Kiwi activities in Lockdown

April 3rd 2020 7.15am – day 9 begins. Learning to sleep in…vary my exercise…talk about something else…and date to look ahead!

Yesterday began, coolish and fine, promising another sunny autumn day! It was run day for George, so I decided I would walk up the valley for a more gentle stroll …. smell the nature and stretch the muscles!

Well good intentions…I walk past Dans Gate (who is part of my bubble as he lives alone) and he was out beavering away repairing my park benches (at 8.00am) – so Floyd (the canine grandson) was looking longingly through the gate….Floyd being a 50 kg Bull Mastiff x boxer x lab or something. I offered to take him on my solo walk, as dogs are now not allowed off leash at all (I figured he couldn’t run off after a cow or something)…..we started with the expected Tug of war as he was excited to be out, but this continued to a two hour training lesson, Floyd pulling, me pulling back, sitting, walking in circles, short leash…. long leash, change hands…two hands…..you name it, it was a battle of the wits. Don’t get me wrong there were some “good boy!” times and slow gentle walking in between the 2 hour full body workout for both of us!

We made it to the state hwy 1 bridge as planned, after my return I decided it was a bridge too far on first day training session.

And so did Floyd, after a big drink of water this was his proposed activity for the rest of the day..

Back to my cottage where George was working, I did a bit of work, it’s very minimal these lockdown days 1-2 hours a day when I have emails to respond to, almost all our clients are not operating during this time. Load of washing, lunch, then the call came to help with the final bolting together of my renovated bench seat!

Just a bit of background – these seats are 15 years old, brought at food town for $80 back then and were destined for the dump! Dad and Dan decided they were worth saving and repairing…so they sat broken at the side of my cottage all summer (being a health and safety hazard).

Ok so Dad and Dan were right – three days of mahi to get to this stage…

Dan having a rest on the finished product! And very happy with his work…now in this lockdown we need to find some more nuts and bolts to work on the 2nd one…only essential services are being supplied with any building supplies.

Three times I had tried to have a moment to read….finally got a half hour after getting dinner prepared before my social distancing happy hour….that’s another story, a whole new way of drinking!

P.s. limping Larry is doing ok…I offered him a frozen lettuce but I think he is enjoying the rotting feijoas.