Afternoon at the Garden Centre.

I went to meet up with the friend of mine ( who had suffered a stroke almost three years ago which badly affected her speech.)
It was a regular visit until Lockdown began.
It has not helped her speech not being able to go out and meet people for so long.
She has been able to come here one or two afternoons and sit in the garden when the regulations were first relaxed a bit.
But it was nice to be able to go once more and have a coffee in such lovely surroundings. Anywhere with flowers and plants is a magnet for me anyway!
I bought her some cake for her birthday which had been last week.
She tried to explain what had happened on her actual birthday but found it difficult to quite remember. I couldn’t go over that day to see her.
It’s interesting now as more general things are being written in my diary!
It isn’t permanently blank anymore!
And things are ever so slightly beginning to feel a bit more “normal” .
Although it surprised me at the Garden Centre Café that although mostly it is we folk of certain ages, not many were wearing a mask at the counter or wandering through.
And we heard late evening yesterday that one of our young friends has contracted Covid. So plenty of prayers were being
asked for him and his family.
Just pulls you up sharp when that happens.
I’ve been reading about the French and their Pass Sanitaire. They have to show documentation on paper or by phone App that they are vaccinated before being allowed into certain venues. This has to be applied for.
Pubs, bars, Theatres, restaurants, Museums and Supermarkets included in the list.
A large supermarket manager has been threatened with closure by the local authorities for defying this directive.
It takes time to check everyone going in to any venue. Particularly public transport.
You will find it on Wikipedia or by Google search if you are interested. https://www.completefrance.com/travel/everything-you-need-to-know-about-pass-sanitaire-france-1-6964998
Stephen has been baking today. Bread and some new recipe for muffins. “Banana, date and muesli crumble”.
I ate one at teatime along with one of the wraps he had made. And very tasty it was too.