AN ARAGÓN woman's birthday was not quite the washout the enforced quarantine could have made it – thanks to a friendly National Police officer.
As usual, at 20.00, residents in the Pyrénéen Huesca-province town of Jaca applauded from their windows for the health service and other key workers who are still on duty providing the basics to the population.
Those on one street whooped and cheered at an on-the-beat police officer passing by below and, during the conversation that followed from a distance, one of the women mentioned that it was her neighbour's birthday.
Toñi was, like everyone else since the weekend of March 14 and 15, spending her special day at home, as she could not go out to celebrate it or have anyone join her.
The National Police officer continued on his way, but returned minutes later in a patrol car bearing a cardboard tray of packaged cakes from the local bakery, Echeto.
He climbed onto the roof of his car and, after neighbours had alerted Toñi by phone, she went out onto her balcony, where the officer passed her the cakes.
As they were properly wrapped and the policeman was in mask and surgical gloves, all procedures were followed to prevent any possible contagion.
Toñi's fellow residents came out into their windows and sang a collective 'happy birthday' to her.
Echeto had sent a job-lot of wrapped cakes on cardboard trays to the National Police to lighten up their working day and thank them for continuing to provide a public service during the quarantine.
A delighted Toñi has contacted the force and said as soon as the lockdown is over, she will meet them and buy them a drink.
The main photograph, by Jaca town hall, shows the tempting array in the window at Echeto bakery, and the video footage of the policeman on top of his car in the top right-hand corner was taken by Toñi's neighbours on her birthday, March 26.
