Last week, I told you that school was shutting but that we would still have all the after-school meetings with the parents. Well, on Sunday night, they were all cancelled too. As, in general terms, the inhabitants of France still refused to comply with the rules (ie vastly reducing the number of times they leave their houses), further rules were brought in. As from last Wednesday, you need an A4 document every time you go out, copied out or printed, ticking one of four boxes, explaining why you are out : going to work (if essential), going food shopping/to the chemist, visiting elderly people/childcare, dogwalking/sport. The dogwalking/sport thing is supposed to be done sensibly, ie just around the block for a dog walk, 1-2km for jogging, but people STILL refused to do as they're told and think about the bigger picture. So now we have people being fined €138 if they're outside with no valid reason. Apparently, if they are fined several times, they could end up with a prison sentence when coronavirus has finally gone. I really don't understand it. Staying inside is not fun for anyone. I went to Lidl once, because we were running out of food (and toilet roll !), and there were still people in there buying one or two things. Later in the week, it was announced that there were 3 people in Dunkirk hospital with coronavirus, one who had died and 18 who were awaiting confirmation of their diagnosis after tests. Then it was announced that they wouldn't be updating the figures any more. I'm getting sick of people with their holier-than-thou,"we live in a democracy, nobody can take away my basic right to go out" mentality, which is doing nothing but adding greater risks - if they are still going out, they'll end up with it then infect people who really do have to go out, for their weekly shop for example - and it will just make the confinement stage last longer. It's not fun for anyone, but if it's what we need to go through then let's just do it.
Sunday 15th March - Day one of confinement. And the day started off with a beautiful sunrise, slashing the pale blue sky with a vivid streak of pink. It was a lovely day weather-wise, so we'd definitely have gone out for a walk in the country or at the beach, but never mind, we'll stay inside with our TVs, computers and the PS4, which at least gives Pierre the chance to chat to his friends while he's playing.
Monday - This was the day we started trying to sort out lessons online and what a blooming nightmare that was ! I uploaded some work for the kids to do, then created correction sheets. So far so good. But nothing came back. Apparently the on-site function for collecting in work doesn't work, so I gave them my email instead. Next, time for Pierre's "school". He had a load of work to do that had been given out the week before, with lessons in maths, French and reading every day, plus extra things on a daily basis. It took a few hours then he was done. In the afternoon, we emptied out the baking cupboard, made a list of everything that's in there (so that I can figure out what to do with all the weird things, like coconut flour and carob syrup - they must be good for something !) then made some cookies and some Daim chocolate mousse that I had brought back from Norway then never made.
Tuesday - I think this was Wednesday or Thursday actually, but I ended up completely losing track of days and kept checking the computer to see what the date was and what day we were. At one point, I couldn't remember if we were in March or April - and this is just the first week of confinement ! Eeeek ! I spent pretty much the whole day getting more work online for school, then answering oodles of emails and correcting loads of work as it came through from pupils on a constant dribble all day long, even up until about 11.30pm. Who does their homework that late ?! Big win of the day - I headed out to Lidl for supplies and - woohoo ! - I found bog roll ! I decided to grab two packs, as I won't be going shopping very often. It seems to be about once every ten days, judging by this week and what's left in the fridge.
Wednesday - Another bright sunny day - too bad we can't get out and enjoy it ! Pierre wanted to make more cookies (the first lot didn't last long !) and we also made Angel Delight and jelly. The rest of the day was spent answering work emails - I can't believe how long it takes. Then every time I get to the end, a load more emails arrive - aaaggghhh !
Thursday - Back to the new routine : Pierre's school work in the morning, all my marking/lesson posting in the afternoon, some baking or other activities in the afternoon when I'm on a break. I made a lovely dish for dinner - chicken casserole using a tin of chicken soup as a sauce, topped with a crispy coating. I'll share the recipe next week. The kids loved it. Emails were coming in all through the evening, but I decided I needed a night off and settled down to watch some TV with the kids.
Friday - A normal morning, doing Pierre's schoolwork, checking Juliette didn't need any help with hers, then back to lesson planning and marking. I turned to Netflix at the end of the afternoon - I haven't had a chance to watch anything on there for ages, so I have loads to work through. I watched (over three days) the whole of The Stranger, based on a book by Harlan Coben. Loved it.
Saturday - So, no trip to McDonald's this week. The kids asked if we could get some delivered with Just Eats. No ! I'm not paying extra for it ! Absolutely no emails from the kids today - ahhh, so they're sticking to the normal week and not working at the weekend. Well, that's good for me then - at least I still get a break ! A lovely blue sky out there today. I still have some food left so I won't bother going shopping until we run out, which should be in a few days.
My overall sense of the week was that it was boring, but when I read back over last week's photo diary, I realise how hectic life used to be, how much running around feeling knackered there was. This week was pretty full on with all the schoolwork and emails to reply to, but I actually got time to do baking with Pierre on several occasions and watched a whole Netflix series. I can live with this for a while :)
I think that should happen here, only going out if you really need to. There are people still not taking it seriously here. I heard the neighbours saying they were going to a party at a friends house because the pubs were shut. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteThose mousses look so good! It sounds like there is a lot of cooking going on. I am getting the kids in the kitchen next week baking.
We are planning to do the same. School work in the morning and fun things in the afternoon.
The Stranger was brilliant wasn't it!
I just can't understand the people carrying on with life as if nothing's going on. The chances are, they'll be the ones who don't have symptoms but pass it on to others - nightmare ! Knowing that there have already been casualties in our own town really makes you sit up and take notice too. The Stranger was brilliant - totally believable. And I've just started another one - Safe, I think it's called, which seems a bit similar. Good luck with the girls at home ! xx
DeleteThese are scary times! We try not to go shopping unnecessarily, but for several days I had to check out the shops every day as the supermarket shelves were empty of all essentials. Also we don't have a car, so in principle I cannot carry a whole week's shopping in one go. Ordering groceries online is impossible, everything is booked for weeks ahead.
ReplyDeleteLooks like you were super busy, with all the teaching online, and cooking at home. The chocolate mousse looks good. I remember cooking with coconut flour. It has a strange texture, I think it's best mixed with the normal flour, rather than on its own.
Yes, I'm the same, I don't drive so I'll probably have to do a double trip, if I need orange juice, dog food and other heavy stuff. Good idea for the coconut flour - I'll definitely try that :)
DeleteWe had plans of a relaxing stroll along the beach this weekend, but the world and its wife had the same idea, probably as the weather was nice, so we stayed local and walked in our local woodland. Having a checklist to go out seems like a great idea. Hope you are keeping well
ReplyDeleteWe're doing OK, but it's a shame the nice weather waited for us to be in confinement !
DeleteWe've had the same problems over here with people just not following the advice and then having to have more strict restrictions imposed. Looks like Pierre enjoyed all the baking this week and I like the look of the Daim chocolate mousse. Glad you managed to find some toilet roll - it's been in very short supply here too! Hope you are all keeping well. #project366
ReplyDeleteWe're doing OK. Pierre keeps saying he'd love to go out on his bike and at one point, a few of his friends were on the car park opposite our house playing football with their parents so he wanted to go out, but I said no. Luckily, he understood when I explained it all to him :(
DeleteThe UK is the same with some people not listening, but this week there is a big drop in the amount of people out.
ReplyDeleteGlad you are getting some down time, I think if it was me I would only be looking at school stuff during school hours.
We watched the stranger last week as well, I really enjoyed it
No such thing as normal hours when you're a teacher - marking is always done at weekends and in the evenings anyway so there's not much difference ! I thought The Stranger was good, and I've just watched Safe, which is another Harlan Coben one. Worth watching too :)
DeletePeople here are not doing as they are told either! My neighbour had visitors this week and we are now meant to be on lockdown. Sounds like a week of juggling but I totally get where you are coming from on Netflix and baking. I must admit I have realised the same here. It is nice to all sit down for breakfast and lunch without the need for dropping at childcare or the adults starting work early.
ReplyDeleteIt is nice to have a slightly more chilled out day - it'll be tough going back to work when confinement comes to an end ! :-/
DeleteTrue. We're facing similar issues here. A few friends are still hanging out, boys in the neighboring colony are playing cricket loudly and people are storming into mosques for Friday prayers when told not to. OOooo mousse and casserole! You surely have kept yourself busy this week
ReplyDeleteAaagh I don't understand what is so hard about sticking to the rules. If there was no reason behind them, then maybe, but it's not the government doing it for nothing :-/
DeleteI think it's taken everyone a lot of time to get their head round the new rules, but there are always a few aren't there? It is annoying because it will be longer for us all that way. I like how busy you have been in the kitchen and I might make a list of the cupboards too so I can use things up.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely worth clearing everything out and seeing what's lurking at the back. We found some things I don't even remember buying ! lol
DeleteThis has happened here now, I think people just aren't taking it seriously enough. I hope you are doing ok and everyone is safe there. We have just finished The Stranger and it was very good. xx
ReplyDeleteI think this will be an interesting time to look back on, in several months (hopefully not much longer than that though !)
DeleteInteresting to read how France are organising their corona reponse. I hope you are all staying healthy #project366
ReplyDeleteSame to you ! We're doing OK so far xx
DeleteFrance sounds like the UK now. In Dubai they've been issuing permits and are now on total lockdow/curfew 8pm - 6am, sadly I see neighbours still going out in their cars to walk the dog or going out several times a day to pick up the odd bit of shopping. Hope everyone is keeping well
ReplyDeleteSame here - and the people in the supermarket who are queuing up behind you with just a couple of cans of Redbull :-/
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