Hi everyone and greetings from sunny Andalucia where we, and the whole of Spain are in lockdown. Yesterday afternoon the raised level of alarm led to a decree to restrict movement of people.. we are to stay in our homes , the only valid reasons for leaving your home are to buy essential food and household items, to go to work if your employment or business continues, to go to the bank, petrol station or pharmacy. Essential public services will continue - health - education but mostly online teaching and phone consults. Public transport will continue but at reduced levels.
There are lots of questions about cancelled flights. There will be flights in the next day or two to get people back to the uk.
We live here permanently and luckily have a home with lots to do in the garden , lots of books to read - but not been allowed out is a strange feeling. In Malaga and Madrid the residents in the areas around hospitals are singing and clapping their support for all health workers - it’s an amazing sight and sound - at 10 pm each evening. all these big blocks of flats and everyone in their balconies clapping. We will have to see if these measures reduce the rate of infection - which had suddenly shot up in the last days. A great speech from Pedro Sanchez thanking those who would be working to keep things going, and praising the older people who have always done so much for their children and grandchildren - and we see grandparents feeding their families and doing childcare all the time - Sanchez says look after your elders who have done so much for you, look after those who need support and help. So we have the military ensuring food and medical supplies get delivered. It’s going to be a strange experience but we are grateful to live in a rural area with sufficient space around us. We have local shops and cupboards full of essential store items so we will be fine. But anyone even vaguely thinking of a visit to Spain right now - no sorry you can’t come.