Second national lockdown declared in France

Another outbreak in China linked to a forced labour factory.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

This sums it up, for now....

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.

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?

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!

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!

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.

Alegrias2 Thanks!

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

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.

I suppose to be fair a lot of people do go back to family homes for Toussaint, it remains to be seen whether they stay there.

I guess visiting cemeteries will be allowed Mamie as it is outside?

Thinking about it, there's no way Macron could cancel the honouring of the dead by the Catholic Church at Toussaint with what is going on in France at the moment.

Yes Ellianne there are dispensations for people travelling home after the Toussaint holidays, the flower shops can stay open until the end of Sunday (cue endless pictures of chrysanthemums on the lunchtime news) after which they will be closed for lockdown and the cemeteries are open.

We are expecting the same announcement here tonight (Belgium), already 10.00pm curfew, some areas are really bad. The police are closing down parties and weddings, why do people keep doing it, the area I live in has been so careful.
Except for a Shisha bar which had 80 people in it when raided. It is tiny, some people seem to think they are immune and also above the law.
I coped in the summer but suffer from SADS and live in a semi-basement, lots of windows but at the moment it is just grey outside.

The French don't want people escaping to their second homes from the cities. Apart from anything else, the shops don't prepare for large influxes of people outside the holiday seasons, which is understandable.

I do have some sympathy, particularly with young French people, who previously left their rural homes in search of work and now have to return to the "foyer". A lot of them cannot afford their rents in the cities if they are au chômage partiel and their only choice is to head home. More jobs need to be found locally to keep them in the area.

Callistemon

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

Bergamot, to me, is a lovely perenial flower- and that is where the essential oil comes from. But never heard a the fruit.

Sounds like it should go nicely with a gin and tonic!