Learning to live with the Coronavirus lock down in France

Well we are reaching the end of the first week of the coronavirus lock down here in France. Some aspects of life have radically changed, other parts continue as usual;. Spring is on it’s way, the days are suitably sunny, which means we have electricity and it is warm enough to work outside after about 10am, until late afternoon. It is warm enough to start germinating seeds. The trees are budding and growing, and most of the mother plants, especially the mints, thymes, rosemaries, origanos, even the verbena are starting to send up new shoots. The garden is a picture of tercrium, stock, iris, rosemary and rosemary flowers. The bees are working overtime. The birds are wolfing down any food put out for them, breeding seems high on the agenda, as does chasing each other round the garden, maybe it’s one and the same activity.

We are spending our time between Spring cleaning, it is amazing the quantity of ash the wood stove pushes out into the house, putting in seeds, tip cuttings, plant separation, cleaning the overgrown and young trees round the house, and getting to know our new adopted dog, Bella.

Or maybe she is called Mabel, or Ma Belle, not sure yet, she responds to just about anything said to her in a cheerful voice. She has her own version of the lock down, called the lick down, clearly she thinks we don’t wash enough.

Social isolation is nothing new up here on Mont Tauch, we rarely see anyone anyway, maybe the occasional hunter looking for lost dogs, the hunt is now banned, or lost walkers, waling more than 2 klics from your house is also banned.

Luckily we have each other, the dog, the telly and radio, as well as the internet. Evenings haven’t much changed, backgammon by candle light, spark up the generator to watch a bit of news, and what ever crap telly series is on.

A constant source of amusement from the radio and telly is the completely inappropriate ads that are still being broadcast, RTS Languedoc, the radio station we listen to, total playlist about 20 songs, is still being sponsored by a large shopping Mall over in Catalonia, were we all nip for cheap tobacco and booze. Their chief selling point is that they now have video surveillance of their new, larger parking, so your car won’t be broken into as regularly as it use too. Only problem is the border is closed. So even if the temptation of secure(ish) parking appeals you can’t go anyway.

Leaving for essential supplies is now strictly controlled. Here is my Facebook account of going out on Friday:

“Well the coronavirus lock down here in France makes for interesting times- had to go to Tuchan this morning for fresh veg, medicine, petrol and diesel and agricultural supplies. So downloaded the travel form, filled it out dated today, ticked the boxes for shopping, pharmacy and professional reasons. Spoke to the agricultural suppliers who confirmed they were open for professionals, and dog food for individuals. So found my official documents to show I am a farmer- no not a flat cap and wellies, an actual document. Got Caroline to do an attestation to say I could pick up her medicine. Went to the pharmacy, only one person allowed in at any one time. Till off line so took ages for them to fix that before I could be served, staff more anxious than customers poor souls, then off to the shop, only 5 clients allowed in at any one time, no visible shortages. Off to the depot, not allowed to get out of Landy, they took my order and loaded the material by hand- felt sorry for the guy, 3/4 of a metric ton of organic soil and cuttings mixture is a hell of a lot of bags to load up. Got back to the smell of freshly baked gluten free bread and vegetable soup- bit of an adventure. Now just a couple of thousand toms to plant up. At least it is sunny.”

Some of the food markets are still open, yesterday’s Narbonne organic market went ahead, but was moved to in front of Les Halles. Which ironically some stand holders wanted to do anyway but was firmly resisted by Las Halles, who didn’t want another load of premium rated sellers anywhere near them. Having watched the news of the policing of the markets, with clients not allowed within a meter of one another, lines marked on the ground indicating the limits of how close they were to get to the stand holders, police checking everyone for their correct paper work. I imagine the move was to enable the police to more effectively control the two markets instead of having to shuffle between the two.

After much discussion between us Caroline and I both decided that it was not worth the risk of going, both health wise and financially. We have yet to hear from the stand holders who went how it all worked out. We will keep the situation monitor and try to get back when it is safer and profitable. Herbs and vegetables may come in handy.

But that does poise the next question, how the hell are we going to make any money? Spring is a key period for us, the markets, plant and organic festivals are our key, and only, selling points. While we may still be able to get to, some, of the markets, I hear Lezignan Corbieres market has been closed down to at least 20th April, Perpignan is still going ahead but very bleak from all reports. I also imagine that all the festivals will be cancelled, quite rightly, so but still a major, and irreplaceable, loss of revenue for us.

What I am sure of is that this is not just a short phase, no way is the coronavirus going to disappear from France in a few weeks of lock down. Let’s face it you only know when a peak has been reached when you are well over it and on the downwards slope, and who is to say that a relaxation of the lock down will not send figures rising again? There are so many unknowns, about health, about income, about society and the economy that to make any predictions, or plans at this stage is just to premature.

On the upside the lock down has inspired Caroline’s baking skills, the gluten free quiches, apple and raisins tart and veggy curries and stir fries are keeping us well fed. She is getting more fruit and vegetables into me than usual, despite my grumblings about vegetarian muck, Though it is time for double eggs and chips in my opinion. There is no shortage of wine, and the dog is making us both happy.

Right of to plant more vegetable seeds, if the don’t sell maybe I will convert the poly tunnel into a market garden for us.