France lockdown 2 - vers un deconfinement

[CroissantsAtDawn]

2nd thread discussing the lockdown in France and the impending deconfinement...

First thread here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3850860-Lockdown-conditions-in-France

I have just heard from the U3A. I have no idea how they will organise that physically for a client audience of the elderly, but as I am an elderly teacher working voluntarily I will offer Zoom classes only. I may lose a few technophobes but will probably gain some others. My DS is a language school teacher in Spain and he is doing really well with it. Lots of people from outlying villages interested.

We finally heard from DS12 collège- he’s going back as part of the “second wave” of returns. The timetable will be adjusted weekly but atm his class are split in two groups / rooms, 15 in each group, and they will all go in Monday morning (half day), plus Thursday 9-3:15pm including home for lunch. The school is a typical 1970s style - ugly, but big enough classrooms to accommodate up to 15 physically distanced students! They don’t expect them all to turn up though. DS is in a group with his best friend, and it looks like Thursday apm will be sport of some sort, so he’s happy.

I walked past a couple of our local bars yesterday early evening: Popular, craft beer / pub type places. They were heaving! It seems bizarre that the schools are so restricted, but groups of 10 adults can sit very close together, talking and laughing, no masks, no distancing required.

Right? Basically all restrictions are lifted, everything is open - surely making also education possible again should be a priority?

My DS goes back to school on 9th June. For one day. That's it.

God knows how the lycée will handle the September rentrée. Glad I will no longer have a child there.

On the other hand the conservatoire is open and DS has been in for a "meeting" with his piano teacher (actually it was just a regular lesson except they are not officially doing lessons). She's offered to teach him over the summer so he can audition for the CRR in Toulouse at the rentrée.

Exciting! My husband studied at the conservatoire in Paris.

DS in 1ere bac pro is going back as of next week for 2 days a week to do atelier, there's only five of them (1 in seconde, 2 premieres and 2 terminales). He was supposed to be doing his stage, but that's obviously been cancelled. His conseil de classe is on Monday and he's a little bit miffed about us making him go back for the three remaining weeks.

Hi Mnetters in France, sorry to intrude but I'm looking for some advice and you all seem to be on this thread. Is there anyone on the cote d'azur who can let me know how things are on the coast, in holiday areas?

My DCs usually spend a few weeks in a language school on the coast and I had written off this year but the school has been in contact to say that they are re-opening and accepting students from the end of June. Mine wouldn't go until July/Aug. At the moment from London it seems crazy as senior schools here aren't even open, but the french tourist minister is telling the British to book holidays in France regardless of quarantine rules and seems confident that everything will sort itself out. I have attached the article.

If possible/sensible I would like the DCs to keep their language skills going as they get so much out of the courses. They would usually travel to the school by train but here that would not be possible as trains are only for essential journeys, what about in France? Any advice welcome.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/06/05/book-holiday-now-france-despite-quarantine-threat-says-french/

Cake train travel should be OK assuming no second wave. My DD is travelling from Paris to the south tomorrow without any specific reason (returning student). I imagine language schools will be applying a similar protocol to that used in regular schools, but with smaller class groups it will be much easier for them. Expect to provide lots of masks!

@Mistigri - thank you so much, that is very helpful.

Bonne fête à toutes les mamans especially those who have been juggling work, school, home, flour shortages and everything inbetween. Profitez bien de votre journée.

For my mother's day present, I sent DH and children to visit MIL. Aaahhhhh..the silence.

What bliss. DH has gone to visit MIL too so I've had the bed to myself, breakfast in bed with two of my three DC and a huge côte de boeuf to share for lunch. It's been all about the food for me .

So how are things elsewhere in the country? Here it honestly feels like everybody has forgotten there's any virus. Barely any masks, or people wearing them under their noses or hanging from ears. Shops that had disposable gloves have removed them. No efforts to distance or anything. And we're in Haut Rhin, I think we have most deaths per inhabitant, or at least close.
I can't say I don't understand though, the constant feeling of impending doom was difficult.

In Normandie our R is 6,7. Masks wearing varies. Still quite high in our town but lower elsewhere. We are just planning some house viewings and letting people in to see ours. Bit trepidatious as we are over 70s, but we are told that there is a market for country houses with established vegetable gardens and we really do need to downsize. Not much on the market though. We are enjoying getting out more and seem to have Drive shopping to ourselves. 😀

Bouche de Rhone here. Masks being worn in shops etc. Some level of social distancing still but much busier. Have not stayed fairly local so not been anywhere big but told is busy. Life feels back to almost normal.

Tarn here and things are much more relaxed. Fewer people wearing masks, a lot of people standing close to each other and some bises.

Also some really weird rules...DS was allowed back to swimming lessons but he had to wear a swimming cap provided by then structure which had just been disinfected. Is there something about COVID and hair that I know nothing about?

The instructor not the structure for goodness sake!

Border of Bouches du Rhône and Vaucluse.
A fair few masks, still. Social distancing has gone out the window, although the queue at the bakers is very disciplined.
I am the only person at the Drive when I go.
Still v complicated to get access to campus, though - so I am meeting our computing tech guy on the supermarket car park tomorrow, where he is going to combine shopping with sorting out my laptop.

On the border between Vaucluse and Gard here (sensing a theme!), village life seems to be back to normal, kids meeting up to do chalk pictures, with parents chatting to each other in close proximity, no masks.

How do you know the R rate? 6.5 sounds really high!

Sorry @LaChatte that should be 0.67. 😡 It is on the ARS regional site.

Actually 0,64 now.

We are in Tarn et Garonne. Still lots of masks and gloves in the supermarket but they aren't compulsory. OH had to wash hands and wear a mask to go into the Post Office. The weekly market is relatively busy (although it is lovely to be able to find a parking space!).

We went out for a meal at the weekend - met a friend and had a cold beer on the terrace. There was a little bit of bisou-ing going on, but most people were keeping their distance.

Many of the summer events such as night markets have been definitely cancelled which is a shame, but they do rely heavily on tourists which will obviously be in short supply this year. That is going to have a massive impact on the local farmers/producers but hopefully the spirit of entrepreneurship will be strong.

Busses are free!

Monday market in local town has been open throughout. Now absolutely heaving.

On Monday I'm taking kids and ponies and dog to the beach house on the west cost of la Manche for a month. All bookings up to 25 July have been cancelled so we might as well use it. Looking forward to Moules Frites.

Morning all

I went out for beers last night, with some friends! It was great to see them - first time since early March. The bar was quiet to begin with, but pretty busy later on, and very «normal» except for staff wearing masks. I confess I didn’t put my mask on at all... no-one did, other than staff. Everything else was very normal.

Socialising felt weird to begin with. Talking to people other than immediate family and colleagues on a screen. The impact that lockdown has had on individuals, children and marriages... that’s going to take a while to work through, and there will be casualties.

There’s another announcement from Macron Sunday night... anyone want to hazard a guess at what he’s announcing this time?