CONTAMINATIONS This Saturday 28 August, 17,590 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,728,858. The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 2.9%.
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS The critical care services, which treat the most serious forms of the disease, received 2,259 people, compared to 2,270 the day before.
DEATHS 75 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in this epidemic in France to 114,157.
VACCINATION To date, 48,356,975 people have received at least one dose of vaccine, i.e. 71.7% of the total population, and 43,490,579 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 64.5% of the total population.
✏️ Daily update – Regional
It is in the Aude and the Pyrenees-Orientales that half of the deaths linked to Covid-19 this Saturday were recorded in Occitanie.
In Aude, this Saturday evening, there were 89 people hospitalised (-3 in 24h) including 14 in intensive care (-3) and 63 in conventional hospitalisation (+1). Three people died of Covid in the department in one day, bringing the number of victims of the disease since March 2020 to 393.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 118 people were hospitalised (-6 in 24 hours), including 19 in intensive care (-2) and 53 in intensive care (-3). 380 people have died from Covid-19 in the Pyrénées-Orientales, including three on Saturday alone.
In Occitanie, 1,194 people are hospitalised (-22 in 24 hours) including 298 in intensive care (-8) and 621 in conventional hospitalisation (-13). 4,918 inhabitants of the region died from Covid-19, including 12 this Saturday.
▫️ MUSIC
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information available:
▫️ FOOD & DRINKS
Pommes de terre nouvelles au vin blanc
🔸 Ingredients
1kg new potatoes (small size) 4 cloves of garlic 1 sprig of thyme 1 chicken stock 15cl dry white wine sunflower or grape seed oil Guerande salt, freshly ground pepper 1 bay leaf 1 salted butter
🔸 Method
STEP 1 Wash the potatoes and drain them. Do not peel them.
STEP 2 Leave the garlic cloves in the jacket (do not peel)
STEP 3 Wash the sprig of thyme.
STEP 4 Place the chicken stock cube in 1/2 litre of water. Microwave for 2 minutes and let it melt.
STEP 5 Melt the butter and oil in a non-stick pan and fry the potatoes for 10 minutes. Brown them on all sides.
STEP 6 Add garlic, thyme, bay leaf, pepper and dry white wine. Reduce by 1/4.
STEP 7 Moisten the potatoes with the chicken stock.
STEP 8 Cook, uncovered, until the liquid has almost evaporated (it will thicken at the end until it caramelises).
STEP 9 Salt sparingly and serve.
▫️FUN
Red wine would help fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Shit, I used to drink to forget.
Another day at the beach listening to some oldies and favorite music. Right now Emerson Lake & Palmer.
The beach are emptying more and more. This weekend will see the last return from holidays of the summer for many people. At last we have the place back for us locals.
Had a pleasant lunch followed by a well needed snooze
and a walk through the port & town before heading home
CONTAMINATIONS On Friday 27 August, 18,249 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,711,268. The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3%.
HOSPITAL ADMISSIONS The critical care units, which treat the most serious forms of the disease, received 2,270 people, 9 more than the previous day.
DEATHS 95 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in this epidemic in France to 114,083.
VACCINATION To date, 48,249,676 people have received at least one dose of vaccine, i.e. 71.6% of the total population, and 43,199,196 people have received the full vaccination schedule, i.e. 64.1% of the total population.
✏️ Daily update – Regional
Covid-19 claimed three new victims this Friday evening in the Pyrénées-Orientales. There is one more death in the Aude in the same day.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 12 people have died in the last 7 days, including 3 in 24 hours. In total, 377 people have died from Covid in the department. This Friday evening, there were 124 people hospitalised (-6 in 24 hours) including 21 in intensive care (-1) and 56 in conventional hospitalisation (-2).
In the Aude, 92 people were hospitalised this Friday evening (-4 in 24 hours) including 17 in intensive care (as the day before) and 62 in conventional hospital (-4). 390 people died in the department, including 1 more in 24 hours. 9 deaths were recorded during the week in the Aude.
In the Occitanie region, 1,216 people were hospitalised (-32 in 24 hours), including 306 in intensive care (-3) and 634 in conventional hospitalisation (-30). 4,906 people died from Covid-19, including 23 in 24 hours.
✏️ Vaccinations 💉
So now it is official, a third dose or booster will be made available as of Septembre for the over 65, to start with, and / or for people at risk. The booster will be exclusively an RNA messenger type of vaccine and namely Pfizer or Moderna even if your first 2 shots were Astra Zeneca.
✏️ R0 number
For the past couple of days, the magical R number at the national level is reported to be under 1 and actually showing a value of 0,93. As a reminder:
If the R value is higher than one, then the number of cases keeps increasing.
But if the R number is lower the disease will eventually stop spreading, because not enough new people are being infected to sustain the outbreak.
▫️ MUSIC
Working on My 80’s playlist. Quite a slow process… but it will be published soon.
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:
27/08: The following countries will change colour in France’s classification on 29 August:
Georgia, Iran and Turkey move to red.
Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Northern Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia move to orange.
Chile and Uruguay turn green.
26/08: Fiji’s borders are scheduled to reopen in December. 26/08: US airlines fear that US air borders with Europe will not open until November. 26/08 : Greece announces new restrictions for unvaccinated travellers. 26/08: Madagascar’s borders are expected to reopen in October. 26/08: Qantas plans to reopen Australia’s borders in December. 26/08: The number of weekly flights to Algeria will be increased from 9 to 32 from 28 August as part of the partial reopening of airspace. Source
▫️ FOOD & DRINKS
New sort and first crop from the garden
▫️FUN
▫️ SATIRE
Thank you Sheena
▫️ THE FABULOUS FRIDAY (FUNNIES) GROANS from Paul
Greeting FFFs
Hope you get a few laughs from this lot.
A few quick ones to start……
✒︎Two Irishmen flying in a biplane, one says to the other “ If we fly upside down, will we fall out?” His mate says “ No Paddy, we’ve been friends for years.”
✒︎I thought it was the washing machine shrinking my clothes… Turns out it is the refrigerator.
✒︎I never repeat gossip: so listen carefully the first time.
✒︎I use to hate it when my mom would dress me and my twin brother in the same clothes. We could hardly walk.
✒︎I was in a cafe the other day. Two waitresses were having an argument about how long to leave the tea bag in..
It ended up being a big brawl, I asked the manager how did that happen?
He said ‘I don’t know but it’s been brewing for ages!’….
✒︎Apparently, it’s only appropriate to say, “Look at you! You got so big!”, to children. Adults tend to get offended.
✒︎ During a church service, the pastor asked if anyone in the congregation would like to express praise for answered prayers. Suzie stood and walked to the podium. She said, “Two months ago, my husband, Phil, had a terrible bicycle accident and his scrotum was crushed.”
There was a muffled gasp from the men in the congregation. “Phil was unable to hold me or the children,” she went on, “and every move caused him terrible pain. We prayed as the doctors performed a delicate operation, and they were able to reconstruct the crushed remnants of Phil’s scrotum, using wire to reinforce and shape it.”
The men in the congregation cringed and squirmed uncomfortably. “Now,” she announced in a quivering voice, “thank the Lord, Phil is out of the hospital and the doctors say that with time, his scrotum should recover completely.”
All the men sighed with relief.
The pastor rose and asked if anyone else had something to say. A man stood up and walked slowly to the podium. He said, “I’m Phil.” The entire congregation held its breath. “I just want to tell my wife the word is sternum.”
✒︎ Interesting musings ……….
⚬ I had amnesia once – or twice.
⚬ Protons have mass? I didn’t even know they were Catholic.
⚬ All I ask is a chance to prove that money can’t make me happy.
⚬ I’d give my right arm to be ambidextrous.
⚬ If the world was a logical place, men would ride horses sidesaddle.
⚬ What is a “free” gift? Aren’t all gifts free?
⚬ They told me I was gullible .. and I believed them.
⚬ Teach a child to be polite and courteous in the home and, when he grows up, he’ll never be able to edge his car onto a freeway.
⚬ Two can live as cheaply as one, for half as long.
⚬ Experience is the thing you have left when everything else is gone.
⚬ What if there were no hypothetical questions?
⚬ One nice thing about egotists: They don’t talk about other people.
✒︎ A linguistics professor was lecturing his class.
“In English,” he explained, “a double negative forms a positive.
In some languages, such as Russian, a double negative is still a negative.”
“However,” the professor continued, “there is no language wherein a double positive can form a negative.”
A voice from the back of the room piped up
“Yeah, right.”
✒︎ A man doing market research for the Vaseline Company knocked at the door and was greeted by a young woman with three small children running around at her feet.
*’*I’m doing some research for Vaseline. Have you ever used the product?’ She said, ‘Yes, my husband and I use it all the time.’ ‘If you don’t mind my asking,’ he said, ‘what do you use it for?’ ‘We use it for s*x,’ she said. The researcher was a little taken aback. ‘Usually people lie to me and say they use it on a child’s bicycle chain or to help with a gate hinge.
But in fact, I know that most people do use it for s*x. I admire you for your honesty. Since you’ve been so frank so far, can you tell me exactly HOW you use it for s-x?’
The woman said, ‘I don’t mind telling you at all. My husband and I put it on the doorknob and it keeps the kids out.
✒︎ At a good bye luncheon for an old and dear coworker who was leaving the company due to ‘downsizing,’ our manager commented cheerfully, ‘This is fun.
We should do this more often.’
Not another word was spoken. We all just looked at each other with that deer-in-the-headlights stare.
✒︎ Since my purchases came to $19.06, I handed the cashier a twenty.
“Do you have six cents?” she asked.
“Sorry,” I said after fishing around my pockets, “I have no cents.”
“Finally,” she muttered, “a man who can admit it.”
✒︎ Two men were sitting at a bar recounting their dreams.
“I dreamed I was on vacation,” one man said fondly. “It was just me and my fishing rod and this big beautiful lake. What a dream.”
“I had a great dream too,” said the other. “I dreamed I was in bed with two beautiful women and having the time of my life.”
His companion looked over and exhorted, “You dreamed you had two women, and you didn’t call me?”
“Oh, I did,” said the other, “but when I called, your wife said you’d gone fishing.”
✒︎ I’ve never understood why women love cats. Cats are independent, they don’t listen, they don’t come in when you call, they like to stay out all night, and when they’re home they like to be left alone and sleep. In other words, every quality that women hate in a man, they love in a cat.
✒︎ When my wife had to rush to the hospital unexpectedly, she asked me to bring
her a few items from home. One item on the list was “comfortable underwear.”
Worried I’d make the wrong choice, I asked, “How will I know which ones to pick”
“Hold them up and imagine them on me,” she said. “If you smile, put them back.”
✒︎ And to see out the week…..
Most of our generation of 60+ were HOME SCHOOLED in many ways.
1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.
“If you’re going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning.”
2. My mother taught me RELIGION.
“You better pray that will come out of the carpet.”
3. My father taught me about TIME TRAVEL.
“If you don’t straighten up, I’m going to knock you into the middle of next week!”
4. My mother & father taught me LOGIC.
” Because I said so, that’s why .”
5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC .
“If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you’re not going to the store with me.”
6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.
“Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you’re in an accident.”
7. My mother & father taught me IRONY.
“Keep crying, and I’ll give you something to cry about.”
8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.
“Shut your mouth and eat your supper.”
9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.
“Just you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!”
10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.
“You’ll sit there until all that spinach is gone.”
11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.
“This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it.”
12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.
“If I told you once, I’ve told you a million times, don’t exaggerate!”
13. My father taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.
“I brought you into this world, and I can take you out…”
14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION .
“Stop acting like your father!”
15. My mother taught me about ENVY.
“There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don’t have wonderful parents like you do.”
16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
“Just wait until we get home.”
17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.
“You are going to get it from your father when you get home!”
18 . My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
“If you don’t stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way.”
19. My mother taught me ESP.
“Put your sweater on; don’t you think I know when you are cold?”
20. My father taught me HUMOR.
“When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don’t come running to me.”
21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.
“If you don’t eat your vegetables, you’ll never grow up.”
22. My mother taught me GENETICS.
“You’re just like your father.”
23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.
“Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?”
24. My mother taught me WISDOM.
“When you get to be my age, you’ll understand.
25. My father taught me about JUSTICE .
“One day you’ll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!”
CONTAMINATIONS On Wednesday 25 August, 23,706 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,673,336. The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3%.
HOSPITALISATIONS The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 6,044 (including 943 new admissions). Hospital admissions in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,239 patients, including 883 new admissions in 24 hours.
DEATHS 93 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,881, including 87,265 in hospital.
VACCINATION To date, 47,687,115 people have received at least one dose of vaccine, i.e. 70.7% of the total population, and 41,296,381 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 62.2% of the total population.
The figures relating to the epidemic of Covid-19 communicated this Wednesday by Santé publique France.
✏️ Daily update – Regional
In Aude, 102 patients were hospitalised on Wednesday because of Covid-19, 4 less than the day before. Among them, 16 are in intensive care (stable figure), 73 in conventional hospitalisation (-3) and 12 in follow-up or long-term care (-1). 7 people were able to go home (1,361 in total). One additional death in hospital was recorded in the department in the last 24 hours. In total, Covid-19 has killed 388 people in the department, including 12 in the last ten days.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the number of Covid patients hospitalised is down this Wednesday (-3) to 129. 20 people are in intensive care (-1 in 24 hours), 62 in conventional hospitalisation (-1) and 33 in follow-up or long-term care (-1). Eight people have been able to go home (1,614 in total since the beginning of the epidemic). An additional death is to be deplored this Wednesday in the department, which brings the total to 15 deaths from Covid-19 in the department over the last 10 days. 374 people have died in hospital in the Pyrénées-Orientales due to the coronavirus since the beginning of the epidemic.
✏️ Vaccinations 💉
In the meantime I have been doing a bit of research on the status of vaccinations in different countries with interesting results. Everyone reports slightly different figures but the most common and reliable is the % of vaccinations versus the total population. As of August 23rd the situation was as such:
🇫🇷 France 62,15% of the total population is completely vaccinated
🇩🇪 Germany 58,97%
🇮🇱 Israel 63,02%
🇬🇧 UK 61,78% (for Mary’s benefit, it represents 77,2% of the adult population)
🇺🇸 USA 51,24%
🇪🇸 Spain 67,7% (leading this table)
The daily average has been decreasing in the past 2 weeks in France which I suspect is more due to the holidays than anti-vax people. There is however a sign that appointments are on the increase again and mainly from the younger people before returning to school.
It is now official and a 3rd dose will be available as from Septembre 12th for the residents of old people homes in a 1st place. This will be followed, firm date not yet known, to the over 65 and people at risks 6 months after their second vaccination.
▫️ MINISTRY OF HEALTH
The Minister of Health “will hold an information meeting on the health situation and the vaccination campaign” this Thursday at 6.30pm from the Ministry of Solidarity and Health, the ministry said in a statement. It will be a briefing on the health situation, with “many topics covered on vaccination with details on questions that arise,” it said.
▫️ MUSIC
ABBA are set to release new music next week with a new hologram comeback tour on the way.
The ‘Dancing Queen’ hitmakers – made up Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad – will drop their first new material in 39 years as they make a long-awaited comeback including a special show called ‘ABBA Voyage’.
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:
25/08: Unvaccinated people must now undergo quarantine to enter the Czech Republic. 25/08: Argentina plans to reopen its borders in September. 25/08: Sri Lanka is no longer on France’s red list (although the Ministry of the Interior seems to have forgotten to change the country’s colour on its map). 25/08: Martinique extends its lockdown for three weeks.
CONTAMINATIONS On Tuesday 24 August, 24,853 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,649,630. The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3%.
HOSPITALISATIONS The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 6,163 (including 943 new admissions). Hospitalisations in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,221 patients, including 214 new admissions in 24 hours.
DEATHS 153 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,788, including 87,172 in hospital.
VACCINATION To date, 47,519,858 people have received at least one dose of vaccine, i.e. 70.7% of the total population, and 41,296,381 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 61.2% of the total population.
✏️ Regional update
The epidemic status in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales thanks to the figures communicated this Tuesday by Santé publique France.
In the Aude, this Tuesday evening, 106 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+1 in 24 hours), 16 patients are in intensive care (-2 in 24 hours), 76 are in conventional hospitalisation (+3), 13 in follow-up care or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. 2 additional deaths are to be reported this Tuesday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 387 people in Aude since the beginning of the pandemic, including 8 in the last 7 days.
The incidence rate continues to fall in the department. It stands at 327.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 15 to 21 August (published on 24 August) compared to 346.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 14 to 20 August.
10 deaths in seven days in the Pyrénées-Orientales In the Pyrenees-Orientales, this Tuesday evening, 132 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+3 in 24h). Among them, 21 are in intensive care (-1 compared to Monday), 63 in conventional hospitalisation (+4), 34 in follow-up care or long-term care (stable number) and 14 in other structures (also stable number). 2 deaths are to be deplored this Tuesday in the Pyrénées-Orientales, which brings the total to 10 deaths from Covid-19 in the department over the last 7 days. In total, 373 people have died in hospital in the Pyrénées-Orientales due to the coronavirus since the beginning of the epidemic.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the incidence rate continues to fall. In the sliding week from 15 to 21 August (published on 24 August), it was 313.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 320.9 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 14 to 20 August.
✏️ Travel to France from a non EU country
Here is the link to the official Government page (in English 🇬🇧) with all the necessary information on documentation required. I assume it is being kept to date on a very regular basis.
▫️ 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
Spent most of Saturday night watching the race as planned. I, after all these years, even learned a few things listening alternatively to French or English commentary.
Excellent view of the track at night, the main stands & pit lane taken from the Good Year blimp.
▫️ MUSIC
Wether you like them or not, the Rolling Stones are legend
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:
24/08: Thailand will pivot to a “live with covid” strategy and reopen its borders more widely to vaccinated tourists from October. 23/08: Estonia now imposes a 10-day quarantine on unvaccinated people coming from France. 23/08 : Thailand: Chiang Mai will not reopen until October. 23/08 : The United States is extending the closure of its land borders with Canada and Mexico until at least 21 September. It is also keeping its air borders with Europe closed. 23/08: Chile will not reopen its borders in September. 20/08 : Polynesia: extended lockdown, inter-island travel limited.
CONTAMINATIONS This Friday 20 August, 22,319 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,579,675.
The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.3%.
HOSPITALISATIONS The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,515 (including 887 new admissions).
Hospitalisations in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,091 patients.
DEATHS 83 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,264, including 86,689 in hospital.
VACCINATION To date, 47,321,110 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 70.2% of the total population, and 40,902,443 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 60.7% of the total population.
✏️ Regional update
The epidemic data in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales thanks to the figures communicated this Friday by Santé publique France.
In Aude, this Friday evening, 101 people were hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+3 in 24 hours). This is the first time that the 100 hospitalisations mark has been passed in the department since 17 May. In addition, 15 patients are in intensive care (+1 in 24 hours), 71 are in conventional hospitalisation (+2), 13 in follow-up or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. No additional deaths are to be reported this Friday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 381 people in the Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.
The incidence rate continues to fall in the department. It is 371.6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 11 to 17 August (published on 20 August) compared to 372.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the sliding week from 10 to 16 August.
Hospitalisations down in the Pyrénées-Orientales In the Pyrenees-Orientales, this Friday evening, 130 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (-5 in 24 hours). Among them, 26 are in intensive care (as much as on Thursday), 55 in conventional hospitalisation (-4), 35 in follow-up care or long-term care (-1) and 14 in other structures (stable number). No deaths were reported this Friday in the Pyrénées-Orientales. The number of deaths linked to Covid-19 in the department had not been stable over one day since 13 August. In total, 365 people have died in hospital in the Pyrénées-Orientales since the beginning of the epidemic.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the incidence rate continues to fall. In the sliding week from 11 to 17 August (published on 20 August), it was 372 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 393.1 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 10 to 16 August.
✏️ Occitanie: reinforcement of water restrictions in the face of the drought, particularly in the Aude
Despite some rain at the beginning of the summer, the drought is gaining ground in Occitanie. All the departments are affected by water restriction measures, notably in the Aude where the situation has been raised to the maximum alert level this Thursday 19 August. Water reserves are becoming increasingly scarce. This year again, the drought does not spare Occitanie, and in particular the departments of Languedoc and Roussillon. In spite of the rains of July and the beginning of August, the level of the water tables is decreasing, and the hydrological deficit noted for several months could not be caught up. This situation is not expected to improve, as the weather forecasts predict dry and hot weather until the end of the month.
As a result, the alert level in the Gard, Hérault and Pyrénées-Orientales has been placed on reinforced vigilance.
Crisis situation in the Aude The department of Aude has been placed in crisis level this Thursday 19 August. Thierry Bonnier, the prefect, has decided to reinforce the water restriction measures on the Berre and Orbieu catchment areas. The other catchment areas are maintained at the level currently in force, i.e. reinforced alert level.
This means that all non-priority water abstractions, including those for agricultural purposes, are prohibited. Only drinking water and water used for health and civil security purposes may still be abstracted.
The situation is particularly critical in the Corbières area, especially in the commune of Durban-Corbières, where the spring that supplies the water network has almost dried up. A tanker had to be called in to fill a reservoir with drinking water, the use of which is strictly regulated. Indeed, access to drinking water is interrupted from 2pm to 6pm and from 10pm to 5am, and the inhabitants of the village must limit themselves to the strict minimum.
In the department, numerous restrictions are also in force: watering public and private lawns and green spaces is prohibited, as is filling swimming pools and washing cars, except for professional installations. Watering vegetable gardens is still possible, but only for two hours a day between 8pm and 8am. The Aude prefecture is calling on the population to “show exemplary behaviour by scrupulously respecting these restrictions”. Water resources should continue to become scarcer in the weeks to come and the prefecture is already warning that new restrictions should be taken at the beginning of next week. If the situation does not give rise to fears of potential drinking water shortages in the next few days, this scenario cannot be ruled out, and the prefecture is asking the water management services to prepare for this without delay.
▫️ 24 HOURS OF LE MANS
Today is round four of the 2021 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), the long-awaited 2021 24 Hours of Le Mans.
This year opens a new chapter in the fabulous history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indeed, today at 16.00 CEST, the cars of the new Hypercar category, replacing the former LMP1, will compete on the Le Mans track for the very first time. The teams Toyota Gazoo Racing, Alpine Elf Matmut and Glickenhaus Racing will line up on the starting grid of the mythical track of La Sarthe, alongside the LMP2 and LMGTE Pro and
This year opens a new chapter in the fabulous history of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Indeed, today at 16.00 CEST, the cars of the new Hypercar category, replacing the former LMP1, will compete on the Le Mans track for the very first time. The teams Toyota Gazoo Racing, Alpine Elf Matmut and Glickenhaus Racing will line up on the starting grid of the mythical track of La Sarthe, alongside the LMP2 and LMGTE Pro and GTE Am categories.
I shall, unusually, not be there for the race but am ready to watch as much as possible on-line, TV etc. I am all set up.
▫️ MUSIC
There are a lot of programs currently about Queen then and now. They show a lot of hits but the one appearing to be common to all programs seems to be this one.
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:
CONTAMINATIONS On Thursday 19 August, 23,973 new cases of Covid-19 were recorded in 24 hours, according to figures from Santé publique France, bringing the total number of confirmed cases since the beginning of the epidemic to 6,557,356.
The positivity rate, which measures the number of positive cases in relation to the number of people tested, stands at 3.4%.
HOSPITALISATIONS The number of Covid patients in hospital is now 10,392 (including 976 new admissions).
Hospital admissions in critical care units, which take care of the most serious cases, remain high, with 2,049 patients, including 186 new admissions in 24 hours.
DEATHS 127 people have died of Covid-19 in hospitals in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths in France to 113,182, including 86,607 in hospital.
VACCINATION To date, 47,127,195 people have received at least one injection, i.e. 69.9% of the total population, and 40,508,406 people have had a complete vaccination schedule, i.e. 60.1% of the total population.
✏️ Regional update
Thanks to the figures communicated this Thursday by Santé publique France, here is the balance of the epidemic in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales.
In Aude, this Thursday evening, 98 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (+5 in 24 hours), including 15 in intensive care (as much as on Wednesday). 69 are in conventional hospitalisation (+5), 13 in follow-up or long-term care (stable number) and 1 in other structures. Two additional deaths are to be deplored this Thursday. The coronavirus has caused the death of 381 people in the Aude since the beginning of the pandemic.
The incidence rate continues to fall in the department. It is 372.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the week from 10 to 16 August (published on 19 August) compared to 394.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the week from 9 to 15 August.
12 hospital deaths in one week in the Pyrénées-Orientales In the Pyrenees-Orientales, this Thursday evening, 135 people are hospitalised because of Covid-19 (-1 in 24 hours). Among them, 26 are in intensive care (as much as on Wednesday), 59 in conventional hospitalisation (-2), 36 in follow-up care or long term (+1) and 14 in other structures (stable number). The department deplores two additional deaths in 24 hours (12 in one week), which brings to 365 the total of victims in hospital since the beginning of the epidemic.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, the incidence rate is back under 400 infections. In the sliding week from 10 to 16 August (published on 19 August), it was 393.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants compared to 408.4 per 100,000 in the sliding week from 9 to 15 August.
▫️ MUSIC
“Music is the greatest communication in the world. Even if people don’t understand the language that you’re singing in, they still know good music when they hear it.” – Lou Rawls
▫️ TRAVEL NEWS
Travel Page. has been updated with the latest information below:
20/08: From September 1st, French and European travellers will again be exempted from short-stay visas to enter South Korea, but will have to obtain an electronic travel authorisation and respect a 14-day quarantine. 20/08: As of 1 September, only vaccinated people will be able to enter Oman. 20/08: Singapore to reopen its borders to vaccinated travellers from Germany, Hong Kong, Brunei and Macau. 20/08 : Thailand extends quarantine-free entry for vaccinated people to Koh Phi Phi, Koh Ngai, Railay, Khao Lak, Koh Yao, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao in addition to Phuket.
19/08 : From 1 September, North Macedonia will require either a vaccination certificate, a PCR test less than 72 hours old, or proof of having been infected with covid. 19/08: Morocco and Algeria move to France’s red list. Unvaccinated travellers will have to justify a compelling reason, present a negative test and isolate themselves for ten days on their return to France.
▫️ FUN
▫️ THE FABULOUS FRIDAY (FUNNIES) GROANS from Paul
Sunny Friday greetings to you all
✒︎A man rushed into the doctor’s office and shouted, “Doctor! I think I’m shrinking!!”
The doctor calmly responded, “Now, settle down. You’ll just have to be a little patient.”
✒︎Bloke sat in his armchair shouts to his wife, “When I die, I’m going to leave everything to you, Love” She shouts back, “You already do, you lazy b*stard!”
✒︎ My wife and I walked past a swanky new restaurant last night.
“Did you smell that food?” she asked. “Incredible!”
Being the nice guy I am, I thought, “What the heck, I’ll treat her!”
So we walked past it again.
✒︎”I was homeschooled, which meant that I had to bully myself.” – Dave Letterman
✒︎After a busy day commuters settled down on their train train trip home, when a chap hauled out his mobile and loudly started up:-
“Hi darling it’s Peter, I’m on the train – yes, I know it’s the 6.30 not the 4.30 but I had a long meeting – no, not with that floozie from the typing pool, with the boss no darling you’re the only one in my life – yes, I’m sure, cross my heart” etc.
This was still going on after many minutes , when the young woman opposite, driven beyond endurance, yelled at the top of her voice, “Hey, Peter, turn that bloody phone off and come back to bed!”
✒︎”Italian authorities seized $6 trillion worth of fake, worthless U.S. Treasury bonds. Pretty
good counterfeit job, too. They look just like the genuine worthless Treasury bonds.”
Jay Leno
✒︎In a train compartment, there are three men and one ravishing young girl.
The four passengers join in a conversation, which very soon turns to the erotic.
Then, the young girl proposes, “If each of you will give me $1, I will show you my legs.” The men, charmed by this young girl,
all pull a buck out of their wallet. And then the girl pulls up her dress a bit to show her legs.
Then she says, “If each of you gentlemen will give me $5, I’ll show you my thighs.”
Men being what they are, they all pull out a five-dollar bill. The girl pulls up her dress all the way to the top of her thighs..
Conversation continues, and the men, a bit excited, have all taken off their coats.
Then the young girl says, “If you will give me $20, I will show you where I was operated on
for an appendicitis.”
Naturally, all three fork over the money, and then the girl turns to the window and points to a hospital in the distance and says, “Right over there!”
✒︎A proctologist walked into a bank. Preparing to endorse a check, he pulled a rectal
thermometer out of his shirt pocket and tried to write with it.
Realizing his mistake, he looked at the thermometer with annoyance and said,
“Well that’s great, just great… but I think I know where my pen is.”
✒︎A secretary, out with appendicitis, was being visited by a co-worker in the hospital.
“How are things at the office going, Claudia?” she asked.
“Well, they’re all sharing your work. Jody is making the coffee, Louise is reading all your
magazines, and Cathy is making it with the boss.”
✒︎On the way back from a Cub Scout meeting, my grandson innocently said to my son,
‘Dad, I know babies come from mommies’ tummies, but how do they get there in the first place?’
After my son hemmed and hawed awhile, my grandson finally spoke up in disgust,
‘You don’t have to make up something, Dad. It’s okay if you don’t know the answer.’
✒︎Three friends from the local congregation were asked, ‘When you’re in your casket, and
friends and congregation members are mourning over you, what would you like them to say?
Artie said: ‘ I would like them to say I was a wonderful husband, a fine spiritual leader, and a great family man.’
Eugene commented: ‘I would like them to say I was a wonderful teacher and servant of God who made a huge difference in people’s lives.’
Al said: ‘I’d like them to say, ‘Look, he’s moving!’
✒︎”For sale,” read the ad in our hospital’s weekly newsletter, “sleeveless wedding gown, white, size 10, veil included. Worn once, by mistake.”
✒︎Staring at an empty cage, a zoo visitor asks, “Where are all the monkeys?”
“It’s mating season,” the keeper replies. “They’re inside.”
“Do you think they’d come out for peanuts?”
“Probably not,” answers the keeper.
“Why not?” persists the visitor.
“Would you?”
✒︎A court room in Oklahoma where a person is on trial for murder. there is strong evidence indicating guilt; however, there is no corpse. In the defense’s closing statement the lawyer, knowing that his client is guilty and that it looks like he’ll probably be convicted, resorts to a clever trick.
“Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I have a surprise for you all” the lawyer says as he looks at his watch. “Within 1 minute, the person presumed dead in this case will walk into this court room,” he says looks towards the courtroom door. The jury, somewhat stunned, all look eagerly. A minute passes. Nothing happens.
Finally the lawyer says “Actually I made up the previous statement. But you all looked in anticipation. I, therefore, put it to you that there is reasonable doubt in this case as to whether anyone was killed and insist that you return a verdict of not guilty.” The jury, clearly confused, retires to deliberate. A few minutes later, the jury returns and a representative pronounces a verdict of guilty.
“But how?” inquires the lawyer. “You must have some doubt; I saw all of you stare at the door.” Answers the representative: “Oh, we did look. But your client didn’t.”
✒︎”Police officers say that because of the economy, more thieves are stealing petrol from parked cars. Victims said they hadn’t felt that robbed since they put the petrol INTO their car.” -Jimmy Fallon
✒︎A friend once complained to my sister about the difficulties contained in child rearing, especially the lack of peace and quiet rest. “What you need is a playpen to separate the kids from yourself,” my sister suggested. So my sister’s friend bought a playpen. A few days later, my sister called to ask how things were going. “Superb! I can’t believe it,” she replied. “I get in the pen with a good book and the kids don’t bother me one bit!”
✒︎Two overweight middle aged women are on their daily exercise stroll. They were talking about how hard it is to lose weight as one gets older, something with which all you youths must deal eventually.
One woman complained that she remained an ‘apple-shape’ and the other said that no matter how much she exercised, there was too much poundage on her backside and thighs. It almost seemed like it was there to stay. Her buddy agreed, saying, “It’s true. The lard works in mysterious ways.”
Q: What’s black and white and makes a lot of noise?
A: A zebra with a drumkit.
Q: What did the dryer say to the washer?
A: Let’s go for a spin.
Q: Why do sharks live in salt water?
A: Because pepper makes them sneeze!
Q: What did the geometry teacher say when she lost her parrot?
Live video on the main screen, live timing and position board on the smaller screen.
Commentary courtesy of Radio Le Mans. I can confirm they still talk a fair amount of crap and the race is not started yet but a Le Mans weekend wouldn’t be the same without them.
The 3rd practice session is now over with the Alpine #36 taking the best time.
I am catching up with the different cars and am quite impressed with the new hypercar team Glickenhaus. The front of the car looks like the old Ferraris did. Glickenhaus Racing is making its WEC and Le Mans 24 Hours debut this year with its 007 LMH. The American manufacturer has chosen a French engine to power its hypercar prototype. Cock-a-doodle-doo! Pipo Moteurs has designed a V8 engine that has given complete satisfaction up to now. A great performance for the engine manufacturer who is also making his debut in endurance racing.
Tonight 9pm, the so-called hyperpole qualifying session will take place. Followed by another free practise session at 10pm.
