Day 70 of the second confinement period

The comic book is being worked on

Another Classic which brings back a lot of memories and in particular a night club called Tropicana by the beach in “Le Rayol – Canadel sur Mer” – The year 1968.

Black Magic Woman

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▫️ARS: Regional Health Agency. The director general of the Occitania agency confirmed the day before yesterday that the department of Aude would have 10,000 doses of vaccine available as of Thursday, January 7.

▫️ Announcements made yesterday by the Prime Minister

⇢ Sports facilities and cultural venues: no reopening in sight. “All activities and facilities closed today will remain closed until the end of this month”.

⇢ No reopening of bars and restaurants before mid-February.

⇢ No reopening of the ski lifts. In the ski resorts, the ski lifts will not reopen on Thursday, as initially planned.

⇢ Before considering a reopening of the cultural and sports establishments at the beginning of February, a new checkpoint is planned for 20 January.

⇢ Curfew from 8pm* till 6am extended till the end of the month.

* 6pm is still in force for 15 “departements”

A further 10 “departements” (Haut-Rhin, le Bas-Rhin, la Côte-d’Or, l’Yonne, le Cher, l’Allier, la Haute-Savoie, les Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, le Vaucluse et les Bouches-du-Rhône) are also under consideration to enforce a 6pm curfew. Decision due later today.

⇢ The border with the UK will remain closed for the time being

⇢ Simplified and immediate work stoppages in the event of symptoms or contact cases

⇢ Simplified vaccination procedures
Vaccination procedures “will be lightened for the less fragile people”, announced the Prime Minister, after criticism of the slow start of the vaccination plan. Before vaccination, “if you are 75 years old or older, you are free to consult your doctor, but it is not an obligation”, Olivier Véran explained. On the spot, a carer will simply ask a few questions to make sure the vaccination is possible. It will also be possible to see a doctor on site or go directly to the vaccination stage.

⇢ Soon 600 vaccination centres open
In order to be able to vaccinate people over 75 years of age who are not residents of establishments, vaccination centres will be opened in France. One vaccination centre per department is already open, according to the government. “From next Monday, there will be 300, then 600 at the end of January”.

▫️ Carnaval de Limoux

The announcement was made on Wednesday, January 6, by Pierre Durand, the mayor of the municipality. A historical first, the coronavirus will have got the better of the Limoux carnival. Its cancellation has just been made official, this Wednesday, January 6, by Pierre Durand, the mayor of the town.

▫️ Income tax in France

Here are the new income revised rates:

Effective immediately for 2021 declared income

How is income tax calculated?

The amount of tax is calculated from the net taxable income in :

→ dividing the net taxable income by the number of shares ;
→ then applying to this result the progressive scale of tax per bracket;
→ multiplying the result obtained by the number of shares of the family quotient to obtain the amount of tax due.

For example, a married or PACS(*) couple with two minor children has a net taxable income of €55,950. This couple has 3 shares (2 shares for the couple and half a share for each child), the net taxable income of €55,950 is divided into 3 = €18,650.

The scale is then applied to the 18 650 €:

→income bracket up to 10 084 € taxed at 0% = 0
→income bracket €10,085 to €25,710 taxed at 11%: €8,565 (obtained by performing the calculation 18,650 – 10,085) x 11% = €942.15
→The total result obtained is equal to 0 + 942.15 = 942.15 €.

This family having 3 parts of family quotient, we multiply 942,15 € by 3 = 2 826,45 € rounded up to 2 826 €.

This family will therefore have to pay €2,826 in income tax.

Are ‘nt you glad you now know that?

(*) PACS stands for “pacte civil de solidarité,” and represents a legal union between two people of either sex in France. It states that these two people live together and can declare French taxes together, as well as legally split possessions.

It was originally created in 1999 to give same-sex couples the same tax benefits and legal protections that straight married couples received. Nowadays, PACS is used by straight and same-sex couples alike.

And it’s not just for romantic relationships! Roommates can also apply for the civil solidarity pact in order to receive certain tax benefits, or be able to apply for the Private or Family Life visa (Visa Vie Privée et Familiale), which can allow a non-French partner to stay and work in France. This is similar to a regular carte de séjour, however it is done after a PACS partnership has been made and both partners can prove they’ve been living together for one year.

▫️ No alcohol

▫️Vaccinations

Call me keen if you wish, but today I looked and found my International Certificates of Vaccination booklet. I am ready when they are which I calculate will be mid to end of March for the 1st shot + 4 (to 6 weeks) for the 2nd shot which would mean in my case immunity by the end of May. That is my target anyway. It would mean one could plan decent summer activities. I shall of course watch this very closely.

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▫️Vaccinations report

The number of vaccinations so far in France is fairly small but improving. The governement is keeping to the target of 1 Million by the end of January (or so). Fingers crossed.

▫️ Diet

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▫️ The United States suspends customs reprisals against France

These 25% taxes, which were to affect $1.3 billion in annual imports, were decided in response to Paris’ decision to tax certain American digital companies such as Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon. They were to take effect on Wednesday. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, their suspension will allow the United States to engage in a targeted response.

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▫️ Dakar Rally 2021

Some of today’s impressive photos / scenery from stage 4

There are 6 categories competing

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▫️Vendée Globe

I would love to be part of the back up teams on the ground advising on possible routes taking into account the ever changing wind conditions. The final decision is of course down to the captain.