So now it looks like we might be heading back into a total lockdown. I can't say I'm surprised but we should find out tonight when the President speaks to the nation. I was at one of our local markets this morning when I saw the Maire of the commune where we have our sewing club and he was telling me that rumour has it that that's what's coming our way (again)! Not that it will bother me too much if it does happen, but then I know how lucky I am given my personal situation. I was in the local tobacconist's and two employees were having a back-and-forth about how "if a new lockdown hits this Saturday will she get paid for Saturday as it's her day off?" One was saying yes and the other was saying no - and I couldn't help but hear the distress in their voices. When you maybe aren't in a great financial position to begin with it has got to be so stressful! Tonight we have the AGM of the Amancy Leisure Associations and I have to go as the sewing club rep. I think the meeting will be short and sweet, with everyone handing over their club's accounts and, hopefully, the commune handing out the annual subsidies that they very generously give each club (in addition to making the venue available free of charge)!
When I woke up yesterday morning I saw that I had managed to sleep almost nine hours without a break! Crikey, I knew I slept well but nine hours is a lot even for me! I've pretty much always been able to just roll over and go back to sleep - as have my kids! In fact, I never met any other family where mom and dad had to go up and wake the kids on Christmas morning because they obviously preferred their beds to anything Santa might have left downstairs! I tell ya, if sleeping were to become an olympic event, we've got Team GB right there! So thinking that I really should make an effort to get something done I decided to pressure spray my terrace to get all the accumulated muck off it before the really cold weather sets in. I don't mind doing this at all, but it's quite a faff getting the hose and the pressure sprayer all untangled. Then by the time I've done the whole terrace I realize I'm starting to get very wet, so it's a good job it only takes me around an hour all told to get it done, as by that time I'm just about ready to strip off and take a hot shower to stave off the frostbite!
Earlier this week my niece posted photos on FB of what I suspect is their half-term break down in Cornwall and my how those photos brought back memories. They were in Tintagel and had taken the walk up to King Arthur's castle. What really drew my eye though was the most amazing sculpture of King Arthur. I never know how people can have the talent to create such works of art since I don't have a creative bone in my body, but I just love that sculpture. The bridge and the walkway weren't there either when I was last there (I was 15, I think) so we had to climb up and down the cliffs to Merlin's cave rather than take the "lazy way" round!
King Arthur, with his sword, Excalibur! I just love this sculpture!
I couldn't resist including here these photos of André, when he had just turned seven, being picked by Merlin in Disneyland as "the only person with the magic to withdraw Excalibur from the magic stone"!
Tintagel, Cornwall!
If King Arthur actually existed it was towards the end of the 5th century/early 6th century. The castle referred to as "King Arthur's castle" was built in Tintagel in 1233, so not King Arthur's castle at all, but apparently the traditional seat for a royal castle in Cornwall!
"King Arthur's Castle"!
Merlin's cave!
In other news, with my yoga and pilates classes already cancelled until further notice and the gym also closed down - plus a potential new lockdown on the horizon and another storm looming - I decided to get back to walking for a while as there doesn't seem to be an alternative form of exercise available right now. So I took another trip down to the lake at Passy and managed to get my walk in before the storm hit!
The "sunny" end of the lake!
The storm about to roll in!
On the way home!
Saint Laurent - the next village to mine!
Home!
Getting back to the news, I've been picking up the US election news off Youtube lately in order to get just the highlights, rather than the whole caboodle, and I've been watching Obama campaigning for Joe Biden in Florida and man is he good! Like him or hate him, the guy's an orator, and he seems to be having so much fun laying into Trump as the two obviously hate each other! After I'd watched some of his speech, the next clip to come up was from a site called "Bad Lip Reading" and it is hilarious. One of the dubbed clips I watched was of Trump's inauguration and you get to hear what they were "really" saying (not)! Probably what they were really thinking more like, but those clips are funny. I didn't bother posting it here because it's easy enough to look up, but then I got side-tracked watching clips of Mock the Week and in the clip below you can see the talented British comedian, Hugh Dennis, doing a voiceover of world leaders at the G20 showing, perhaps, "what they were really thinking"!
There are some great clips of Hugh Dennis doing the Queen and Prince Philip too. He does Prince Philip wonderfully as the racist old letch that he is! And I do love it here of course - never get tired of it actually. If you get the chance to go to Cornwall you should - it's lovely (if crowded)!
I am sorry about your lockdown but it appears the whole earth including Canada is in the 2nd wave. I still live in a very safe place being on the island but the mainland is a different story. What a beautiful place you live and to go for a walk. We put up the Christmas lights this past weekend so I could help hold the ladder as hubby is paranoid about letting anyone else do it (not in our covid safety bubble of people, only mom and i and hubby are in that).
I'm glad you're in a safe(r) place as you're going through a lot already and don't need to worry unduly about covid. I can't believe you've already got your Christmas lights up though, but they do seem to make life more cheery don't they!
I think that sculpture is just wonderful too. Pure genius. And yep André thought he really did pull the magic sword out of the stone - it just made our day. I think he was about 20 when I told him it wasn't true!
I loved the clip! I hope you are not in for another lockdown. After going to the beach I understand more how the infection rates are rising. You could pretty much tell who was from Alabama. We have been under a mask order since March and we wear them everywhere. I was amazed and alarmed at the number of people in Florida where were not wearing them indoors.
We heard tonight that we're in for another full 4-week lockdown starting Friday. All good fun I guess, but that's what happens when idiots break the rules isn't it!
Nine hours... interesting. I haven't done that in years because of dogs. That statue is great. I actually got to see and hear Obama when he came to Harrisburg and I was close, about 25 feet away. He was then, and still is, and eloquent speaker... who hates our current moronic presiden.
I used to get maybe 5-6 hours sleep (if I was lucky) when I was working, but now I guess my true nature is coming out! And I know what you mean about Obama. I was exhausted watching him but he is certainly eloquent and, I suspect, having a blast getting under Trump's skin!
Have you seen the Clive Owen Arthur? My guess closer to real if not a myth. Walking while I can. My daughter and I are going to coordinate videos-but her endurance is 10x mine, in case her gym closes. I envy your sleeping.
I never saw that film but I must admit I do love the history/mythology. I think it's mostly based on truth anyway, although "embroidered" over the years of course. And good for you and your daughter walking together. If you mean walking and Facetiming at the same time I'd have to give it a miss as no way could I walk and talk - especially not with a young 'un!
I think we may be headed for another lockdown, but only if, and when, the current Occupant of the White House is voted out. Our small town has extended it's mask and social distancing mandates.
But enough of that ...that King Arthur sculpture is amazing@!
We got a 4-week lockdown confirmed last night as it happens. In the end I think everyone is headed that way. I see Spain, Italy and Germany are already there anyway, but good luck trying to impose that in the US! Talking of the sculpture, I think I just loved it because of the holes. I can just imagine the wind howling through those holes, much as it would have done (and indeed still does) in Cornwall in Arthur's time!
Being early retired, healthy and living in a rural area certainly makes me appreciate, like you, how privileged I am at the moment. We also have another thing in common, to add to the list ( or maybe 2): I sleep for England and yes, my kids inherited the gene, meaning we used to wait for them (in fact still do) waking on Christmas morning!
We are extremely lucky aren't we - and I think it's important to realize that, as the stress so many are under must be unbearable. And I'm glad to hear we weren't the only ones that had to wake our kids on Christmas day. Hard to believe isn't it!
I loved that video clip, even without understanding all the references.
ReplyDeleteYou live in a beautiful area, mountains and a lake. My god woman you are lucky.
The photos of Cornwall are amazing. I think I need to visit that castle.
There are some great clips of Hugh Dennis doing the Queen and Prince Philip too. He does Prince Philip wonderfully as the racist old letch that he is! And I do love it here of course - never get tired of it actually. If you get the chance to go to Cornwall you should - it's lovely (if crowded)!
DeleteI am sorry about your lockdown but it appears the whole earth including Canada is in the 2nd wave. I still live in a very safe place being on the island but the mainland is a different story. What a beautiful place you live and to go for a walk. We put up the Christmas lights this past weekend so I could help hold the ladder as hubby is paranoid about letting anyone else do it (not in our covid safety bubble of people, only mom and i and hubby are in that).
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you're in a safe(r) place as you're going through a lot already and don't need to worry unduly about covid. I can't believe you've already got your Christmas lights up though, but they do seem to make life more cheery don't they!
DeleteThat is a really neat sculpture of King Arthur. The old pic of your son is so cute. I'll bet he was beyond thrilled that day.
ReplyDeleteI think that sculpture is just wonderful too. Pure genius. And yep André thought he really did pull the magic sword out of the stone - it just made our day. I think he was about 20 when I told him it wasn't true!
DeleteI loved the clip!
ReplyDeleteI hope you are not in for another lockdown. After going to the beach I understand more how the infection rates are rising. You could pretty much tell who was from Alabama. We have been under a mask order since March and we wear them everywhere. I was amazed and alarmed at the number of people in Florida where were not wearing them indoors.
We heard tonight that we're in for another full 4-week lockdown starting Friday. All good fun I guess, but that's what happens when idiots break the rules isn't it!
DeleteNine hours... interesting. I haven't done that in years because of dogs. That statue is great. I actually got to see and hear Obama when he came to Harrisburg and I was close, about 25 feet away. He was then, and still is, and eloquent speaker... who hates our current moronic presiden.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI used to get maybe 5-6 hours sleep (if I was lucky) when I was working, but now I guess my true nature is coming out! And I know what you mean about Obama. I was exhausted watching him but he is certainly eloquent and, I suspect, having a blast getting under Trump's skin!
DeleteHave you seen the Clive Owen Arthur? My guess closer to real if not a myth. Walking while I can. My daughter and I are going to coordinate videos-but her endurance is 10x mine, in case her gym closes. I envy your sleeping.
ReplyDeleteI never saw that film but I must admit I do love the history/mythology. I think it's mostly based on truth anyway, although "embroidered" over the years of course. And good for you and your daughter walking together. If you mean walking and Facetiming at the same time I'd have to give it a miss as no way could I walk and talk - especially not with a young 'un!
DeleteI think we may be headed for another lockdown, but only if, and when, the current Occupant of the White House is voted out. Our small town has extended it's mask and social distancing mandates.
ReplyDeleteBut enough of that ...that King Arthur sculpture is amazing@!
We got a 4-week lockdown confirmed last night as it happens. In the end I think everyone is headed that way. I see Spain, Italy and Germany are already there anyway, but good luck trying to impose that in the US! Talking of the sculpture, I think I just loved it because of the holes. I can just imagine the wind howling through those holes, much as it would have done (and indeed still does) in Cornwall in Arthur's time!
DeleteBeing early retired, healthy and living in a rural area certainly makes me appreciate, like you, how privileged I am at the moment. We also have another thing in common, to add to the list ( or maybe 2): I sleep for England and yes, my kids inherited the gene, meaning we used to wait for them (in fact still do) waking on Christmas morning!
ReplyDeleteWe are extremely lucky aren't we - and I think it's important to realize that, as the stress so many are under must be unbearable. And I'm glad to hear we weren't the only ones that had to wake our kids on Christmas day. Hard to believe isn't it!
Delete