E La Nave Va – Liberty, Equality and Vaccination
Only two weeks to my second Pfizer Covid shot. I didn’t think I was going to get the first until after June 15th when vaccination opens to the general public – but then I decided maybe I should contact the Health System (Assurance Maladie) and try to dissuade them from this whole equality, fraternity fixation they have in France. I was going to explain to them we’re not really all equal, right? I mean, what is the world coming to if privileged people can’t go first, like getting into that nice lounge at the airport. In fact, I’d happily provide the health service with a list on how to proceed with vaccination. Spoiler: The trash collection people who were part of the strike this month will never have access to the vaccine, ever, according to my list. What is this, the Titanic? And even in the Titanic didn’t first class get to go first?
Anyway, Mike said that route might not be the best idea, so instead I signed up to Covidliste and after a small bribe – I’m kidding! I haven’t done things like that since I was much younger and in more tropical climes. After a short wait I was called in and I must say, the whole setup at the convention centre in Mazamet was hugely impressive. Well organised, clean, quiet, and best of all fast.
To celebrate this relative return to normality we’ve invited some friends to lunch tomorrow. Not sure how the rest of the year pans out, but if family and friends can manage to get here, we’re now in a position to host them without worrying about Covid.
Tomorrow we will be sitting on the terrace which has been power-washed (as have the steps, front & back). We’ll be having a lemony tagliatelle with salmon.
… and I leave you with this wonderful bit of information an online Australian friend, Dame Hat, sent me this week. Why she thought of me … 🙂
My Mazamet 
Ooh, “lemony tagliatelle with salmon.” I can image how to prepare such a delight but a recipe would be nice.
I have gotten both Pfizer shots and, like you, I was impressed by how well my people performed this task for thousands of us. (I am referring to “my government” as “my people” from now on.
Stay healthy my friend, the world is a better place with you in it.
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Thanks, Steve! I’m not sure the world is better for having me in it yet, but hopefully one day I’ll manage to accomplish something that counts as a real contribution 🙂
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I’m waiting until mid July for my second shot of Pfizer. I got the first shot at the end of March and Canada took the approach of giving as many of its citizens the first shot then delaying the second to increase first dose coverage. I was concerned about the length of the delay because there was no data to support the efficacy of shots administered with such a time gap but it turns out that research shows that it actually increases your immune response so let’s hope it all works out well. I haven’t been to a shopping mall in over a year but I’m happy to continue to work from home & we won’t be returning to normal work until winter at which point I’m hopeful that I can continue to work from home.
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Interestingly, the pandemic has been a sort of forced opportunity to rethink the world and how we lead our lives. Before this I constantly reprimanded myself for not being more open to participating in group activities, but now I’ve given myself permission to accept that this is it. I really don’t want to live any other way.
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I told people on a call today, who were lamenting not being back at work face to face this exact quote, “Not me. I hate other people and I don’t want to be around them”.
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You should have that printed on a t-shirt, and at the back the same as the FDNY uniforms: Keep Back 200 Feet 😀 Imagine the amount of time we’d save!?!
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The tagliatelle sounds delightful (sans salmon! Perhaps asparagus instead 😉)
I got my second Pfizer last week…tired me out, but relieved. The process was efficient, but a fascinating social experiment in “sheeple” compliance to arbitrary instructions…waiting in the silly little room afterwards for “at least 15 minutes”. The only time people looked up from their phones was to notice me leaving “early”…clearly a scofflaw. They’re now offering gift cards here to incentivize those left.
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Here the nurses wandered the room and they had to sign your form that you were able to leave (the doctor wrote the time you were allowed to leave on the form). I got up early because I thought the line to leave would run slower where they checked you out and I was early so the nurse came after me.
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Doesn’t salmon count as vegetarian?!?
The 15 minute thing was extraordinary – I wasn’t going to admit it, but yes – First thing I did was move chairs. Then I moved three rows back, then I moved next to the exit, and boom I was like ninja cat!!!
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We had the National Guard making sure we kept our seats. I just brought a book.
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And you didn’t consider getting tackled to the ground by a national guardsman?
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I am waiting for the health ministry to get organised then I will get my first shot. Last I heard, about 1m have been vaccinated to some degree. If you were in charge of administration of vaccines, I am sure you would have some cats and dogs ahead of the people you don’t like- politicians, lawyers and parsons 😀
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That’s entirely correct! Dogs would be first on the list 😀
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I knew it
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I got the first dose of Astra Zeneca just before they decided to stop administering it here. They’ll probably tell me I’m shit out of luck for my second dose now and offer euthanasia instead.
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Haha be careful what’s in that actual shot! In Ontario, Canada, they are saving some AZ for the second dose and when that is done, they are giving a second dose of an mRNA vaccine (either Pfizer or Moderna).
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But the good thing is that you can be sure that in Canada the euthanasia will be offered with a friendly smile and covered by the health service!
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We’re all so excited about getting back to normal. In a way I am, too. Mostly I’m wondering how Dame Hat knew all my prevarications. Hope she doesn’t go public with that.
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It’s been exhausting, hasn’t it? People work so hard to find systems that work for us. The right shops, the right schedules, the right people in our lives – to have to put it all to one side and confront a new world is not easy. Hope you’re holding up well!
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I am, thank you. It’s time I did another post.
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Ah, to return to a normal life! I hope that happens for you soon my friend.
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Even partial normality is okay with me. In fact, if I can go food shopping again and have occasional guests, I’m happy 😀
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I’ve missed having friends over to lunch, but now I begin to wonder if I can cope with it all. Drinks might be easier…but our friends like to eat.
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Or you could train one of your house assistants to cook and serve 😉
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Ah! That might prove to be a true dogs’ dinner!
As it happens Leo has invited some young friends for Monday lunch so I’ll just have to take the plunge…as long as I have a chef de plonge to assist me….I’ve almost forgotten how to juggle the pots,pans and dishes.
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🐾🐾All you sneaky devils trying to get out early🙀I am usually a very impatient “waiter”, but was so thrilled to get my first Pfizer so effortlessly, I was a good girl and sat still.
Had to look up “chef de plonger”. Nothing to do with a toilet plunger…
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I only know the term as Dive Master. What does it mean in the context of vaccination?
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To second shots!
I was hugely impressed with the vaccination system here, too. Sure, we live in a functioning bubble here in the valley, but I remain skeptical of Brazilians doing anything efficiently… Thus my pleasant surprise.
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There’s still time for you to find out they actually gave you an injection of saline solution 😀
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Pinga… and probably not a very good one.
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Although alcohol in the vein sounds interesting.
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Congratulations, Pinky…for being a good boy for a change. 😉 I am so envious of everyone who’s had their Pfizer. The Offspring has had the 2 Pfizer jabs [health reasons & under 50], the over 50s however are only being offered AstraZeneca. I intend to self-isolate until whenever we get enough supply of Pfizer to do everyone, including the expendable over 50s.
p.s. LOVE the Ninja Cat video. I guess the dogs would never allow a cat in the house?
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This particular pair of dogs is very complicated. At the moment we’re dog-sitting a chihuahua on a daily basis, and even that’s taken some serious juggling.
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lmao! My mogi is a chihuahua cross and she packs a punch for her size. I imagine stopping her/him? from becoming a mid-afternoon snack is tricky.
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Huh. I thought in France they gave you a bottle of whine and a wheel of Carmenbart with every vaccine. They’re giving out the same here. Well, nearly the same — beer and hotdogs…
Man, I wish I lived in Southern France.
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I got nothing except for delaying my demise 😀
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I had my second on Saturday. Because more than half of adults have had their second here, by now, that means I am above average young-and-fit among UK adults. That’s a bit worrying.
I skipped the queue: drivers had to wait in their cars for fifteen minutes, to avoid queuing outside, I cycled up and went straight in. When there’s B 1 617 2 about, you never know what advantage that fifteen minutes might give…
I am fully vaccinated, but not cowed.
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I’m only partially vaccinated and occasionally a cow 😀
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Why cow?
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French usage: Personne dure, sans pitié, très sévère. (On dit aussi peau de vache.)
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Peau de vache = thick skinned?
I did later realize you were punning on not being “cowed”.😹
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Your ninja cat video had me laughing – I needed that this morning!! had my first shot in Beziers a few weeks ago and was amazed how well organised it was – the whole thing ran like clockwork!! I did wait for the 15 minutes – an aunt once went into anaphylactic shock after an injection, since then I’m a little more weary… Bring on the next one on June 22!! 🙂
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Mine is the 17th! HA, I WIN!
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👍
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Never mind my cow comment😬
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I had my Pfizer shots in April and May – the second one had me with nausea, headache, and a light fever for the rest of the day (showing up a couple of hours after the injection). North Carolina divided us into five groups based on urgency – working with the public got me into group four, one step above the “Everyone Else” of group five. I had mine in the local coliseum, and I was also impressed with the efficiency of the whole thing. Good luck!
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I thought that was a peculiarly English trait, saying the opposite of what one intends. Obviously not. Great post (not meaning a not-great post, which in English would be interesting post, meaning so uninteresting it’s not in the least bit great). Although when I say ‘Great post’, I really mean ‘Decent-enough post’, which sounds something of an insult, hence the need to lie, which fact I’m sure you appreciate.
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Isn’t everything the opposite of what was intended?
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Negtension. Or something.
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