Strange times

A week ago today we were arriving at Saint Malo in readiness for the overnight crossing to Portsmouth and a three week stay in England. 

Our intention was to visit Nadine & family, Philippe, have coffee with Kate, catch up with friends and even make a return trip to Hexham to see old friend Les. Little did we know that France was about to tighten its borders and put its citizens in lockdown. So, after much deliberation we decided our best option was to book our return ferry.

Crossings on our usual route had already been cancelled but we managed to book the next to the last Portsmouth to Caen ferry. Already things seemed different: far fewer cars, most with French number-plates, but still a fair number of lorries. After driving onto the boat we were told to go to our cabin and wait there until called in the morning. Luckily Brittany Ferries had warned us that there would be no food or drink available on board so we'd eaten at our regular pub in Portsmouth beforehand.

Next morning after the call, straight down to the garage deck to await disembarkation. We had heard in England that the French authorities now required everybody away from their residences to carry a downloaded document stating the reason. Luckily I had a couple printed at the library in Baildon. They were checked at passport control on the way into France, and once again at one of the toll-booths on our journey down to La Tranche. As 'going home' wasn't one of the official options we added it to the bottom of the list, much to the amusement of one of the gendarmes.

The motorways and ring-roads were eerily quiet. We stopped at what looked like a deserted service station to get some fuel. Luckily the shop was open (the poor girl must have been bored to tears) and we bought our breakfast of machine coffee and a pack of biscuits. On arrival home we found the fridge fairies had been, Matt & Cynthia leaving some lovely bits of food for us.

So, what's life been like since our return? Not seeing anyone is the hard bit, but we can still go out for short walks, as long as we have our special bit of paper with us (and not on the beach which is now prohibited). The main thing is to think carefully before leaving the house, making sure you have your completed 'attestation de déplacement', a new one to be printed each time. 

The only reasons for leaving are:

- having to go to work if you can't work at home

- essential shopping (food)

- health reasons (GP/pharmacy)

- urgent family matters (oldsters/youngsters)

- individual exercise (short walk/walking the dog)

We have just come back from a short walk and were checked twice. We saw few vehicles and even fewer people away from their gardens.

Yesterday we went to the supermarket. I say we but only one of us was allowed in the store, one person per trolley. There were some empty shelves but not like we saw in England during our brief stay, check-out workers were wearing masks and gloves, sanitising their hands between customers, and there were clear markings on the floor at the check-out to give plenty of space for each customer.

There were several stalls on the market this morning, papers checked at the barriers erected on either side. All school and recreational activities have been stopped, so no clubs for Martine, no cinema, no play parks for the kids, all restaurants and bars closed, only food shops open. La Tranche is like a ghost town, just when it was waking and sprucing itself up for the summer.

Luckily the weather has been great since our return and we've been able to eat lunch outside each day and relax in the sunshine. I know things are developing fast in the UK with schools and now pubs and restaurants closing their doors, but I think what we're experiencing here is the shape of things to come for the Brits.