit like oranges but with greeny/yellowy skins which make a lovely scented marmalade. A bit later we'll be able to get cedrat which are a like a giant lemon but nearly all peel which make even better marmalade.

HyperU was crazy today- and about 50% with Swiss plated cars from neighbouring Cantons. But no shortages whatsoever when we were there late morning.

Sorry, what are bergamots? The flowers you mean?

OH has his accordion lesson tomorrow and will have to make a huge detour to avoid going into France and out again- then back.

sodapop

Bluesky we only hand in the forms if stopped and I have only been stopped once so most of the time they are wasted. I heard that someone in a local town as fined for altering the date on an unused form. That may or may not be true but we waste a lot of paper & ink.

Last time round my OH filled in the form but left the date off - if he was stopped he'd have time to add it. The only time we saw gendarmes was at two supermarkets in the same town on the day before the restrictions were announced.

Another outbreak in China linked to a forced labour factory.

I suspect that most of us Brits who live in France are lucky enough to have large gardens and so plenty of space around us.

Macron spoke for about 30 minutes on Wednesday night and explained why he was taking the particular measures chosen and why he did not chose others.

Given that my OH is in the middle of various repair jobs around the house we went in to Perigueux this afternoon - masses of traffic and everyone with the same idea I think. We then went food shopping. By then it was around 5.00pm and several empty shelves in Lidl and Grand Frais. No potatoes in the latter or green veg. I did manage to get some bergamots so will be making marmalade at the weekend. But, if it's like last time the shops soon re-stock.

I'm in France as well. All this form filling business was
really only the first week (I only printed one piece of paper
and added the new time every day and it was accepted on a
Gendarme check)
However by the second week all you had to do was have the
'attestation' on your phone and put in the hour as you went
out - easy peasy , I did it a couple of times a day to walk my dog, it wasn't difficult.

Fennel perhaps your friend would benefit by contacting CSF in France, if she hasn't already done so. The charity does amazing work of all kinds for those with cancer - hospital visit and consultation and treatment support, language problems and translation, home visits, household help, counselling, general advice, etc., Their main website will give details according to the area lived in and telephone contact numbers for assistance. Hope that might help.
cancersupportfrance.org

Thanks Mamie, I guess it makes sense when one area gets saturated with admissions to move the overflow by train. The TGVs are fast, but it just looked so weird to see stretchers piled across the headrests of the seats!

Bluesky we only hand in the forms if stopped and I have only been stopped once so most of the time they are wasted. I heard that someone in a local town as fined for altering the date on an unused form. That may or may not be true but we waste a lot of paper & ink.

Mamie yes she's in the SW, where there's a shortage of GPs and Specialistes.
Also there's the language problem - sometimes you have to make a fuss to get what you need - a french lady in the commune is trying to help her now.

I am still having regular check ups for my cancer and have had no change in the original plans, a friend has been diagnosed and had his chemo all during the lockdown - happily he too has been told his cancer is dead.
The normal health services seem to be going on. I cannot work out how they are managing it but whether it is GP hospital or nurse there are only maybe one or two other patients there.

Ellianne there were some emergency hospitals opened by the military in the first wave, but also lots of patients airlifted or taken by hospital trains to other regions. That is one of the reasons for national lockdown now, so that other regions can use spare capacity to support hard-hit areas.
Fennel I am surprised about your friend - assume it is in the south-west? As far as I know cancer treatments have been continuing. The tension hospitalière has been rising in the last few weeks, but was low over the summer.

So difficult when schools are open. Many people live more than 1 from schools . Many older pupils use public transport. Our local shops are full of pupils inside ( wearing masks ) and out ( not wearing masks) before and after school. Local parks have many pupils from different year groups All playing in same equipment. My partners daughter has a Covid positive classmate . SHE skd she alone in that household has to self isolate , too young to be confined to her bedroom for days on end really and all other household members can continue as per usual unless displaying symptoms!!!!! I cannot imagine with this reasoning that we will be Covid free any time soon !!! Btw this info was in the gov guidelines letter from
School......