Living through a pandemic in the south of France
332 days in Carcassonne since the 1st lockdown in March 2020
▫️ News and titbits
▫️ Today I have had some difficulties to get the numbers from my usual official sources. Somehow the Governement sites are only half updated and I have a had a fair amount of double checks and cross checks to do.
What is going on. Maybe it is just the weekend effect.
▫️ Germany closes part of its borders, despite EU criticism Berlin is closing its borders with the Czech Republic and the Austrian Tyrol in an attempt to contain the spread of the highly contagious coronavirus variants.
▫️ Income tax Two calculation modules are now available on line. Of course they are in French.
Simplified (for those declaring salaries, pensions or retirement, land income, current expenses such as alimony, childcare costs, donations to charities, etc.)
Full (for those declaring income from commercial, liberal or agricultural activities, rental investments, etc.)
▫️ The ice fun on the frozen Maschsee (Germany) is definitely cancelled this winter, even if the ice layer were thick enough. The city of Hanover would not release the lake because the Corona distances would not be observed.
Shame. I remember having fun walking on the ice from one side to the other and from one Mulled Wine stand to the other.
▫️ Freezing news from Germany
I am receiving news this weekend from family and friends in Germany that it is rather cold there…
▫️ Daily and weekly Corona virus statistics are visible here .
TODAY’S DATA will be updated this afternoon before 3 pm
▫️ ANCILLARY NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND from our correspondent in Britain
Our correspondant in Britain is rather otherwise engaged for a couple of days
▫️ MUSIC
NOT REALLY IN MY TOP 100
It does represent an era in Italy. In theory according to the title quite suitable for Valentine’s day if if you go through the lyrics maybe not…
THIS ONE IS IN MY TOP 100 AND IS A FRENCH CLASSIC
▫️ PIC OF THE DAY
Latest painting from my friend Gerard Cottin
▫️ FUN BITS
If you have never been to Japan there is no way you have ever enjoyed sitting on the proverbial throne.
However getting up in the middle of the night and trying, half asleep, to find the right button to push when everything is written in Japanese can be quite a challenge and even scary.
I took this photo intending to get it translated but the courage failed me the next day in the office. I simply had to experiment and get surprised.
▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND
One of Donald Trump’s impeachment lawyers, Michael van der Veen, blew a gasket on Saturday morning after the Senate chamber erupted in laugher over his tantrum about calling witnesses.
The lawyer said that if the impeachment managers want to start subpoenaing individuals related to the events of Jan. 6, then he wants to depose House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris at his office in Philadelphia.
Those on the Senate floor immediately responded in laugher, which only made van der Veen even more angry.
“I haven’t laughed at any of you, and there’s nothing laughable here,” he whined, before threatening to “slap subpoenas on a good number of people” if witnesses are called.
▫️ SATIRE OF THE DAY
▫️ WEATHER
It is looking much better than previously forecasted and for the time being, wednesday looks like a good day to go out for a walk.
Still all is quiet as far as floods are concerned in our region.
We are still “Green”.
▫️ VENDEE GLOBE
As planned “One Planet One Ocean arrived yesterday evening in 20th place after 97 days, 6 hours and 27 minutes.
Five boats are still in the race and the next one “Companie du Lit” is hust under 600nm away at the time of writing (1,100 km)
▫️ WALKS
Did not go out yesterday, otherwise engaged.
▫️ SOME LINKS I LIKE TO USE
I do it my way 