▫️ DAILY AND WEEKLY STATISTICS HERE .

▫️ Relieve pressure or tighten constraints? The Elysée gives itself 8 to 10 days to decide on this in the face of the Covid-19 epidemic, while the executive insists on collective discipline. This new deadline was evoked during a video-conference with members of the majority parliament.

The Elysée did not confirm it, but the executive is monitoring the evolution of the Covid-19 epidemic very closely, especially the rise of the more contagious variants, to see if it can avoid stricter measures such as reconfinement, which is still advocated by some of the scientists.

▫️ The first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from the pharmaceutical duo Pfizer/BioNtech is 85% effective two to four weeks after injection, according to a study published in the scientific journal The Lancet carried out on the medical staff of Israel’s largest hospital.

On 19 December, the Hebrew state launched a vast vaccination campaign against Covid-19 thanks to an agreement with Pfizer that allows Israel to rapidly obtain millions of doses in exchange for biomedical data on the effect of the vaccine. To date, 4.23 million Israelis (47% of the population) have received at least the first dose of the vaccine – of which 2.85 million (32%) have received the second necessary dose – according to the Ministry of Health.

▫️ FOOD & DRINKS

To be recommended

▫️ ROLL ON SUMMER

Ricard is the number one spirit brand in France regarding the volumes sold or turnover.

▫️ ANCILLARY NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND from our correspondent in Britain

✒️ BRITISH PEOPLE ARE REALLY MISSING THE PUB

The events of the past year have had a devastating impact on the hospitality sector in the UK. At the forefront of lockdown’s sacrifices for many is the closure of an institution that is a cornerstone of British culture – the pub.

Pubs are recognised as important assets to their communities, providing economic and social value alike. They’re also an excellent example of what the American scholar Ray Oldenburg calls the “third place”, a space other than the home or workplace where people meet to interact and maintain relationships.

As one retiree in his 70s, a trip to the pub could give him the chance of “being with people”. 

“There’s nothing I like better than being able to talk to people […] not just about silly things but having a good laugh and, you know, generally speaking, bringing yourself out of what you’ve been doing and what you haven’t been doing.”

I’ll drink to that!

✒️ IMPORTANT CONSTRUCTION NEWS

They’re building a big hill at Marble Arch this summer

 I don’t know about you, but one thing that I wasn’t expecting to be part of the eventual reopening of central London was the construction of a 25m-high temporary mound at one end of Oxford Street. That’s apparently the plan, though. The ‘Marble Arch Hill’ is the most visually arresting/bonkers element of a £150 million development initiative by Westminster Council to inject new life into Oxford Street and Marble Arch, and attract visitors and tourists back into the West End. 

Kay Buxton, chief executive of Marble Arch London BID said it is ‘a truly unique and once in a lifetime opportunity to see London from a completely new perspective. Marble Arch Hill is a clarion call to the recovery of London’s hospitality and leisure sector, in an enduring, world-renowned destination.’

Say what you like, though, it’s certainly original. So as you stand there freezing in your new sunglasses, lashed by summer rain and dying for a wee, with a line of grumpy punters behind you willing you to get off the top of the sodding mound, just be grateful for being out and about again. And if you really hate it, it’s only going to be there for six months.

Don’t think I will be going to London anytime soon!

▫️ MUSIC

ANOTHER ONE IN MY TOP 100

Living near Spain, one is influenced by this music.

🎶 / 🎶 / 🎶

▫️ PIC OF THE DAY

SUGGEST A CAPTION FOR THAT PICTURE

▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND

▫️ FACTS

🔸 The first thing Mickey Mouse ever said was “Hot dogs”

🔸 The distance between you earlobes is the same as the distance between your nipples

🔸 The fear of long words is Hippopotomonstrosesquippeddaliophobia

🔸 Every minute, we lose about 30,000 to 40,000 dead skin cells. That’s about nine pounds of skin cells a year. You probably just lost 40,000 skin cells in the time it took you to read this.”

🔸 Hippos can’t swim. They almost always maintain contact with the bottom or they bounce off the bottom as they move through the water

▫️ SATIRE

▫️ FUN

▫️ From Paul: Here we go again folks…….loads of funnies to giggle and snigger at this week.

▪️ Two old guys, one 80 and the other 87, were sitting on a park bench one morning. The 87-year-old had just finished his morning jog and wasn’t even short of breath. His 80-year old buddy was amazed at the guy’s stamina and asked him what he did to have so much energy.
The 87 years old said  “Well, I eat rye bread every day. It keeps your energy level high and you’ll have great stamina with the ladies. So, on the way home the 80-year-old stopped at the bakery. As he was looking around, the saleslady asked if he needed any help.
He said, “Do you have any rye bread?” She said, “Yes, there’s a whole shelf of it. Would you like some?”
He said, “I want five loaves.”She said, “My goodness, five loaves! By the time you get to the 3rd loaf, it’ll be hard.” He replied, “I can’t believe everybody knows about this but me!!..

▪️ When I first heard Julie Andrews sing Doh Ray Me, I thought to myself she’ll go Far…

▪️ My wife suffers from chronic, debilitating headaches.Anyway, enough about her…..  Back to drum practice.

▪️ Some gossip gold…

▫️ It’s not me who can’t keep a secret. It’s the people I tell.Now listen carefully  because I’ve been told  not to repeat this.

▫️At the last job I applied for I was interviewed by the personnel officer, and at the end of a lengthy questioningperiod he finally asked “do you have a war record?” Yes I said, Vera Lynn singing White Cliffs of Dover.

▪️ Some one-liners …warning …  a few Groaners here…

▫️ An invisible man married an invisible woman. The kids were nothing to look at either.

▫️ I didn’t think the chiropractor would improve my posture. But I stand corrected.

▫️I took my new girlfriend out on our first date to the ice rink, and entry was half price.She called me a cheap skate.

▫️ Studies show cows produce more milk when the farmer talks to them. It’s a case of in one ear and out the udder.

▫️ My cross-eyed wife and I just got a divorce. I found out she was seeing someone on the side.

▫️ My wife claims I’m the cheapest person she’s ever met. I’m not buying it.

▫️ I told my carpenter I didn’t want carpeted steps. He gave me a blank stair.

▫️ What did the surgeon say to the patient who insisted on closing up his own incision? Suture self.

▪️ At the dinner table one evening our teenage daughter was telling us about a film she had seen at school. “It was on mental and emotional health” she said. And can you tell us,” I asked teasingly, “the exact difference between ‘mental’ and ‘emotional’ health?” “Well,” she replied, the way I see it, mental health is how you feel about geometry; emotional health is how you feel about the boy who sits next to you in geometry.”

▪️ Bob checked into his hotel room and immediately noticed a dead cockroach on the floor. He called the front desk, asked for the manager and raised a fuss. “Sir, please calm down,” the Manager replied. It’s dead. It can’t bother you now.” “The dead one doesn’t bother me,”said Bob. “It’s his pallbearers”

▪️ A man returned to his doctor to hear the results of his annual check-up.“Your check-up results were great,” the doctor said, “but is there anything that you’d like to talk about or ask me?”“Well,” he said, “I was thinking about getting a vasectomy.” “That’s a pretty big decision,” the doctor replied. “Have you talked it over with your family?”“Yeah, and they’re in favour 15 to 2.”


▪️ Interesting thoughts……………… 

▫️ What disease did cured ham actually have?

▫️ Why is it that people say they “slept like a baby” when babies wake up like every two hours?

▫️ If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

▫️ Why are you IN a movie, but you’re ON TV?

▫️ Why do doctors leave the room while you change??? They’re going to see you naked anyway.

▫️ If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

▫️ Did you ever notice that when you blow in a dog’s face, he gets mad at you, but when you take him for a car ride, he sticks his head out the window?

▪️ Warning: Turn away now if you are of a ’tender’ or ‘innocent’ disposition

BUDDHA was quoted:

There are three things that cannot be easily hidden: The Sun, the Moon, and the Truth.

The following are 2 Simple Truths, 5 Rules of Life, and 3 Bonus Rules:

▫️ SIMPLE TRUTH 1:

Lovers help each other undress before s*x.

However, after s*x, they always dress on their own.

Moral of the story — In life, no one helps you once you’re screwed.

▫️ SIMPLE TRUTH 2:

When a woman is pregnant, all her friends touch her stomach and say,

“Congratulations.” But none go up to the man, touch his ‘dangly bit’ and say “Good Job.”

Moral of the story — Hard work is rarely appreciated.

 ▫️ FIVE RULES TO REMEMBER IN LIFE:

1.   Money can’t buy happiness – but it’s far more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle.

2.   Forgive your enemy – but remember the asshole’s name.

3.   If you help someone when they’re in trouble – they will remember you when they’re in trouble again.

 4. Alcohol does not solve any problems – but then, neither does milk.

 5. Many people are alive only because it’s illegal to shoot them.

▫️BONUS RULES:

1.   Condoms do not guarantee safe s*x! A friend of mine was wearing one when he was shot by the woman’s husband.

2.   I think all politicians should wear uniforms. You know, like NASCAR drivers, so we could identify their corporate sponsors.

3.  Also, all politicians should serve only two terms — one in office and one in prison.

I somehow knew you would not turn away!!!!

See you in the soup, folks.

▫️ WEATHER

Quite a strong wind for the next couple of days.

▫️ VENDEE GLOBE

▫️ WALKS

Went to the coast earlier today for a long walk. No sun and a lot of wind but nice enough. Details in tomorrow’s blog post.

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▫️ SOME LINKS I LIKE TO USE