Thursday 30th April, day three level 3….my 114th day at Riverhaven for 2020, including an extra 35 days enforced by the NZ government- shoot me if I shift! Not quite, but the “sleep where you got stuck” mantra was, by Law, what we had to live by, with two days notice, from 26th March….way back in Summer!

We are now rolling into our 6th week of lockdown, with not much changed from day one, except we are being asked about our future…at Riverhaven! Its a bit like being asked what my future plans are to travel!!! We will just park both these questions.

Social distance drinks last night included Larry and his GF hanging out with us…a bubble of four was increased to six when these guys joined us. The social bubble (activity) limit is 5? Larry might need to ditch his GF if he wants to join.

Broken leg, came back to collect stuff, watched by the Miss Marples on arrival ( he is allowed a visit but no staying) and spotted by the Miss Marples on departure!

Dan is back at work, Jaxon still working from home, and George and I are permanently working from home….the last two days have seen some really positive action in the Carrybag / box industry!

On that note, time to get up and get at it, so nice being able to stay in my Jammies for half the work day!

Wednesday, April 29 day 2 – lockdown level 3 – or is it?

Yesterday, while I stayed home and worked all day, one of the busiest days I have had for a while, the humans all decided level three meant get out and get going! While some had to travel to their workplaces, you can’t tell me that queuing for 3 hours at Macdonald’s or KFC was a pleasant experience!

Carless streets are over, there was a constant stream of traffic to and from and parked up at Waiwera…with walkers, swimmers, kayakers and fishers arriving and settling in….the directive of, “you can drive to your nearest beach and exercise” seems to have been translated into “go hang out at your favourite beach and set up camp”.

From my work window, I felt safer inside my gate..watching a raft of unfamiliar faces and vehicles come and go, it appears many have decided to break out of their Bubbles and push into other bubbles, I do hope that this unnecessary activity doesn’t push us all back into lockdown 4 again as the second wave hits!

On a more positive note, there are a large group of people changing the way they work, firing shots and emails from behind the “screens” working up a storm with online sales enthusiasm….after yesterday’s keyboard contacts, I am proud of the innovative and fighting spirit of our small Kiwi business operators, many a one man band! Those who come out richer from this experience will not be the ones lining up for McDonald’s or spending the day at the beach in someone else’s bubble!

Riverhaven bach owners who have been unable to come to their Bach’s for five weeks are now able to come and check them during the day, I’m guessing there will be an influx of humans around here over the next few weeks….we will need to be diligent with public areas and keep the gate locked, so many hands are not touching!

The playground is taped to deter the temptation for day visitors to share their bubbles, can’t really do a sign in book for children so we can be diligent with contact tracing! That’s a thought – if the McDonald’s food deliverer (at the window) tests positive – how is the govt going to contact trace just one hour..let alone one day? I am so not going….home cooking has become a good habit!

Today will see a trip to the supermarket, as it is five days since last stock up and we have munched our way through everything green!

After an undisturbed night and a good sleep, I can hit the keyboard early and the supermarket at opening time. Let’s see if the humans of AUCKLAND can behave today and show some respect for others who actually don’t want to undo all the good we have done!

Tuesday April 28th, day 1 lockdown 3…7.30am sleep in after disturbed night! There will be a few tired kiwis around Waiwera this morning.

So it has come to this…images of cooking…yesterday afternoon welcomed the Anzac biccies, quiche and meatball prep in one hit. Time out from my work keyboard catch up, rather an inside day on such a blues sky, warm, winter is never coming, day!

The darkness now falls early around 6.00pm and dinner is no longer a 9 o’clock event, often by this time we are already counting sheep (sound asleep).

This was the case last night for yours truly, only to be rudely awakened by my flat mate (George), this time not for snoring!

There’s cops everywhere!!! Yes he was right, four cars at the beach roundabout, and a black unmarked one right outside my gate (still running). About 20 boys and girls in blue running around in all directions. Lucky Miss Marple had put the padlock on the gate, Riverhaven was safe.

Ok, from 50 metres it was hard to ascertain what all the fuss was about, and the police did seem a bit more relaxed, but waiting for the paddy wagon…so no answers with the big van now blocking my view from the gate. It was time to call Johnny on the spot. Evidently a 20-30 something, chemically induced man (and possibly a couple of female offsides) had decided to drive to Waiwera and have their domestic differences out. The locals alerted to the disturbance called police, who in turn called more police for the sideshow that unfolded…pants down, pants up, abuse and extreme agitation….needless to say, they were removed from the area relatively forcefully!

So with event one over, I had just lain back down to return to my nighttime slumber, and Jaxon rang, very concerned about our Steph…stomach pains…call the ambulance for medical advice…who advised to take Panadol and call back if worse, next thing I see an ambulance circling past and over on the grass opposite looking very lost….I was up again and back to the gate in time to see them stop by Dan and Jaxs houses! Oh oh within ten minutes they came! So I donned the birks, sweater and puffer jacket and walked to my second bubble….yes there they were and loading Steph up to take to hospital, no one can go with her with the Coronavirus thing, and it was hard waving off your loved one knowing there was no point in following as you can’t be with them.

Anyway, I wandered back up the deserted street to my bed for the third time, now after midnight and officially in level 3, which kicked in at 11.59pm last night. Jaxon went in and collected Steph around 4.30am, tests all done and pain managed and not life threatening events about to happen. So there will be a few tired kiwis in Waiwera, but all safe in our bubbles for another day! An uneventful one I hope!

Monday, April 27…day 33 lockdown level four.

In 24 hours we will be waking to level 3, when we can graduate from a moccona packet latte to a contactless cafe takeaway. Along with online shopping, which actually may get delivered, closed shop manufacturing, contractors working and Macdonald’s, KFC and Burger King drive through. A slight bubble extension we may add 1 or 2 people…but still maintaining a two meter distance and only getting in the car for essential travel within our area or to and from work, if we are the lucky ones who can return.

For the rest of us it’s work from home if we can. Leisure activities will include beach fishing, swimming local (although the water temperature may limit this activity) and more of the same walking exercise.

The last two days have seen George and I travel into the city (venturing out of our local 5k radius) to pack up my workplace and begin my new career (same company) as a relentless remote keyboard warrior!

The motorways were deserted and a journey that used to take up to two hours in Auckland traffic was just inside 30 minutes…not a policeman in sight either day, just a bit of revenue collection going on……a couple of vans decked out with speed cameras to catch the odd motorist who couldn’t resist the temptation to leadfoot it, just because they can!

As I said goodbye to a workplace, in the vibrant hub of ponsonby, that has been my go-to for five years, a little sadness crept in with the reality that the world is so changed in such a short few weeks.

We returned to our Bach and safe bubble, and a few more “moments” as reality struck that this is soon to change….

After the last six months of losing first my wonderful Russell and then a couple of months ago, my beautiful Mum, and now the fragile plans made to keep going this year have been thwarted and job changes ahead…the thought of being a gypsy at 59 kind of loses its attraction! I’m sure it will gain some momentum one way or another. There is kindness in the Waiwera community and people are willing to help and support!

In the meantime, Floyd is learning to skateboard, Jaxon and Steph have settled into their house, Dan is working on his renovation plans, George is having a week off and the “Great Speights Sports quiz” is looking to be a major event! (earmarked for when we can all gather at the cottage again). As each day goes by the bowl is filling up with happy isolation hour bottle tops (all with pertinent sport questions and answers)

Saturday April 25th, day 31…Anzac day

6am at the waterfront with Russell’s boom box, we listened remotely to the dawn service….there’s always one in the crowd, Trudi couldn’t quite get the heart!

Jax and Steph in their bubble…waiting for the sun to rise….and

Waiwera bubbles came out to share the service on the waters edge, with small waves crashing, 1ZB live podcast, we could almost feel the shores of Gallipoli!

However, now back to yesterday’s activities, work and Miss Daisy shopping expeditions and…

Larry our limping duck, still hanging out under the feijoa tree (which is now rather lean on the ground for fruit), has finally found a friend. This one other guy has been hanging with Larry for the last couple of days, while the other 100 in his family hang out down the road!

Stranded in Waiwera, we felt some kindness from the locals and looking for a forever home for the next few months may be solved! Time will tell…

And as we are all up early (very early) George and I are heading to the showroom (my work) to pack up and collect supplies to work from home for the duration.

And as the Sun comes up, we will remember those who fought for our country and those who are fighting now, albeit in a much different arena.

Friday 24th April, day 30…more cars, more people and more anticipation of what is to come….

In January, we all hugged, we shared food, we tasted a new drink, we all touched the same surfaces, drove each other’s cars, ate takeaways and all shared the same bathrooms.

NOW..it’s like smile, wave hello to total strangers on the other side of the road. It’s getting tedious thinking of something appetising to cook everyday and finding a private place to pee (outside, if you can’t get to your own bathroom) is not always easy. (With increased foot traffic on the streets)

We all gear up for the next phase, preparing for what we have left of our work lives…most of yesterday was spent in front of my computer screen and the weekend should (legally) see me venture into my workplace to pack up and gear up to perform remotely from here on…..now just need to settle on a destination that is my remote base, one thing for sure it won’t be Malta this year (sad face).

The levels 4,3,2,1 of lockdown have many grey areas….it seems in 3 (next week) we can move one way, and drive through Macdonald’s on the way! But can’t come back….so as George and I will feel the pressure of a push we will try and find a home for the rest of the year…. Dad is wanting us back (he likes his people around him) but we cannot compromise him in this world of distance! Never thought I would be this homeless at nearly 60! Russ would have sorted this for me, I keep getting ideas (you know brilliant ones) of what we can do…..but the truth is I don’t actually want to move, temporarily again…

Think it’s time to let the universe make some decisions for me!! And the sky is clearing and the sun will come out again!

Wednesday 22nd April, day 28…..the day that was the target point of isolation level 4 – goalposts move and we just roll with it. There is still uncertainty around what we can and can’t do, even though we are in lockdown 4 for another five days…it seems many can now go to their workplaces and set up to work (or in fact work and open online sales) right now!

Yesterday morning was spent at Emergency medical centre nearby – me in car outside for a couple of hours, waiting and watching people drive in and out of the loading bay for their Covid 19 tests…as busy as the supermarkets. There are other medical issues (apart from Covid 19) that need attention and I must say this place is doing a great job, and providing a regular medical service that our own GP seems unable to provide over the phone! (Or even in person)

Well, as you may or may not be aware, all public toilets are closed and three hours in the car (only the patient allowed into clinic) and a further car wait at the blood test place…upon my return to place of abode, the sight of a familiar porcelain bowl was the best thing that I’d seen all day!

By now the morning had gone and I still needed to put on my Miss Daisy hat and head to the supermarket!

Another three hour round trip (to orewa 5 mins over the hill) shopping for our world and delivering on the way home…‘‘twas almost happy hour!

Today will see me in a work from home position (as work took a back seat to medical issues and food issues yesterday). I need to confirm I am able to head to ponsonby and pack up the showroom.. in readiness to home office it moving forward!

Tuesday 21st April, day 27…

It is rock up, shop up and stock up day for all our local lockdowners for another week! Yes we are nearly out of food again.

We are staying in limbo until after Anzac weekend, with a slight deviation where businesses can get ready to work online and send out stock and prepare warehouses for safe working environments in with some easing of rules from next Tuesday.

Yes it’s time to get up close with your bubble buddies, even if that is a number of one ….get these guys all doing something around the cottage and fill it up like summer days! As you can perhaps see, George is using his lunch breaks constructively and with innovation….let’s see where we go with this.

Yesterday was a day in limbo and anticipation and speculation only to learn that one of our theories was correct and lockdown four is extended another week…a day of wandering to computer to check work, and gentle up and down the street exercise. Four pm announcement and the day was practically over….today the Miss Daisys will venture out and stock up the neighbourhood fridges! Far more exciting and adventurous!

Monday, 20th April, 2020 day 26….

Yesterday was a typical autumn day in our neck of the woods….rain, sun, hot, cold and wind (four seasons in one day)

The morning window of fineness saw me “Dig” in search for a footpath under the buildup of sand and dirt outside the gate…the job was a bit bigger and I ended up with about 5-6 trolley loads of dirt/sand. Len, our caretaker, suggested I fill up some of the holes, in front of cottages, left by recent renovations…(it’s ok Guys)

By the second load I had to enlist George’s help to pull the 40kgs of dirt from the front gate through camp to the designated spot. He also took over the shovel and I manned the rake! Didn’t mean, however, that I wouldn’t be sporting a sore back by early afternoon…I was!

So that was yesterday’s activities, dotted with a movie, hamburgers (again – menu is now on the 2nd rotation) and a couple of Speights!

Today however is best said…..

Today’s the day at four pm,
When government will advise,
If level four or level three,
Is the next step in our lives.

Either way not much will change,
No social life, no face to face,
Still stay at home and contact trace,
Full steam ahead to win this race

A few can head to work,
And others work from home,
Online shops and tradies,
And those who work alone

The economy is crippled,
The business experts say,
Tourism a disaster,
And retails had its day

 

And while we humans start to question,
This need for overdrive,
We must remember; Lockdowns been an exercise
In saving people’s lives!

 

And just when everyone is challenging each other for digital proof that they were actually a baby….this pops up….Kev and I good friends then and great friends now!