Will the concerts and other summer shows organised in the heart of the city be maintained in 2021? These are the questions that everyone in Carcassonne is asking. “There will be no decision before the end of the week”, says Pascal Dupont, director and programmer of the festival.
Pending an address by the President of the Republic, Emmanuel Macron, normally on Thursday 29 April, and a meeting the following day with the Mayor of the City, Gérard Larrat, Pascal Dupont is waiting for “very precise instructions and concrete information” before announcing whether or not the 15th edition of the Festival will be held.
As a reminder, the 2020 edition was purely and simply cancelled.
● The EU launches legal action against AstraZeneca.
The European Union is accusing the Swedish-British laboratory of not having kept its commitments on the delivery of its vaccine. “The terms of the contract have not been respected and the company has not been in a position to implement a reliable strategy to ensure timely deliveries,” said a spokesperson for the EU executive.
● INSEE
The provisional data of total deaths in France 🇫🇷 (all causes) for January & February 2021 is now available:
● TOURISM
Vaccinated Americans 🇺🇸 will be able to travel to Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has announced.
Closed since January 29 to non-European citizens, Europe’s borders should reopen to American tourists.
While the United States has advised its citizens against visiting most European Union countries for more than a year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday that tourists from the United States will be allowed to visit the European Union in the coming months on condition that they are vaccinated against Covid-19.
“The Americans, as far as I can see, are using vaccines approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA),” she explained in an interview with the New York Times. “This will allow free movement and travel to the European Union,” she said, without revealing a precise timetable.
● Traffic restrictions eased from 3 May As of 3 May 2021, the daytime travel restrictions that have been in force throughout the country since the beginning of the month will be lifted. It will therefore be possible to travel freely more than 10 km from home. The curfew will be maintained.
● BLM
I fail to understand why it is going to take so long to have a sentence. I believe not before mid-June has been announced!
This cop has been found guilty, simple as that and justifiably so as far as I am concerned.
Wether M. Floyd was a bad guy or not ( I cannot judge) is neither here nor there. In our so-called developped countries it is up to the police to bring delinquants to the justice and not do the justice themselves.
On the subject I found this article:
World pleasantly surprised as man filmed committing entire murder found guilty of it
21st April 2021
THE world has been pleasantly surprised that an American policeman who was filmed committing a murder, from start to finish, was actually found guilty of it.
The conviction of Derek Chauvin on counts of murder and manslaughter has surprised everyone who assumed that even though his cold-blooded murder of George Floyd was recorded comprehensively from several angles he might still get away with it.
Will McKay of Birmingham said: “Well. Convicted on all three counts and spending the rest of his life behind bars. I have to admit I wasn’t expecting that.
“Of course the man was clearly guilty and had no real defence, but he was a white cop and the victim was black and this is America, so there was plenty of room for doubt.
“Perhaps this will even set a new evidential standard so the next policeman filmed blatantly murdering an innocent citizen on camera, not even trying to hide it, will also be convicted. I mean you can dream.
“Then that’ll only leave all the cases that don’t happen on an open street in broad daylight, that aren’t filmed in their entirety, and where the victim isn’t unarmed and handcuffed throughout the whole thing.
“In those the cop will obviously get off and return to the streets to kill again. Still, baby steps.”
● WEC – World Endurance Championship
The season is opening this coming weekend with the 1st race in Spa Francorchamps. I wish I could be there but the travel restrictions forbid it. The SPA 6 hours race also serves as a major test bed in preparation for the Le Mans 24h race usually taking place in June. Of course this year it has been postponned till August and possibly no spectators.
The situation of the epidemic in the region, in the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales this Sunday according to the figures of Santé publique France.
In the Aude, this Sunday evening, 154 people are hospitalized (8 more than Saturday): 78 in conventional hospitalization (+7), 21 in intensive care (-1), 54 in follow-up care or long-term care (+2 compared to Saturday) and 1 in other structures. 1 additional death was recorded on Sunday. In total, 330 people have died from Covid in the department.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 166 patients are hospitalized this Sunday (+1 in 24 h): 81 in conventional hospitalization (+1), 27 in intensive care (the same total as Saturday), 56 in follow-up or long-term care (as much as Saturday) and 2 in other structures. No additional deaths were reported in the Pyrénées-Orientales on Sunday. The department counts 283 victims of Covid.
In the Occitanie region, this Sunday evening, 1872 people are hospitalized because of the Covid (+19 in 24 hours): 975 in conventional hospitalization (+24), 402 in intensive care (-8), 481 in follow-up or long-term care (as much as Saturday) and 14 in other sectors (+3). In total, 4074 inhabitants of the Occitanie region have died from Covid-19, including 17 in the last 24 hours.
● PEANUTS
● Covid-19: are the South African and Brazilian variants really “trending backwards”?
Firm but rather reassuring. Jean Castex went to Roissy airport this Sunday morning, the day after the mandatory ten-day quarantine came into effect for arrivals from five countries (Brazil, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, India) and Guyana. The government wants to prevent the so-called “South African” and “Brazilian” variants of SARS-CoV-2 from circulating further on French soil.
“All precautions are being taken” with regard to travellers, the Prime Minister guaranteed, before indicating that these two strains had “a tendency to regress”. “A risk of extension of the Brazilian P1 variant must be taken into account during the summer of 2021,” warned the Scientific Council in its latest opinion, sent to the government on 16 April and made public two days later.
What Jean Castex said “We have begun the battle against variants, which are a threat against which we must protect ourselves,” insisted the Prime Minister in a brief statement to the cameras. According to him, “the variants, notably South African and Brazilian, are not only very few in number on the national territory, but have even tended to decrease in recent weeks”. Before insisting on the importance of the new measures and vaccination: “It is imperative to hold this line. “
What the figures say These two variants 20H/501Y. V2 and 20J/501Y. V3 (or P1), known as ‘South African’ and ‘Brazilian’, are among the four most closely monitored variants because of their characteristics. Both escape immunity conferred by vaccination or by a previous infection, report Santé publique France and the National Reference Centre for Respiratory Infections in their latest analysis published on Friday.
These two variants are tracked together during the “screening” of positive tests because a common mutation is sought. Their share among all samples screened in France has always remained fairly low, at around 5%, according to data from Santé publique France. From mid-March to mid-April, it even fell from 5% to less than 4%.
However, for more than a week, this proportion has been increasing again. 4.7% of positive tests screened are now linked to one or other of these two variants, compared to 3.8% nine days earlier. This proportion is still low, as Jean Castex points out, but the increase is continuous day after day. So we can no longer talk about a downward trend.
● SAILING
After an exceptional Vendée Globe in monohulls, which overshadowed the big Ultim multihulls, the latter are trying to regain their place in ocean racing. Armel Le Cléac’h is launching his new “Banque Populaire XI” on 27th April.
I might go and see the boat in Lorient in June when I am supposed to go to Brittany
● MUSIC
Only for Roger Waters (ex Pink Floyd) fans. I spent a major part of last evening listening with headphones 🎧 to this and other concerts from Mr Waters. Nice video too.
● WEATHER
Today, in the afternoon, the weather in Carcassonne will be light drizzle showers. As for the temperature, we should expect a maximum of 17°C for 17°C felt. The wind in Carcassonne will be east-south-east with a maximum speed of 30km/h. As for rainfall, beware of the possible risk of rain with a rainfall of 0.3 mm. The humidity will be around 51%.
Covid-19 – One more death in the Pyrenees-Orientales on Saturday, hospitalisations on the rise again in the Aude. The number of patients in intensive care in the region has increased over the past 24 hours.
The results of the epidemic in the region, in the Aude and Pyrénées-Orientales on Saturday, according to figures from Santé publique France.
In the Aude, this Saturday evening, 146 people are hospitalized (8 more than Friday): 71 in conventional hospitalization (+8), 22 in intensive care (+1), 52 in follow-up care or long-term care (-1 compared to Friday) and 1 in other structures. No additional deaths were reported on Saturday. In total, 329 people have died from Covid in the department.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 165 patients are hospitalized this Saturday (-2 in 24 h): 80 in conventional hospitalization (-2), 27 in intensive care (the same total as Friday), 56 in follow-up or long-term care (as much as Friday) and 2 in other structures. 1 additional death was recorded in the Pyrénées-Orientales on Saturday. The department counts 283 victims of Covid.
In the Occitanie region, this Saturday evening, 1853 people are hospitalized because of Covid (-37 in 24 hours): 951 in conventional hospitalization (-47), 410 in intensive care (+11), 481 in follow-up care or long-term care (-2 compared to Friday) and 11 in other sectors (+1). In total, 4057 inhabitants of the Occitanie region have died from Covid-19, including 19 in the last 24 hours.
● PRESS CONFERENCE
I made a comment on Friday on my disappointment with the Prime Minister’s press conference the evening before. Apparently I am not the only one who feels that way. Here follows an extract of an article in the Figaro Newspaper this morning.
“We already knew the Saturday night fever, the Sunday night blues, here is the Thursday night weariness. Jean Castex’s last press conference on the evolution of the health situation plunged the viewer into a subtle mixture of doubt and deep boredom. A cathodic high mass lasting one hour and fourteen minutes, during which the Prime Minister even took the time to wish his Health Minister, Olivier Véran, a happy birthday. The viewer raised an eyebrow.
This is not to neglect the need for transparency and pedagogy, well identified in public opinion. It was to meet this need that Édouard Philippe launched this new press conference format in March 2020: ministers, health administration officials and virologists taking turns at the podium, armed with curves and maps on the evolution of the epidemic. The exercise was already long, sometimes a little too self-congratulatory, and took place in the middle of a long, drawn-out conference.”
Not as nice as yesterday out there. Quite cloudy and it will get much worse during the day as behind the clouds coming up from Spain, this Sunday, comes a new episode of rising sand from the Sahara. This could once again cover a large part of southern France with an orange veil.
Had a pleasant enough walk despite a lot of wind. As said, it is pleasant but there was too much to be done on the actual roads. There are some spectacular views of the Pyrenees and a few beautiful houses, old and new) to be seen on the way.
Further to the difficulties faced earlier this week for the planned acquisition of this piece of equipment, we have now ordered it directly from the manufacturer in Germany. Delivery is not expected before the end of May / beginning of June.
▫️ The situation of the epidemic in the region, in the Aude and the Pyrénées-Orientales this Friday according to the figures of Santé publique France.
In Aude, this Friday evening, 138 people are hospitalised (5 less than Thursday): 63 in conventional hospitalisation (-1), 21 in intensive care (-1), 53 in follow-up care or long-term care (-3 compared to Thursday) and 1 in other structures. 1 additional death was recorded on Friday. In total, 329 people have died from Covid in the department.
In the Pyrénées-Orientales, 167 patients are hospitalised this Friday (+2 in 24 h): 82 in conventional hospitalisation (-2), 27 in intensive care (the same total as Thursday), 56 in follow-up or long-term care (+4) and 2 in other structures. 3 additional deaths were recorded in the Pyrénées-Orientales on Friday. The department counts 282 victims of Covid.
In the Occitanie region, this Friday evening, 1890 people are hospitalized because of the Covid (+16 in 24 hours): 998 in conventional hospitalisation (+16), 399 in intensive care (-8), 483 in follow-up care or long term care (+8 compared to Thursday) and 10 in other sectors. In total, 4038 inhabitants of the Occitanie region have died from Covid-19, including 13 in the last 24 hours.
▫️ Covid-19: Johnson & Johnson injections start today in France France has received a first shipment of 200,000 doses of Johnson & Johnson’s vaccine. The vaccine can be stored at 2-8°C for easier distribution and storage. People over the age of 55 will be able to receive Johnson & Johnson’s Covid-19 vaccine “as of this Saturday,” Health Minister Olivier Véran announced on Thursday.
▫️ SPACE STATION
Multi tasking again as I am watching live the imminent docking of Dragon to the ISS this Saturday morning. The picture quality is absolutely stunning.
▫️ MUSICOF 1967
I watched a very interesting program last night about the Kinks on ARTE TV. Very interesting and it brought back a lot of memories as well.
🎶 / 🎶 / 🎶
▫️ FOOD & DRINKS
The Burgundian winegrowers are beginning to make the first estimates of losses following the exceptional frost episode which took place at the beginning of April and which affected the entire vineyard. Behind the magnificent spectacle of candlelit vines lies a sad reality… The work of a whole year, reduced to nothing. “I am stunned! In thirty years of farming, I have never experienced this! “Thiébault Huber, president of the Confédération des Appellations et des Vignerons de Bourgogne (CAVB), admits. In 2016, the Côte Chalonnaise and the Mâconnais had been spared and the temperatures had not fallen as low as this year, with sometimes -7 or -8 degrees. This time, the whole of Burgundy was affected by the frost: from Chablis to the Grand Auxerrois to the Mâconnais.
“That there are frost episodes in April is not surprising. The concern is the summer temperatures of the last week of March, which caused the buds to open”, explains Thiébault Huber. The Chardonnay and Aligoté, which were further ahead, seem to have been much more affected than the Pinot Noir. “The destruction within the plots can range from 20% to 80% of the buds, and even 100% in some areas,” notes the Bureau interprofessionnel des vins de Bourgogne (BIVB). This observation is quite serious and some situations are likely to be complicated for individuals.
▫️ ANCILLARY NOTES FROM A SMALL ISLAND from our correspondent in Britain
I am afraid our correspondant is too busy practising his new hobby
Archery
✏️ ✏️ ✏️
▫️ SATIRE
▫️ NEWS FROM ACROSS THE POND 🇺🇸
▫️ THE FABULOUS FRIDAY (FUNNIES) GROANS from Paul
A decent bunch of funnies this week. Enjoy!
■ A starter pack……
・I wanted to post a joke about sodium but then I was like, Na, people wouldn’t understand!
・Q: What do you call someone who can’t stick to a diet? A: A deserter.
・I saw Michael J Fox at a garden centre the other day. Recognised him straight away, he had his back to the fuchsias!
・I couldn’t work out how to fasten my seat-belt. Then it clicked.
・My girlfriend said if I don’t do page 7 of the Kama Sutra she will leave me. It put me in a very difficult position.
・I look after plant pots and hanging baskets for celebrities, which means I tend to shrub holders with the rich and famous.
■ We are nearing the end of the BBQ season here. Let me refresh your memory on the etiquette of this sublime outdoor cooking activity. When a man volunteers to do the BBQ the following chain of events are put into motion:
(1) The woman buys the food. (2) The woman makes the salad, prepares the vegetables, and makes dessert. (3) The woman prepares the meat for cooking, places it on a tray along with the necessary cooking utensils and sauces, and takes it to the man who is lounging beside the grill – beer in hand. (4) The woman remains outside the compulsory three meters exclusion zone where the exuberance of testosterone and other manly bonding activities can take place without the interference of the woman. Here comes the important part: (5) THE MAN PLACES THE MEAT ON THE GRILL. (6) The woman goes inside to organise the plates and cutlery. (7) The woman comes out to tell the man that the meat is looking great. He thanks her and asks if she will bring another beer while he flips the meat.
Important again: (8) THE MAN TAKES THE MEAT OFF THE GRILL AND HANDS IT TO THE WOMAN. (9) The woman prepares the plates, salad, bread, utensils, napkins, sauces, and brings them to the table. (10) After eating, the woman clears the table and does the dishes. And most important of all: (11) Everyone PRAISES the MAN and THANKS HIM for his cooking efforts. (12) The man asks the woman how she enjoyed ‘ her night off’,and, upon seeing her annoyed reaction, concludes that there’s just no pleasing some women
■ Some short jokes …………..
・What did the drummer name her twin daughters? Anna One, Anna Two.
・I never wanted to believe that my Dad was stealing from his job as a road worker. But when I got home, all the signs were there.
・A priest, a Pastor and a Rabbit entered a clinic to give blood. The nurse asked the Rabbit for his blood type. “I’m probably a type O” replied the rabbit
・I hate it when people act all intellectual and talk about Mozart while they’ve never even seen one of his paintings.
・Told my mum I was opening a theatre she said “you’re having me on” I said “well not necessarily, but we’ll give you an audition!”
■ One day while he was at the track playing the ponies and all but losing his shirt, Mitch noticed a priest who stepped out onto the track and blessed the forehead of one of the horses lining up for the 4th race. Lo and behold, that horse – a very long shot – won the race. Before the next race, as the horses began lining up, Mitch watched with interest the old priest step onto the track. Sure enough, as the 5th race horses came to the starting gate the priest made a blessing on the forehead of one of the horses.
Mitch made a beeline for a betting window and placed a small bet on the horse. Again, even though it was another long shot, the horse the priest had blessed won the race.
Mitch collected his winnings, and anxiously waited to see which horse the priest would bless for the 6th race. The priest again blessed a horse. Mitch bet big on it, and it won. Mitch was elated. As the races continued the priest kept blessing long shot horses, and each one ended up coming in first.
By and by, Mitch was pulling in some serious money. By the last race, he knew his wildest dreams were going to come true. He made a quick dash to the ATM, withdrew all his savings, and awaited the priest’s blessing that would tell him which horse to bet on. True to his pattern, the priest stepped onto the track for the last race and blessed the forehead of an old nag that was the longest shot of the day. Mitch also observed the priest blessing the eyes, ears, and hooves of the old nag. Mitch knew he had a winner and bet every cent he owned on the old nag.
He then watched dumbfounded as the old nag come in dead last. Mitch, in a state of shock, made his way down to the track area where the priest was. Confronting the old priest he demanded, ‘Father! What happened? All day long you blessed horses and they all won. Then in the last race, the horse you blessed lost by a Kentucky mile. Now, thanks to you I’ve lost every cent of my savings – all of it!’.
The priest nodded wisely and with sympathy. ‘Son,’ he said, ‘that’s the problem with you Protestants, you can’t tell the difference between a simple blessing and last rites.’
■ There were these 2 blondes standing outside in a parking lot next to their Mercedes. They were locked out so they were trying to get the door open with a closet hanger. The 1st blonde said to the second one, “You need to try harder. It’s starting to rain and the top is down!”
■ Many years ago on a long trans-continental flight, an elderly lady asked if she could visit the cockpit. When she got up there, she found four crew. She asked the first what he did, and he explained that he was the Navigator and his responsibilities were to keep the aircraft on its track across the earth. She turned to next one and asked what he did. He explained that he was the Flight Engineer and his job was to monitor and troubleshoot any aircraft or engine system problems to keep the aircraft operating smoothly. She turned to the next one and asked what he did. He explained that as the Captain he was responsible for everything in the aircraft and to fly and direct everyone in it. She turned to the First Officer and asked, “Well young man, what is your job? “He replied “Ma’am, I am the captain’s s*xual advisor.” Somewhat shocked, she said, “I beg your pardon young man, but what do you mean by that?” “Very simple ma’am. The captain has told me on a number of occasions that when he wants my effing advice, he’ll ask me.”
■ Once upon a time in their marriage, my Dad did something really stupid. My Mom chewed him out for it. He apologized, they made up. However, from time to time, my mom mentions what he had done. “Honey,” my Dad finally said one day, “why do you keep bringing that up? I thought your policy was ‘forgive and forget.'” “It is,” she said. “I just don’t want you to forget that I’ve forgiven and forgotten.”
・Q: What do you get when you bless an avocado? A: Holy guacamole!
・Q: What did the snake say to his girlfriend? A: C’mon, let’s hiss and make up.
・Q: Why did the projector blush? A: It saw the filmstrip.
・Q: What does the word “benign” mean? A: Benign is what you will be after you be eight.
Here follows the main points from yesterday’s press conference
▪︎ Schools to reopen on 26 April The government remains “faithful” to its commitments. As announced by Emmanuel Macron, the reopening of nursery and elementary schools will indeed take place on Monday 26 April. While the health situation is “relatively improved”, Jean Castex defended a “conscious” choice motivated by the “catastrophic damage” – both “educational” and “psychological” – caused by the prolonged closure of these schools.
A hybrid start to the school year in the most affected departments. Departments in which 4th and 3rd graders will enter the school year in half-gauge from 3 May 2021 (Marked in blue)
▪︎ Saliva tests in schools and self-tests in high schools The reopening of schools will be accompanied by a “very strict” health protocol as well as a “massive reinforcement of testing capacities”. From Monday, 400,000 saliva tests will be offered each week to elementary schools, with a target of 600,000 by mid-May. 64 million self-tests will also be made available to “all national education staff” from next week, and to high school students from 10 May.
▪︎ Daytime travel restrictions lifted from 3 May As announced, the deadline of 3 May is also maintained. It will mark the end of the “daytime travel constraints”, i.e. the obligation to fill in a certificate with derogatory reasons to travel beyond 10 kilometres. However, this threshold remains conditional on “the evolution of the health situation”.
▪︎ Curfew maintained “until further notice Jean Castex announced that “the curfew is maintained and will be until further notice”. “We will see in mid-May where the epidemic situation will be”, he explained, warning that there was “no automaticity to its lifting”. The Prime Minister stressed that he could not, for the moment, “make this announcement”, judging that “it would not be prudent”.
▪︎ Shops, terraces: reopening cautiously envisaged “around mid-May The government is walking on eggshells for the de-confinement. The reopening of shops, restaurants and cultural activities will be “progressive”, territorialized and will depend on the evolution of the epidemic, the Prime Minister has cautiously advanced. It could begin “around mid-May”, if the decline in infections continues, but it will be done “cautiously” and in stages. The list of activities that will be resumed first has not yet been fixed and details will be given “in the next few days”, Jean Castex said.
▪︎ Johnson & Johnson vaccine available from Saturday, new groups eligible for vaccination As of Saturday, people over 55 years of age, without conditions, will have access to the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which requires only one injection. The first 200,000 doses will be delivered to pharmacists, doctors and private nurses. As of Monday, adults living “under the same roof” as an “immunocompromised” person will also be able to be vaccinated. Finally, people “suffering from obesity” under the age of 55 will “probably” be eligible from mid-May.
▪︎ Vaccination with AstraZeneca encouraged Jean Castex once again defended the AstraZeneca vaccine. The product has aroused the mistrust of the French after several cases of thrombosis. The Prime Minister stressed that these were only “rare forms of undesirable effects”, recalling that “the medical authorities have drawn the consequences by recommending it only after the age of 55”. “I am 55 years old and I was vaccinated with AstraZeneca like 200 million people in the world”, he wanted to stress.
▪︎ A ten-day quarantine for travellers coming from territories affected by variants As the so-called “Brazilian” and “Indian” variants develop, the executive wants to “do everything” to avoid their emergence in France. Jean Castex therefore announced that “from Saturday, a reinforced control system will be put in place for people coming from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, South Africa and India”. The Prime Minister said that “each person” coming from one of these countries will be tested on arrival and “will be subject to a strict quarantine” of 10 days which will be subject to “controls by the police”. Exit for compelling reasons will be restricted to between 10am and 12pm. These restrictions will also concern travellers from Guyana, Gérald Darmanin said.
▪︎ From the “brevet” to higher education, examinations will be held in person In order to maintain the ‘balance’ between continuous assessment and final assessment, and to ‘guarantee the value of diplomas’, face-to-face examinations will be maintained for the brevet des collèges and the baccalauréat, but also in preparatory classes and higher education. In the specific case of the BTS, students who were unable to attend the examination scheduled for May, or who failed it, will be given a make-up session in the form of an oral examination in July.
● SPACE DRAGON
Watching the launch instead of working on the blog.
● GOOD PLANET
Towards the artificialization of our world: when the mass of objects made by the human species exceeds the living biomass.
In a study published in the journal Nature in early December, scientists from the Weizmann Institute of Science show that the mass of man-made objects made by humans exceeds the entire living biomass Thus, the cumulative mass of objects buildings and roads amounts to more than 1,100 billion tons.
While in 1900, the human species had manufactured a total of anthropogenic (man-made) objects equivalent to 3% of the living biomass, in 2020, for the first time in the history of the planet and civilization, the anthropogenic mass exceeds the biomass.
It doesn’t stop there, since if the trend continues at the current rate of 5% growth per year in production, scientists estimate that the anthropogenic mass will have tripled by 2040…
The drawing is from my friend Gerard and made for the fondation GoodPlanet on the occasion of Planet Day.
We have decided to purchase a treadmill for daily exercises at home
It is proving far more difficult that expected.
We know what technical features it must have and have selected on the internet 3 top possible models.
So far so good
The issue is, most companies and shops we have looked at are out of stock. Obviously we are not the only ones with this idea. I want to avoid buying from Amazon, everybody by now knows my aversion for this company.
Ideally I want to buy local
Easier said than done. I called yesterday the sport equipment retail shop Intersport which showed a model we liked on their web page. Yes the department is open says the receptionist but we are completely out of stock and have no idea when we shall get supplies.
Not too worry, on our way to the DIY shop we stopped at the other large sports goods retailer Decathlon, which happens to be across the road from Intersport. We were greeted at the door by a guard asking what product we were after to be told that that particular department is actually closed as it is not an essential purchase?
Le Bon Coin advertises a couple of nearly new second hand machines. One of which is located in Bordeaux. The only problem is that it is well beyond the 10km allowed radius.
I guess we shall keep searching or spend the money on something else
I do it my way 