So, log in to frequent traveller account, select crossings, click okay.
There's a but coming
First of all, you have to be double vaccinated. Okay, we all are. Can we prove it? Yes, we have letters from the NHS. The Douanier at Folkestone checked them. Stamped our passports. That stamp is a Brexit thing, I think.
When we get to France, we may have to prove that we are vaccinated to get into bars and restaurants. The app to download is TousAntiCovid. It didn't want to scan in our vaccination certificates. But we were not planning on eating out anyway - the paperwork will do the job
And then we have to come back to the UK.
Three days before we leave France, we need to get a test. (Edit: this is no longer needed, they changed the rules). Check out your nearest test provider at www.sante.fr. There are three pharmacists in our village which do it. And you need documentary proof to load up to Eurotunnel. I'm told it is wise to make an appointment. We made an appointment.
The procedure was pretty straightforward. Slightly different from the UK where they stick a cotton wool bud in your throat, then up your nose - the French pharmacist just does your nose. It tickles. Into a little tube of some sort of chemicals - could be tap water for all I know. Then a drop of liquid into a little test unit. One line and you test negative, two for positive. We all come out negative
And two days after we return, we need to get tested again. Despite paying my share of the £37 billion budget, the NHS tests are not good enough, apparently. The government has a list of private test providers. Cheapest is £20 a head, which is great if you live in Kendal and can turn up to their offices. That firm charges £89 a head otherwise for the postal service.
Other firms on the list are cheaper. £28 for postal service seemed the best. The website for that firm had a bug and wouldn't accept my order.
So the £48 a head place. I bought it, they sent me an email to register my details, and when we came back the test kits were waiting in the porch. We tested ourselves and sent them off
A few days later, wife's results came back negative
Son: negative
Me: er, looks like they lost me
I emailed them to ask - no response. I found a phone number online and rang. Joshua listens to my story and bungs me a refund. Thanks Joshua!
It's a bit worrying, of course. I am sure they are busy, but to lose one out of three samples, apparently with nobody checking or being aware?
