If you want a bit of light humour, try following @archer_rs on Twitter (allegedly a half-Brit married to a French woman and living in France). Since June/July he has had various encounters with Brexiteers in France, who think it is all Brussels’ fault that they are having to sell their holiday homes.
I actually communicated with him, he says they are genuine interactions, although he has embellished a little to make it funnier. Either way, he makes a fun story out of it.
Ah yes, he’s great! Really funny - and it’s good to hear that it’s at least based on reality. It all sounds pretty likely… if maybe exaggerated!
Oh wow, that’s exciting about a grand child! I hope it all goes well, and she can have her husband there as much as possible.
Good luck with Christmas. I think it’ll just be me and my husband here, but we’ll make sure we have a nice time all the same.
Enjoy the wild boar! We came across a couple of baby boar in the national park next to our house the other day - and decided to get away before their mother arrived!
Yes, they can be quite nasty, and dangerous, if disturbed. We were on holiday in the Harz mountains a few years ago and we had seen signs of boar, so one morning we set off before sunrise to see if we could find them. We spotted them on a field and I got some photographs, then they headed into the forest. We used a parallel trail and tried to find them again. I saw some crossing the trail ahead (200M), then nothing. We carried on, then, suddenly, we heard them on both sides of us in the brush. We quietly and slowly reversed our steps, until we were out of range.
We had seen them at about 200M, but I didn’t fancy trying to photograph one as it gored my leg!
It’s quite a strange thing, here where I live due to the lack of community transmission (strict border control for most of this year) it’s almost like the pre-covid days for many.
Currently on a train on the way home from work on a full train, I’m the only one in sight with a mask on. Social distancing is increasing rare, which concerns me as I can see a rapid spread if it gets in the community again.
Hospitality and tourism are obviously struggling with the lack of interstate/overseas tourists, but there’s been an effort to encourage local tourism to help.
Personally things pretty good but the stress of my wife’s family being in the UK is weighing the most heavily. Thankfully my father-in-law has recovered from COVID, but long term effects is still a concern.
We had planned a trip next year but that is unlikely. Health of our loved ones matters the most though, so hoping that remains.
Definitely feeling it here (UK).
Haven’t be able to see our daughter who lives in the US at all this year, and no signs of the travel bans being lifted any time soon. She’s now out of work too 
Mum and stepdad struggle with the boredom but seem OK. My dad lives alone and is very high risk. He hates it and we can’t visit.
It’s the deniers I stress more about actually. Good friends sister died this week. Neighbour’s brother had it right at the start and shrugged it off as no more than a bad cold. He ended up in the ICU recently and is now struggling with long COVID.
So thankful for all the tech that allows us to keep in touch (and all the front-line workers of course) 
Yes. I come from a large, tight knit, family and our Thanksgiving gathering usually include 40+ people. Most of the families involved decided to do their own smaller gatherings. So it will be strange not to see all of my brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews this Thanksgiving. Fingers are crossed that we’ll be able to do some sort of get together for Christmas.
My wife and I are getting on pretty well during the COVID shutdown in California, as we are both retired and don’t have work to go to! We miss our grandkids, but we FaceTime with some of them several times per day. Our 3 year old grandson calls my daughter’s iPhone YIAYIA (greek Grandmother) when she’s on with him and carries her around with him, plays games with her and hides in the closet and tells her “Yiayia, shhhh, we’re hiding” All in all, we would rather be with them in person but technology has made it bearable!
Feeling the stress today. A real Roller-coaster.
Had problems opening my mouth. Went to dentist.
She took one look at me and called an ambulance. Suspected stroke. Luckily a misdiagnosis, looks live inflammation of the nerve channel to the left side of my face, left side muscles not working properly
4 attempts at a spinal puncture to take a sample
Now waiting for the results
First time I’ve had to wear a mask for more than a few minutes. Now 2 hour wait for the results.
Still a wakeup call.
Get better soon @big_D . I had similar in my late twenties, they never really got to the bottom of it. Suspected nerve compression after doing all the tests.
Wow, that sounds super scary. I hope you are ok.
This may sound strange - but could it be the joint in your jaw? I have TMJ, and every once in a while, it goes out enough that I can barely open my mouth. My chiropractor adjusts my jaw periodically.
Back home now. It is an inflamed nerve. I need to take cortisone for the next 2 weeks, then it should be better . I have a series of muscle exercises for my face that I need to perform regularly.
All good, hopefully.
Thanks for the good wishes everyone.
oh crikey, I’m so glad it’s nothing more serious. That must have been a tough day, though - take it easy this evening. And make sure you do your exercises 
so sorry to hear @big_D thinking about you man…much love and prayers
Man, what an experience. 
All the best to you and get well soon!
I’ll echo those wishes - get well soon!
Yes, get well soon. Definitely makes my current conundrum of what to do for Thanksgiving dinner not very trivial.
Drama and relief in South Australia. The state started a hard 6 day lockdown Thursday - only allowed out of the house to get food and essentials. Lockdown is ending on Sunday, 3 days early, after it was found a key participant in the small covid cluster had lied to contact tracers. His lie had triggered the lockdown as it seemed this strain of covid was extremely transmissible via momentary contact. Contact tracers and the police thought about it again and decided his story did not add up and the lie was eventually discovered.
So lockdown easing early, but some restrictions introduced last Friday are still in place as the cluster is still worrisome as the strain, originating from the UK, has a short incubation period and can spread fairly quickly.
I was reading about the ‘G’ strain the other day. Interesting. Whilst the virus is largely stable with no major mutations, evidence the strain in Western Europe is up to 10 times more transmissible. Lots of caveats though with the research.
Columbus Ohio (Franklin County) has just gone to Purple level (highest in the state. I only live 6 miles outside of that County. YIKES!!!
OPINION: location of OSU. Students are in the bars, thinking they are invincible.