The end of a saga

[TheOstrich]

Well done finding your way through a logistical nightmare, Suff. I hope the final repatriation moves go off smoothly.

[miasmum]

Hope he'll be home really soon xx

[Suff]

Thanks all for your kind words. I've had to pick up the pieces for Mrs S more than once, my shoulder is soggy.

He has boarded his flight after an early trip to the Embassy to pick up his emergency travel document. I booked a car with a 2 hour window to allow for every possible emergency. The car was, essentially, at his disposal and it only takes 40 minutes to the airport. Expensive but, all considered, who wants to fail at the last hurdle for the want of a decent vehicle to connect. He was barely stopped on the way into the Airport. These cars are known.

When he arrives I'll come and pick him up. It will be a fairly difficult journey, I will have to leave around 1am/2am tomorrow. I'm going to take less likely routes, enter and exit the Autoroute via less used junctions. I expect to be scrutinised by the Gendarmes many times before I get to Paris. The same before I get home again. The country is fairly locked down. Although entry and exit points are the worst. Here in the country I can do all I need to do and rarely see a Gendarme.

When we arrive back we are going into 14 day quarantine. The last thing I want to do is bring anything back to the town or to Mrs S. It is a risk, but a calculated one. Mrs S is working hard to turn the two mid level bedrooms into living spaces. They are already en-suite but we've put two of our fridges in there too. The back bedroom was fairly basic and we've rearranged it so our son will have a chair, table, workspace and he also gets the view of the garden.

Fortunately I have a very high boredom threshold and, also, I have everyone here to talk to. I know that I'm not always the best of company when I have something to say, but I count you all as good friends.

Right, I've just reconfigured the whole home network to get a mesh upstairs for me and #2 son, better go and check the rest of it.

Later.

[Kaz]

I'm so relieved for you! My sons only live in Surrey, yet I've worried myself silly about them this week

You do have friends here x

[JoM]

What a huge relief Suff!
We’re here whenever you need us mate

[Suff]

It is Jo.

However no sooner than I had gone to bed to get some sleep before driving to Paris at 2am Mrs S came in to tell us our Niece had died.

Granted it was inevitable, but too soon and too sudden. None of us had managed to put our thoughts of love and care down and send them before this happened. She was also planning to marry her partner but it was all messed up with the virus and could not be completed in time.

Bittersweet day today.

[JanB]

Oh Suff, awful news about your niece. Huge hugs all round xx

Hope all goes well for your journey and you don't get stopped xx

[saundra]

Of suff in so sorry for your loss to much is happening in your life at the minute so look after yourself and your wife
Take care tonight on your journey

[miasmum]

Safe journey Suff So sorry about your niece

[Ally]

Safe journey Suff.

Such a lot going on. So sad about your niece.