By "this" I guess I mean the bloody election, the lockdown, the pandemic, you name it. Oh, and I'm sure I'll find a few more things to whinge about if you give me time! Yet I know I have nothing to be complaining about but here we go again. There's a lack of energy - a sadness - in the air this time round. I suppose having the colder weather here doesn't help and then not being able go out into the mountains when we do get good weather since we're limited to one hour and 1 km from home yet again. Still see the positive I guess, we're almost one week in although how much does anyone think that we will be let back out on 1 December? I'm not sure I'll be betting on it! I think this time though I'll have to start walking locally because I'm getting cabin fever and I can sense it in André too, but then I realized he didn't go through the first 12-week lockdown because he was in Switzerland. He's been a bit "prowly" and has indeed taken himself off to walk in the woods a couple of times already. It's kinda sad when the highlight of your week turns out to be going grocery shopping with your mom to Lidl isn't it! Well that and getting out of your sweatpants. At least we had a good laugh this morning when we realized we were both dressed like a his-n-hers version of Vicki Pollard from Little Britain!
I have quite enjoyed cooking for someone again though, but he has never been difficult anyway. I bought a "first night" gift for when he arrived - although we could probably both have done with laying off the wine judging by the headaches we had the next morning!
People have been panic-buying a little I would guess but it hasn't been too bad this time round because everyone knows the stores are staying open. Traffic was horrendous when we first got locked down, with people trying to get where they had to be and back to their families. I'm just glad that Jen is on sick leave, André can work from home and just poor Jordan is still putting in all hours God sends at his plumbing job. Still, his last pay cheque was pretty nice, so I guess you can't have it all can you!
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| People trying to get out of Paris on Thursday night! |
Wouldn't you know though that sod's law would dictate that André and Lily had their appointment at court on Friday to finalize their divorce - yeah, the first day of lockdown! There was some concern about whether he would be allowed to cross the border but everything went okay for that and within a month they should get their papers. Then on the afternoon he had booked an appointment at the bank to find out how much he could borrow if (when?) he decides to buy a place and it's looking very healthy - as long as he sticks to his budget because there won't be a second salary there to split the bills with this time. Still, he's seen a place being built that should be available next summer, so as soon as we're allowed out again he's hoping to go see a show home. He knows exactly where he wants to be, which is on the side of a mountain called Le Faucigny so that narrows things down a bit and is exactly where this second wave of buildings is going up!
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| Le Faucigny and the Arve valley! |
We both stayed up half the night last night to watch the US elections - which was pretty stupid really because even now, 24 hours later, they still haven't called it. Then he saw that he had two missed phone calls from Lily and damn it but didn't she just find out that one of her close colleagues has tested positive for covid and she has been trying to get a test ever since - although thankfully not suffering any symptoms at the moment (and hopefully never). They hadn't seen each other in months and wham, they meet up again in court and that's what she finds out. More worryingly I saw that my ex has posted on FB that a lovely cousin of his is in hospital and on a ventilator??? I haven't seen D for years, of course, but on their 20th wedding anniversary they threw caution to the wind and treated themselves to a trip out to see us. We had a great time as they are such a lovely couple. God I hope he makes it through this. So no, seeing what other people are going through, even at a distance, makes me realize that I have nothing to whinge about. Two-by-four to the head duly applied!
Sometimes the grass really is greener on our side of the fence once we see what is happening on the other. Hope this lockdown is relatively painless.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely!
DeleteAbout the election? I went to bed. I had a feeling there wasn't going to be any fireworks. Tomorrow's when the start. Our losing president is pulling a fresh lawsuit out of his butt every ten seconds or so... not that it's going to do any good.
ReplyDeleteAgain Dave, I really hope you're right!
DeleteGood Lord. It never ends, does it? And yet, there are always good things to celebrate, to enjoy at least. If we are lucky. And we are lucky. Stay well, dear Treaders.
ReplyDeleteEverything does seem to be one raging vortex at the moment doesn't it. Still, as Churchill said, "if you're going through hell, just keep on going"!
DeleteWe weren't really affected by our lockdown. We traveled to and from work, could have gone to the stores as many times a day as we wanted and really, traveling to and from work, we never noticed a reduction in vehicles on the road. We did stay at home as much as possible. I expect we will be seeing a return to a limit on # of people in a store and so forth, numbers seem to be rising. We're just taking the election results as they come. It's funny(not)that you hear Trump say one thing and then it is reported out of context. But I suspect both sides are guilty of that. I think it may be awhile before things are settled.
ReplyDelete(Some) people are still allowed to go to work but they have to have the relevant permission slip, which poses a problem round here as so many work in Switzerland which is NOT in lockdown and has different rules. When I see my hairdresser's closed up and the local garden centre also it breaks my heart. I think we're all ready for this to be over aren't we!
DeleteWe are all so over this. It's awful the way we all now avoid each other as we pass in the street. Not being able to give hugs or have anyone to visit the house. On the plus side my house is a riot as no-one but us sees it anyway! I have avoided all talk of the US elections and I fear there is more trouble ahead for them. It's a pity you can't walk in the mountains, it seems ridiculous you can't yet I get it, they have to make the rules to cover everybody and not everybody lives in such a beautiful area as you, but how frustrating for you. I think we're all pandemiced, electioned, brexited and all the other rubbish that this year has brought with it, out!
ReplyDeleteI hope Lily remains symptom free, talk about sods law! I hope your exs cousin recovers well too. I've heard of more deaths and illness this time than the first round. Take care and keep smiling (or drinking wine, or both!) xx
Oh damn, I forgot to whinge about Brexit. How's that for progress! So far Lily is ok but André didn't look well today and went back to bed but I suspect that's got more to do with pulling a few all-nighters watching the election. And my neighbour made the exact same comment this morning oddly enough - this time we ALL know someone who has it or has had it! It is hard, but what choice do we have except keep on keeping on?
DeleteBetween the pandemic, the election, the lack of reusults [yet], Daylight Savings Time, the cooler nights, on Wednesday I was all out of sorts about the time, the day, about my queasy stomach.
ReplyDeleteIt's enough.
We're all at that stage aren't we. But when I feel like that I also have to ask myself given the choice between living through WWII and going through this what would my parents have chosen. It's a no-brainer isn't it, but I hope you feel better now!
DeleteIt's funny, I just told a patient of mine yesterday that very same quote from Churchill that you wrote to Ms. Moon.
ReplyDeleteThat valley your son is looking at a house in is absolutely beautiful.
We're not in lockdown yet because our provincial government isn't that smart.
Stay safe my friend.
Churchill was a cantankerous old bugger but he had some good one-liners. Honestly I don't know if the lockdown will be a good thing or not because once they open up again then what? Only time will tell I guess. And take care too - you have a lot on your plate!
DeleteReally good and needed perspective. Ijust repsonded to texts from my sisters who lan to meet up in doors for cards this weekend. I wanted to yell-SMALL Gatherings Is THE SPREADER-but instead just sent self deprecating response that I was sorry to be buzz kill and feel free to call me a sheep, but I' not going to small gatherings that are not masked and not social distanced and inside. Here I'm able to work safely at home when others have lost their livelihood -I'm not about to muck it up and expose myself needlessly. I'm annoyed with them as I thought they all had more senses but they are reading-groups of under 10 so it is fine. I'm feeling very sore throaty and coughy today, but those are also my allergy signs, but I can't help but now worry since I was with my daughters friend on Saturday-and she works in an animal recue so no doubt might be getting lots of exposure. I let my guard down and now I am nervous.
ReplyDeleteYou have every right to go with what makes you feel comfortable even if your sisters don't like it. I was always ok with small gatherings but they can be spreaders too of course. I hope you're ok with your sore throat. With your daughter's friend working in an animal rescue you probably just got fleas!
DeleteIt is ok to whinge. Being locked down sucks. So much sucks. The election or lack of results sucks. Hopefully things get better for all of us soon.
ReplyDeleteI guess it's kinda reassuring to see that everyone feels the same, but whinging on my own behalf has to have a very short sell-by date. Done and done (for today at least). Keep well!
DeleteAt least the long wait for a result is making Lockdown 2 seem short by comparison (or maybe not, now I’ve checked the calendar).
ReplyDelete