Spikecollie

We have one metre lignes of gaffer tape now in all the supermarkets at the checkouts and everyone is respecting them. This supermarket business has to stop and it will only stop with action first from the supermarkets and if that doesn't work from the law.

Didn't even bother looking tonight. I knew it would be like that. They are only the "measured" cases, remember. This ghastly thing is rampant among us.

Chill for the moment Matty. My OH got a really horrible, normal cold last week which I knew was a horrible, normal cold by way of the symptoms. He got himself into an awful state, as I have done before, convincing himself he was short of breath. It was all down to anxiety and panic as he was much calmer when we talked on the phone. He is now fine and looking forward (hopefully) to being back with us here in France on Sunday.

Matty, the non-verbal treatment of your Fiancée is utterly disgusting. This has been happening all over Europe and is a manifestation of the society of cultural ignorance in which we live. Sadly, it is also, along with the other abnormal behaviours we are seeing, a manifestation of fear. Forgive them, for they know not what they do...

Agreed, Matty, if they won't behave in a socially responsible manner they are going to have to made to behave. How much bloody fresh produce can you hoard for sense's sake?

They do eat a lot of meat over there, especially processed meats, although that is changing as I have found on my work visits in recent years. It is now possible to get very good veggie/fish based meals compared to 10/20 years ago.

Crikey, I have only just looked at the currency exchange numbers. The € is 1.08 to the £ - the lowest I have seen it in a very long time and $1.18 to the £.

"A small number of staff at the UK prime minister's office are self isolating due to symptoms of the coronavirus, the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg reports. She understands none of those isolating have been in close proximity to Boris Johnson. People with symptoms are advised to isolate for seven days if they live alone or 14 days if they live with others. It comes as one of the UK's leading epidemiologists, Prof Neil Ferguson, said he developed symptoms of the virus after spending time in Downing Street on Monday. He described Westminster and central London as a "hotbed" for Covid-19." (Source: BBC live)

I went to Carrefour in Bénévant l'Abbeye on the way home from work this lunchtime (slight deviation but I have an attestation) to get some extra dog food that Mylo really likes. Plenty of dog food. Little soap, no toilet roll and meats and cheeses very low. Some pasta but only the more expensive brands. Chilled foods like ham and yoghurts seem to be disappearing too. One thing people sem to be ignoring regarding stocking up is laundry products - I have made sure I have enough to wash clothes for a month but haven't hoarded. Cashiers were wearing plastic gloves but not changing them after each customer - clearly ignoring the ability of the virus to survive on plastic and unlike my local shop they were not disinfecting the card machine after each use. I made a point of using my sanitiser after touching the machine and I hope it was noted. Very quiet on the roads around here today but I didn't encounter and checkpoints. EDIT: I'm sitting in the glorious sunshine outside at the moment and about to do some gardening...

I'll share this story with you as it has really hit home with me. I went to visit one of my few remaining clients this morning - a man in his 70s with advanced Parkison's disease who finds it difficult to communicate, feed himself and manage his home. His house was once beautiful but is now delapidated. When I arrived, there were flies absolutely all over the kitchen and the floor was filthy along with a smell of rotting food. He was wearing Crocs covered in mud from having been in the garden and the mud was all over the floors and the on the coffee table where he rests his feet while watching drivel on the TV all day. The reason is that he is now limited to one visit a day and as of an hour ago none. He gets a nurse visit in the evening but they don't do any cleaning or cooking. He is just about able to cook for himself but caused a frying pan fire a couple of weeks ago when I was there that I had to put out. Normally on afriday myself and/or my colleagues prepare all this meals for the weekend and every day he gets a midday meal made and one for the evening. I vacuumed the entire house and washed the floors and cleaned his shoes. I washed his face which was covered in dried food and saliva. He has a cat for company but there was cat litter and cat poo all over the floor near it where he had tried to clean the tray. This is just one person. How many more are there who are innocent but evident victims of this beastly situation?

They'll have to be kept in, like the kids are being kept in here in France. No youngsters wandering around but plenty playing in the sunshine in gardens. No footbalL games happening, no gathering in play areas. I guess there will be a real upsurge in technology addiction and dependence. I do feel sorry for parents.

I'm going to bed to snuggle up with doglet and dream of happy things. Hope you all can dream of happy things too...

Yes, I'm pretty proud of my body for a 54 year old! I have used the hills around here as my "green gym" for running and cycling and they provide perfect interval training. I wasn't always like this but now I respect my body and love how it feels to be fit and healthy. No one knows though, what this affliction could do to them. Keep up the good work for your body, our health and fitness is all we have got against this (as I keep saying) "thing that has come among us". Stocks of toilet paper won't hack it! BTW: unlike two days go, OH reports that the local Sainsbury's was totally devoid of stock. Everything from meat and pasta to bog roll. He talked to a senior staff member who said it was crazy but that they restock every night just to be stripped again the next day. Where could all the meat be going? Have people bought extra freezers and put them in their garages? I think there is a lot of wastage going on and that is shameful...

I'm always a bit wary of people who are obviously cold infected but never bother about an odd cough or sneeze. Now, I turn away immediately and wait for the culprit to depart!

I was in the garden this afternoon and digging around in the soil and compost. I have an allegy to moulds and I was coughing after digging. Needless to say I was a bit worried but it subsided soon after. I think all of us anxious folk need to chill out a bit. As I have said before, exercise is the key for me and having cycled 16km today, done some gardening and walked the dog I'm ready for a good night's sleep. Having said that, I keep waking at almost exactly 0330 and have great difficulty getting back off to sleep again due to clock watching, then I want to sleep as getting up time approaches. It doesn't happen on weekends so I'm baffled. I have late starts for the next three days so I'll see how it goes with a chance to stay in bed for a bit longer.

Sorry, with my first reply I didn't even notice you were in Ireland! I used to live in Bray, I remember many happy St.Patrick's days going into Dublin and watching the parade. Sad for you - but we'll all get through this together. Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh.

Ah! Been through Quillan and know the gentler side (Perpignan) of the Pyrenees well. Your "young man" should have no problem getting back to the UK but my hunch says get back sooner rather than later.

And L'Ile de France up to 2177.

Have you got connections with France, Emmet?

1097 - sadly.

M. Salomon, the Director of Health says: "Sur les 175 personnes décédées, 7% sont des personnes de moins de 65 ans". "Of the 175 people dead 7% are under 65"

7730 cases in France and 175 deaths...another bad day.

Center Parcs would not be top of my list of safe destinations. Exposing yourself, your children and most importantly other people to your children is a bit risky right now. That's why they're closing.

Initially, here in France, I was very nervous about social distancing and how far it would go. I would not be able to deal with not going out at all. Then I realised if it did go that way, I have a lovely garden, big enough to play a decent ball game with my dog who would eventually relent and poo in it too, out of necessity! It's not like that though. I've just been down to the local shop and people are respecting the 1m distance at the checkout and while browsing the shelves and the card machine is being disinfected after every use. The shop has a supply of the forms you need from tomorrow - which means everyone will be able to go out, legally, for a walk or to shop or go to work. I have been sent an "attestation" by my employer which I will just keep on me for when I am out and about for work. I'll probably make a quick visit to the supermarket on Friday but after that I/we (if it is we) will fairly much keep to just my work outings and walks/cycle rides. Since my work is so much reduced, I'm actually quite looking forward to some time working in the garden as I have done this afternoon, some quality dog walking/running and some cycling with the OH. I think we all have to give in to idea that if we make little sacrifices now, this whole thing will be over a lot quicker for all of us and we might be able to enjoy the forthcoming summer. Additionally, if people refuse to act voluntarily or continue to act in what is basically an anti-social way, then as we saw in the measures introduced in France last night after people flocked in large groups to the Paris parks on a warm spring day, they will be forced to conform. Be nice, be kind and think a little bit wider and longer term for your sake and the sake of those around you...

Just been told by SMS that I am to be issued with masks for work and they will be delivered tomorrow.