A weekend of sunshine, and a welcome break for lockdown Aucklanders! In our sleepy little coastal village, it seems the best kept secret was shared with half of Auckland.

While the media is announcing border breaches the Auckland humans flocked to the beaches……

Wind back! Trudi and I decided that home jobs could go on the back burner, and a quiet fishing expedition in the estuary was just what the doctor ordered! We donned our shorts, bared the winter lily white legs, packed some snacks, dusted off the fishing rods (and Dan rigged them) and set off on foot (as one is permitted to do) to snag the hungry fish swimming in on the incoming tide! It certainly was a Thelma and Louise moment and one not captured on film as all hands were full!

But wait….cars and humans were arriving in hordes, having well and truly planned their beach day before the locals emerged! So 11am is not a time for the early bird!

Needless to say, we hauled ourselves and our equipment to a secluded point on the estuary!

The other side of the river was like grand central station, as all the visitors parked at the bridge and took their families and dogs for some outdoor exercise…fine….. until an oyster cracking, gum booted, swandried group (at least 10 of them) decided to stop directly opposite us and yell and scream and bang on rocks for about an hour! So much for a peaceful lockdown adventure!

Meanwhile on the Southside, Jaxon, Steph and , Tyler Russell had come for their morning walk…and sat the 6meters away up on the sand bank allowing us a long awaited glimpse of Tyler’s first day at the beach!

Photo sent by Jax, we weren’t allowed to get this close! Not daunted by the sand or anything he could put in his mouth, this gorgeous boy is a chip off the old block!

Trudi sitting on the bank enjoying the sun, about 20meters downstream…which was not because we need to social distance, but to ensure we didn’t tangle each other’s lines.

So I guess you are waiting to hear how many fish we caught? Ha, the million dollar question. Not quite the result we’d hoped for…We caught the rocks on the other side as our casting skills surprised even us! Then after about three hours we caught a chill…a nasty wind (westerly) picked up and swooped down the river…catching two scantily clad fisher gals!

Dan had made a brief visit and decided it was too cool, and a couple of the locals, clad in jeans and puffer jackets had stopped by for a social distance chat! Time to pack up, cut our losses, leave a little tackle in the rocks and head back to our house to catch the last of the sunshine rays on our sheltered deck!

Hot bath and…..Lamb chops for dinner!

As we wake to a clear sunny Saturday, after a week of cold wet lockdown we ponder what we have become.

In short, a city of mask wearing, home working (or not working), TV watching, handwashing humans! Apart from a few, where the lure of shopping, skiing and a feast of McDonalds, are finding themselves in the media headlines and in some cases…court!

We are playing the game, (most of us)….getting jabbed, not hugging, not moving house, not seeing friends, living off the government stipend, and not getting the dreaded covid….one could go on, the rewards are endless.

There have been some highs and lows to the week just gone. Dan and I celebrated (and mourned) the two year anniversary of losing our dear Russ…by consuming every last drop of beer. Russ would have been proud, although the next day was not pleasant for either of us!

On Thursday I woke, with a much clearer head, dreading the morning instant coffee! An advertisement for online sales and delivery popped up on my social media and I got to work! A coffee machine, a toasted sandwich maker and a smoothie bullet! Done by 6am. Expecting a delivery within 7 days, I was pleasantly surprised by a phone call at 7.15 from Harvey Norman to say I had ordered the wrong size coffee pods, so he would put the right ones in, packing my order and delivery same day! It’s the small things that matter! So by 4pm there we were surrounded with my new appliances and feeling like it was Christmas Day! All for the small courier fee of $8.75 from south Auckland to my Waiwera gate!

Needless to say, Friday workday flew by accompanied with flat whites and toasted sandwiches! And by 3pm the rain had cleared! This weather break prompted a round of golf – at the abandoned campground, lots of laughs and small signs of improvement (dare I say) followed by a social distance moment on the waterfront.

A modicum of life in a very boring lockdown world!

While the rest of NZ (apart from Auckland) languishes in level 2, we on the north east coast of the lockdown region are still in Jail! It really is time to open up north of the Bridge, as all the new cases keep popping up Southside and city!

It really was a TGIF (thank god it’s Friday) moment at the end of my working week as momentum around the rest of NZ picked up, I found myself in a seated position for long days pumping through orders!

Aside from work busyness – it was a relatively unremarkable week, as the cold grey days, rain and wind continued to defy us the September spring…however the cherry blossom tree in front of Dans provides hope that spring is in the (cold) air! And a home to rowdy Tuis, at least 10 most of the time, being one of those NZ Native Birds who travel in Pairs!

The first jigsaw is finished, Trudi is on about her 20th book!

George is honing up his iso golf skills – trying to teach his Old mum how to hit a golf ball! Occasionally (this is very rare) one connects without turf, and gives me the inspiration to keep trying! Having an abandoned caravan park with a wide open space, within walking distance, is a bonus. I do still manage to be able to find every bush, tree and any old post still around and, without fail, my shots just head in their direction!

Last weekend saw us complete our lockdown job list, with sewing and repairs complete, polythene (as much as we had) layed down the driveway garden in readiness for rocks, Trudi attacked the windows, and the bbq. Which then (the Webber) produced the most delicious lamb roast dinner, only to need another spring clean the next morning! George got his car out of the mud, jumper leads needed as battery flat, then gave it a much needed spring clean!

Jaxon sends me pictures of his beautiful boy (and my grandbaby) five minutes down the road, who I cannot see before he heads off south to live, as lockdown rules are lockdown law (or so they say) Having been housebound for four weeks with no signs of covid, I’m sure we have dodged that bullet! Might just go get a test, coz that’s what we are being told to do…if we cough once!

We have it pretty sorted in our bubble, Dan has been feeding George cooked breakfast, Trudi is fully vaxxed- so she goes to the supermarket, we cook tea…and George cleans up! Last night produced an epic Saturday roast (supplied by Dan – cooked by Sue) followed by (or in Trudis case before dinner) beautiful homemade apple pies an ice cream – made with fresh apples and built by Dan!

Yesterday (Saturday), it was home haircuts (by Sue) for George and Trudi, and Dan cut his own. Sunday, day of rest or day of water blasting! We’ll see…..but first Coffee!

Another lockdown week of wild, windy cold weather and work, washed away into our past!

The Punto, on the berm, is looking like an abandoned, neglected, unused little car! Definitely a rescue mission for George today.

The sea turned a dirty brown and all the seagulls left the foreshore for refuge on the green near the entry to the village, retreating inland to shelter from the onshore gales. We did survive, unscathed unlike our fellow Aucklanders who were flooded out of their homes in the Westside! We hope this was winters last hoorah as we slide into spring and the shorts and T shirts creep out of our wardrobes!

Thursday evening saw a break in the rain, and the BBQ relocated to my deck, with MasterChef Dan cooking our steak to perfection!

For me, at least the sunny weekend ahead will bring outdoor activities, painting, dirt relocation, water blasting, anything that doesn’t entail sitting behind a screen!

Jaxon is sending me pictures of the grandbaby, keeping me in the loop. Since last I saw him, he has learned to Kneel, crawl, stand, eat biccies and rock the Dinosaur suit I found him in the “Dump” (recycled) shop in Nelson when George and I were there at the end of May! They (Jaxon and family) will be gone before I can connect again, however, I can at least watch him grow in pictures!

The sun is shining on the trees out my window and the motivation is high to tick off the list!

Another week gone of kiwi lockdown, morning coffee on a Saturday morning after a night of heavy rain and the sun is peeping through. The weekend lockdown list that encompassed only indoor activities may need reviewing!

Last weekend saw a rexample of the driveway fence – all hands on deck – now waiting for level three to weedmat and rock!

Midweek activities (for those not sat in front of computers) saw Trudi paint garden and paving edges to match..

And the last corner of my house (which was still green from where the heatpump had been wall anchored) got a slap of pink to match last summers overhaul!

The week was interspersed with short strolls after work, outdoor activities, a relaxing beer or wine or two and hearty dinners prepared from our very full fridges – only one trip to the supermarket and we eat like Kings!

As we (in Auckland) roll into the next two promised weeks of lockdown and the first day of spring looms, we notice the temperatures rising (apart from evenings) and look forward to our Summer! Lockdown is a little more miserable I must say in winter!

Floyd has certainly reconnected with George – his new 2nd best friend (after Dan), Trudi and Sue well down in the food chain….unless they are cooking food!

One thing we have learned with this whole new world is that there is no point in looking too far ahead and enjoy the moments. We are lucky, I have two sons and my BFF in my bubble and to be honest it’s pretty much our regular social network!

I talk to Dad most days as he is bored in town and Jaxon and Steph are packing down the road – still hoping they can make their anticipated move to Katikati in a couple of weeks. The grandbaby is now crawling and sitting in his high chair and Jaxon sends me pictures of his milestones daily! Long distance Grandma…good practice for when they move!

Day four of Kiwi lockdown and a weekend of bubble activities. Yes here we go again. This time we know what we can and can’t do and the supermarket excursion is not so daunting, as we circle our fellow humans.

Here in Waiwera the buses still keep the roads active, not a person to ride, the birds are loud and the fridge is stocked!

The last few weeks have been a whirlwind of work, family stuff and house stuff! Visits with Dad, final clean on renovated flat (which now can’t get rented as no one can view), a cultural outing to the NZ Ballet(thank goodness not a covid hotspot) and rugby tests to watch.

Then on Tuesday night we found out the inevitable (delta) covid had hit our city and all activities ceased. Thank goodness we are all au fait with the working from home lifestyle and for some of us…it’s business as usual! For others it’s the opportunity to take a much needed rest.

And for Floyd…he’s the happiest dog in the world as he has all his humans at home!

Mealtimes means the broom and mop doggy gate goes up blocking (?) the entry to the kitchen!

George is bubbling with Dan and using his work station, Trud is bubbling with me and communal meals and activities!

Yesterday’s grocery stock up (I waited three days fir the rush to be over) saw the last 2 boxes of Speights, last 2 bags of rice, and an organic(very) expensive flour jump into my trolley – lucky no toilet paper was needed as aisle was empty!

Well, another four days of this until we know if we can venture out our gates – somehow doubt it in our part of the country!

Happy days! And family time!

Another weekend has flown by – the new dishwasher is in but doesn’t work, the rain is halting the painting jobs, the colds and flus are making our loved ones lie low, covid is keeping us locked out (not locked in), the ongoing debate about vaccines is a personal choice and we know we have another month or two of winter!

BE LIKE FLOYD

When the winter sun peeps through just LIE

When your favourite human is due home from work don’t take your eye off the target (even though a day with mumma Sue watching artistic gymnastics had been riveting!)

Wear the hat! Even when it is monthly Friday drinks with the locals (who no doubt question your wardrobe choices) – there is nothing like a warm head – sporting your new favourite (free) acquisition from the very successful trade show!

AND

When one of your people are sick, you do your best to make their world a little better – with the biggest hug you have to give!

While we are free to go about our days here in relatively covid free NZ….we wait for vaccines…..we wait for borders to open…we work……we watch the crowd less olympics….we eat…..we sleep….and we wait for our world to open and provide us with a freedom lost!

We rush from A to B and fill our days with busyness when we all should take a moment to “BE LIKE FLOYD” and smell the roses!

Winter is throwing it at us – ice on the cars, flooding rivers and Rainbows

At the end of a wet Saturday the sky lit up with hope in the form of a double rainbow.

Another year has flown by as 12 months ago today Sandy left us and we embarked on caring for Dad, who has had his struggles, a number of hospital visits and a major shift to a new abode in Panmure! The worst place in the world to get to. Having visited two times this week on my way home, I encountered an extra two hours behind the wheel each time navigating – more road works and traffic jams!

Another day was spent working at Jax’s and helping with the baby as Steph stepped back into the working world. On top of the coronavirus the baby’s are battling a respiratory virus outbreak here and his kindy has had a few cases – so safer to keep him at home! A little bit of Granma Sue time.

And Sunday gave us sunshine – time for planting, weeding, cooking and ironing (only under duress). I finally planted the feijoa trees and the lemon tree – making some marks in the ground.

And the world catches its breath as we prepare for another working week….5am start and battling the traffic for another day!

The Nelson Trip came to quick end…rebooking first flight back last Saturday….not cleaning campervan….and weekend in hospital, with Dad. This time Steve doing nights and the Bonnici family (mine and cousins) daytimes. He’s a fighter and flicked back into action to get back to his home on Thursday.

So my “holiday” week is a distant memory as the aftermath (last week) has included four days to the other side of Auckland (for work) hospital visits and hours on the road (driving). It seems that every crash on the roads this week decided to happen just before I passed through – needless to say, sitting in stationery traffic on motorways has been a big part of my week.

New Zealand continues to remain relatively covid free (apart from border isolation) while Australia (our travel bubble partner) struggles to get outbreaks under control. As only a small number of the population is fully vaccinated – we will never achieve immunity or confidence to move far from our own doorstep! Us 60 plus’s should be offered the vaccine by the end of July, but many are hesitant! (and information is scarce as to who can book and when)

In the small world..we now live in, the youngest family member visited the cottage yesterday…

And (Tyler) took a nap on Russell’s blankey!

The All Blacks continue to dominate the pacific test challenges…and provide Saturday night (in house) entertainment.

Winter is throwing its usual dampness and cold…interspersed with a few hours of Sunshine and the odd polar blast. Thermals, Jackets and scarves are all out in force.

Sunday morning dawns with more of the same and a grocery shop on the agenda! Winter life can be a little dull!