Judith-aka-Judith

Idun, Not dissimilar here.  Restaurants I am so missing.  Bars less so.  Trip to see family back in the UK, not seen now for almost 2 years, holiday .. not yet sure where .. but not a staycation, done enough of that already for what seems far, far too long.  Maybe our cancelled trip to Italy, or Spain ... hairdressers, well happily they are open, but my last appointment was cancelled so yes, get it cut asap. But, mainly, I think, that we can at last make plans and then follow them through.

Since it is becoming obvious that having a first dose dose protect much more than thought, whilst I am, I think, happy that someone like NormanH has had his second dose, it does mean that fewer than ever will get any protection at all .. Yes, there has obviously been some error in order, suppy and delivery of hte vaccines from the manufacturers, but what is more appalling to me is that once they get them, the distribution of them is highly suspect, as is the appointment system .. but no doubt I'll got shot down again for daring to go contra the wonderful French government advice ..

Without any need for statistics, and from my own experience of friends and family (other than the younger ones) in both countries.  Almost everyone I know in the UK has had at least the first dose, of once vaccine or another.  Here in France, almost no-one I know has had even one. Says it all. First doses are proving to be much better at protecting than the original research proved, but because it was "not invented here", France refuses to accept it, and continues in its own incompetent, at least in this matter, way. Now we are told that my age group will start to be vaccinated by the end of April .. now I'll believe that one when it happens, and not before.

Idun, stangely, I was saying something along the same lines about 15 mins ago.  Those who are in the age groups and co-mobordities "allowed" are most likely to be seen regularly by a doctor, and certainly in the health system.  Ordo from doctor, gets you an appt et voilà.  Logistics planning for the vaccination does not seem to be a skill practised by the health services currently it seems.

My doctor told me to get the appointment first, then she'd give me the ordo, no messing, but that the ordo had to be done within 5 days of the treatment.  Bonne chance.

Since I still have no real idea what woke means, I've no idea at all on any possoble tranlsation, right or wrong!

GG, good news indeed, yes, I saw it, and thought about it when reading all the posts about lack of vaccine (being also affected by the impossibility of getting an appointment to begin with).  Somehow, we all have to learn to live with life as it will be .. and vaccination, partial or otherwise, is the only route out of the current situation at present.  I do know people who have had the first dose of vaccine (mainly in the UK, but not excusively) and I know of only 2 who felt a little unwell for 24hrs.  Second doses, when achieved seem to have have had little further effect. As per a post from NormanH, yes, France may have completed more 2-dose jabs than the UK, but as the second dose only gives a small extra protection it is less than helpful, and gives only slightly more than 1 million people protected, whilst the UK now has almost 18 million with good if not full protection.  I know which I'd choose any day.  Nor would I worry about which vaccine I got. Get those antibodies working even if only partially in the majority of the population and you stand some chance of being able to return to normal sooner rather than later as will not be the case in France.

[quote user="mint"]Id, we do exactly as you do.  If we like something, we just buy it, no need to wait for a special occasion.  Same with meals either out or at home.  If we feel like a special meal, we just have it. [/quote] Exactly!  I think that comes with advancing age and experience ... having a meal out when we feel like it is the one thing I really miss during these times.

I used to use my bread machine to make the dough, and then bake it in the oven, as I could never get the loaf out of it once cooked.  It was put away for a couple of years, as I found a nice loaf in the supermarket I liked but with the first lockdown not always available, which is when I decided to try baking bread again.  Problem was the bread machine turns on, makes noises, but the paddle doesn't go round.  All cleaned so no idea why.  Decided not bother and went off to research no kneed bread, and voilà!

I hope the imported roses last longer than I find they do .. hope it is not a sign of the lengevity (or not) of the relationshop. Totally agree, Lori, Mothering Sunday yes, a small token, though not being a mother, and with my mother long gone it isn't done in this household, apart from in church. Other celebrations, no, birthdays, anniversaries, yes .. commercialised fete days, no way!

Since there are still no vaccine appointments, never mind the vaccine, maybe which is best is a mere irrelevance.  The hopsital where all seemed to have the same apres vaccine symptons sounds more like the case of being altogther  - cannot remember the scientific name for it, but research found that when girls in a school started off with non similar period starts, they eventually as the year continued began to start all together.  Sounds much like that here, or the usual hospital infection going around .. which is mor prevalent than they want you to believe.

Sort of replying to a post made by Idun probably on this bread thread .. but some time ago. I started trying out no kneed bread during the first lockdown ... sort of.  I can cook, but baking is not a strong skill, I do it when I must .. had trouble getting the amounts right, but all were edible, if not looking quite the loaf you buy in the shop.  Persevered .. using flour with grains to start with, then added more white, less yeast, etc etc .. lots of research, eventually I got a reasonably consistent bake if not ideal.  Then I read Idun's comment about olive oil, so tried that, it helped, indeed.  Then I had teeth problems so left out the grains for a while, improved.  Then I started doing a small kneed, just to smooth it all out, with a long rise .. then I experimented with a second proofing .. all but one time improvements could be seen. Finally I returned to the half and half flour, shortish first kneed, second one sooner than I had been doing, adding oil, reducing the yeast by half (this flour seems to have some yeast added, can't get other stuff, shelves often empty), and I seem to be getting an almost reliable loaf.  I am very proud of myself! So by trial and error I got there!  And I have eaten all my efforts, for even the worst have not been inedible.  It has even proved to be more therapeutic than I ever believed during all these difficult times and something to look back on with pride. I believe hubby knows how to kneed bread, but he has never offered to do it for me!

All accounts with both all OK here too.  But all mainstream banks. OH's Barclaycard visa credit card was closed .. does anybody know if it is possible to open a UK credit card account when not resident, as he now has no UK credit card at all ..

[quote user="mint"]Judith, I am sending you a PM [/quote] Thanks. Just seen, and replied. 

Yes, I like the choice of locations the UK is using.  I actually know someone (sorry a couple) who were vaccinated in Salisbury Cathedral. As it happens he is a minister of religion, but not CoE, but pure chance, though, got to the right age I presume!  

Nomoss, but hating text messages as I do, I tried on a non smart phone and just gave up ..

The requirement to have a smart phone to do online banking / bank transfers/ credit card verifications etc, these days makes like difficult for those who do  not have a smart phone.  Yes.  Since this includes hubby, who has yet to use the non-smart mobile phone I bought him about 4 years ago .. indeed. Even getting a new phone and having to put all the new verification details in is not easy, even when you do have a smart phone.  Been putting that off for about 2 months, and am still working with the old and the  new phones ..

Strong and tough, yes.  I always said that those who survived childhood illnesses, the Spanish flu, WWI in the early years of the 20th century were our nonagens and centenarians of nowadays - aunts who survived to their mid to late 90's all born in the early years of the century .. jadis .. I had forgotten that word, thanks as ever Mint in reminding me, yet again ..

Did you ever find out why no card??

Don't they use conch shelles in one of the island paradises to use as a communications tool?  Doesn't surprise me in the least.

And human biology being what it is, it is the female of the species which has hte milk containing glands, which technically and medically are called breast, not chest ...   PC gone completely mad IMHO.

That's what I use too, and given the size of the dose I would imagine it is only available on prescription. 

Mint, yes it was you got me onto using Vit D, and though I don't think I had quite the boost you felt, I still have it on prescription, though every three months, which I think is a bit long a gap if I am honest. Had a similar problem with our MT, didn't die, just disappeared, luckily I found a good replacement, who just happens to be English by origin, but brought up here, so best of both worlds. So nice to be able to explain everything in English, and helps that she's female too!  In fact the practice only has one male but 3 female doctors .. and all reasonably young.  Biggest problem with mine is that she keeps getting pregnant, but she comes back at the end of the maternity leave OK !!

In 34 too, no problem with post, regularly, and plenty from the UK too. Flooding was the Garonne, in Marmande, in 47, other side of the country to 34.

Our dept always shows reasonably acceptable figures compared to other depts, (as it also does with Covid infections) but what it does not show is that some parts (namely the larger cities and towns such as the one NormanH inhabits) have the bulk of the ases and the bulk of the vaccinations.  Those of us in the same dept in a rural area not only have had fewer cases (for which I am most grateful), but also far fewer deliveries of the vaccine. It is only when you get down to commune level that any understanding of where we are with both infections and vaccines can be made. How to lie with statistics - again.