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What a palaver

I had to cut down a tree to provide the paperwork that I need to get to the UK.  I tried scanning it on to my phone but it would only scan the French vaccination certificate, not the EU one, nor the test certificate.  Then, in my temporary accommodation, my laptop wouldn't connect to my printer.   While I am having to carry around a locater form (4 pages), a vaccination certificate, a test certificate, 2 pages, Boris Johnson is trying to duck and dive out of following rules that everyone else has to adhere to.

After 2 days in a caravan with no toilet or water, I am now comfortably installed in a friend's gite.  The same friend will have his heart operation on Tuesday.  In the UK another friend, who needs the same procedure, has been told it would not be done for 3 years because of the backlog in the NHS.   In France the backlog is minimal  and doesn't exist at all for cancer and heart, or any other major disease.

I think some people just want to prolong the pandemic and the restrictions, while at the same time railing against them.  I cannot understand how they can protest against the restrictions but refuse to get vaccinated, or wear masks, both of which would end the spread of the virus.  I don't see why the vaccinated have to be subjected to mask wearing and restrictions in order to safeguard the unvaccinated.  Some of them don't have the choice such as children, and therefore the more adults who are vaccinated, the lower the risk for those still ineligible to receive it.

I met with friends in Saumur yesterday and we all shared good news.  One had a tax bill with zero to pay, another had received a cheque for 800€,  another had sold his truck and the last one's daughter had finally made  it to France from Guatemala.  My good news trumped the lot, however, with the sale of my house and the end of my cancer treatment.  The American bought everyone a glass of Cremant and we toasted each other merrily.  A French/ American joined us and we asked him to share his good news, however small.  He looked from one to another and announced, 'Nothing bad has happened this week.'  Ok we'll  drink to that.

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