Thursday 23 April

It seems that only 3+% of the Provence Cote d’Azur Region has virus antibodies, as opposed to much higher percentages in the Paris Region. Knowing this tends to give one a false sense of security, and cabin fever yields to the desire to go shopping. Not a good idea. I know.

Commerce! The lifeblood of societies? Even the Haida had their gift-giving economies, their exchanges, and writing, didn’t writing begin in Mesopotamia with cuneiform lists of cows and other livestock on cylinder seals? The drycleaner is open in Carpentras! I can take the wool blanket upon which I spilled a cup of coffee ten days ago, and while I’m open, why not take down the curtains my lovely mother-in-law sewed, how many years ago and drop them off? I still like the fabric, so maybe I can ask the seamstress in Caromb, the seamstress who is sewing masks for the whole region, to make new mattress covers (on the model of a fitted sheet) for the mattresses on the 60s hippie platform beds in the small loft? When she has time?

And if we make a trip to Carpentras (10 minute drive) why not pop into the good patisserie and stock up on—well, chocolates to begin with, but also maybe a tart, a cake or cakes. And maybe on the way home we can drive through Caromb and stop at the big hardware DYU store , and after that the plant nursery is right on our way, and Paul, our neighbour, wants some lettuce plants for his vegetable plot, up to 60 or so, depending, he hinted, on how long we are going to be here.

How long are we going to be here? Who knows? We could, obviously, be worse off, much, much worse off.

Maybe we should just stay home?

Beverley Bie Brahic