Lockdown Easing

Lockdown Easing

Lockdown has been eased for just over a week now and I have to admit it has made a huge difference to my life, so I very much hope that the anticipated spike in infections is low. The gardening that I enjoy hasn’t been affected by lockdown except to the extent that my plants have probably never had more attention. However, two other pleasurable aspects of my life, boules and socialising, most certainly have and lockdown easing has made both possible again. I have had friends to eat here, have been invited by friends to eat with them and hope that that part of my life can thrive again. On all such occasions we have observed reasonable distancing and the classic French «bise» (kiss on the cheeks) has been all but outlawed. However, social intercourse is back and is a great boon. So far I have played boules only twice but the public spaces are now open and social distancing is not difficult while playing. So I look forward to more of that.

The front of the house is looking good and the climbing roses at the back are in full bloom, as also is the dwarf blue campanula that I have plugged into the terrace wall wherever I could. The balcony has been running through its repertoire of scents, startiing with the lilac briefly followed by the honeysuckle which is now just going over while the jasline has started to bloom. It makes sitting out on the balcony in the evenings a real olfactory pleasure. The weather is doing its best to get the good feelings going with plenty of sunshine and warmth and the frogs in the river are in full song.

In the shops asparagus and strawberries are in full flood, melons are plentiful and the first peaches and nectarines are beginning to appear. Cherries will be next and I will have my fruit heaven. Life feels good again.