Covid Confinement Day 54

I love this climbing rose beautifully named Orchid Smile. This is the first year it has intertwined with the peace rose. Another death in our area and the number of new deaths in France was up again, from 178 yesterday to 243. Today is Victory in Europe Day, 75 years after the end of the …

Covid Confinement Day 53

Only three more days of being limited to a radius of one kilometre from home during our daily one-hour walk. One more death in our area today but we are now “green” which means our parks and gardens will open again on Monday. There were 178 new deaths in France today down from 278 yesterday. …

Covid Confinement Day 50

The cherries are in the making. Spot the scarecrow! Still another death today in our area bringing the total up to 50. The number of new deaths in France was 330, compared with 306 yesterday. The number of new cases in France also went up. It doesn’t feel like the virus is abating. I did …

Covid Confinement Day 49

This year’s grapes are already forming on the vine. Promises to come. We had another death today in our area, giving a total of 49. The number of new deaths in France was a disappointing 306 after 135 yesterday while the number of new cases more than doubled. Much less promising. Cette année les raisins …

Covid Confinement Day 48

This rose, called Pierre de Ronsard, after the French Renaissance poet from the Loire Valley, was produced by Meilland, the author of the peace rose, and is probably one of the most popular in the Loire Valley. No more deaths in our area today and only 135 new deaths in France down from 161 yesterday. …

Covid Confinement Day 47

These roses along our daily walk suddenly came into bloom and the gate took on a whole new dimension. We learnt today that anyone coming into France after the borders open on 11th May and up until 24th July, whether they are French or not, including from Corsica and the French overseas territories, must respect …

Covid Confinement Day 46 – CDP theme day: shopping

Shopping is a difficult theme during lockdown in France as we can only shop for essential items. Traditionally May Day is the only day of the year where everyone has the right to sell lily-of-the-valley, considered to bring good luck. It’s also Labour Day and a public holiday. As a result of the corona virus …

Covid Confinement Day 45

Our peace rose seems bigger and earlier than ever this year. The peace rose has a lovely story. To quote Wikipedia: In early 1945 the rose specialist Meilland wrote to Field Marshal Alan Brooke (later Viscount Alanbrooke), the principal author of the master strategy that won the Second World War, to thank him for his key …