Saturday 15th August, 2020 lockdown take two, day three. It’s looking like a golden winter/spring weekend and we are all at home staying safe. Interesting word home, maybe this says it all…

As humans it’s all about people, those we love and those we’ve lost, but embracing the living is what this crazy world is all about. As we march through 2020, our lives are controlled by the governing bodies. We roll with the punches, many of us are feeling pretty bruised right now.

Kiwis are pretty resilient and the business confidence strong this time, as we know we can bounce back once this outbreak is under control. And it’s up to us Aucklanders to behave and keep the rest of the country safe. Those idiots who all leapt in their cars and camper vans at 11pm on Wednesday night and headed to other parts of the country to escape lockdown three (only Auckland at this level) are selfish and thoughtless and must have really enjoyed sitting in traffic jams in the middle of the night. The rest of the country will keep our economy rolling on and us all in jobs!

On the (new) home front, Dad, George and I are settled into our daily routines. George has set up his makeshift gym in the back gazebo, and finding Sandys yoga mat very useful! I am working from home, in between household duties, and Al (dad) has a good supply of books (for now).

We received our “Hello Fresh” weekly care package. For my offshore friends, this is dinner food (everything included) for five meals. Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, a two hour marathon of preparation last night produced a gourmet spread of Turkish tabouli and koftas (I think). Said meal devoured in 10 minutes..however I did use every spice, vege, packet of stuff in the bag and there was no waste. George and I quite enjoyed the change from meat and three vegetables, not sure Al was quite as excited! Thank goodness the cook is not on dishes, I think I used half the cupboards of bowls and pans and knives etc.

So now as we wake to a chilly 7 degrees Celsius in our neighbourhood, the plan for today is cleaning and clearing. Bonus, dads lawn mowing man came yesterday so the mowing job is only the carpet! I will look for Sandys guidance when we get into the garden area as this hobby is not my forte and I will try to only cull weeds!

Until it is time to build my next “interesting” meal from a brown paper bag, all I know at this stage that it involves “Chicken Thighs”. The enclosed recipe with pictures will guide the way! Or not, I might trash it and build Butter Chicken.

12th August 2020, Auckland NZ rolls straight into lockdown three with a family from the Southside testing positive with no known contacts, and who have been in contact with maybe 100s! Shops closed, sports cancelled, activity once again limited to our own back yard! A new one for George and I, and one desperately in need of some attention! Lawns, gardens, hedge trimming and weed pulling.

My weekend ended devouring the last of the mussel fritters and enjoying some time at the beach. George returned from a weekend with his mates from the mountain (no skiing had) and dad took a road trip with his youngest son….at least we all left the house and had our own adventures, not knowing that three days later we would be put back in gaol to avoid a second wave of covid.

These times are taking their toll on everyone in many different ways, tension, stress, changes and uncertainty. Our lot is no exception and time will show us the way. We just need to remember we can’t save the world, fix everything or have our dreams come true all the time. I guess if we stay home, stay safe, be kind and eat well we will all be OK.

But a stroll around the garden and the daffodils are popping up showing signs of hope and life…

Some of us need to stay under an umbrella and keep our family close

Some of us like to stand tall in a crowd and dare to be different….

Some of us like to melt into the masses, and cruise through life on a smooth path, unnoticed and happy in obscurity….

Some of us are just comfortable anywhere, and blossom in any conditions, side by side with different species…

And some are waiting for their time to light up the world…

Is there a moral to this? I guess we all have different personalities, with different hopes and dreams. We all deal with situations in our own way; some ways may be right and some ways may be wrong but we all bloom one way or another, in our own time! And the world is just not perfect and neither are we!

Day to day we work, we play, we buy lotto tickets, we help others (or we don’t), we cook, we clean and we wear face masks when we go out.

After the last eight weeks of turmoil Sue returns to her happy place….

You know it’s been a good night when you wake up with a half eaten biscuit lying beside you in bed!

The week was frantic with

Gardening not done, a trip to the other side of the city to visit my workmates, Punto getting fixed (removing the dent from the drivers door where I remodelled it when roaring off to hospital one morning), working at home and packing up Dad for his weekend away….

George and I made a visit to the optometrist and yes, third time lucky, George found glasses to fit! I am replacing my scratched lens and getting a back up pair, as along with my phone, the one pair I own is always getting misplaced.

So, having dropped Dad in town Friday lunchtime for his adventure, I raced back for a few more hours work and loaded myself and food into the car and headed north to my bach in Waiwera. Stopping on the way at the supermarket to buy some treats for a lazy weekend. Only to realise, on arrival in torrential rain that I did not have a key! Changing cars and houses so often, my one key was back at silverdale! Jaxon to the rescue, or was it, time for a relaxed beer together! Which then led to the decision to go to the pub for a drink with the locals ( a once in 10 year event mainly due to the price of a jug being $28.00). A very unenlightening band was playing but that did not deter me from chatting and socialising for the first time in months! I proceeded to inhale a fair amount of my favourite bevy, make new friends, chat to old ones, until my other son Daniel came to the rescue, by this time much needed, and carted me back to the bach to cook my tea! I’m very blessed to have such good caretakers, Russ you have trained them well.

This morning I woke up (rather shakily) to sunlight streaming in the cottage! What a wonderful world! Threw myself under the shower, processed a bit of washing and visited with some more old friends…

The doves came to chat with me while I had my morning coffee. Mid morning the rain came in and Dan suggested a trip to maccas (perfect hangover cure) which I then followed up with trashy movies and live TV rugby….and a few naps! A much needed rest day.

By mid afternoon the sun burst through again and I took myself off for a stroll along the waterfront.

Welcome back to my world. This evening I am finally cooking the last of the Southland seafood…mussel fritters! Some more TV rugby and an early night…however I do have half a beer to drink as I had to open one to put a bit in the mussel fritters batter! Roll on Saturday night.

3rd August 2020, we really are deep in the kiwi winter, and adjusting to the new normal without our three loved ones.

Sue, George and Trudi have moved out of Waiwera (for now), frantic final shifting day yesterday. Russell Rose is being cared for by our friend John, so he can stay at Waiwera and listen to the sea. The cottage has reclaimed all its treasures, and the humans are displaced again. Our Australian neighbours are well and truly locked down (kiwi style) to try and send the dreaded virus packing. We are still getting cases at the border and international travel seems a far off dream.

Meanwhile, life goes on and another Southland seafood treat…

Bluff oyster fritters in (Speights) beer batter! George made the mistake of going out this night and only ended up with two! Al and Sue had a feast!

Another working week begins, the first of George’s last four working remotely as he has secured a kiwi job starting on the 1st of September. Dan starts ripping his house apart in readiness to rise from the foundations, 12 months of planning. Jaxon and Steph almost have a new bathroom and Sue and George are set up in Silverdale!

The boys, Jax and George headed to town for a night out….George certainly missed out on the maltese height genes…..another time another place….

Two years ago George in Malta with Cousin Sammy…

Now, it’s time for work as I ponder the list of jobs behind the scenes. I have sheds and storage of Russ and my stuff to sort, cars to fix ( the punto is slightly rearranged where I backed into her when racing to the hospital one morning), merc to sell, and stuff to sort for Al! Life is full of fun…but first a coffee and a breath.

The “only” good thing about a funeral is that you get to see lots of family and far flung friends who travel to farewell their loved one and support the living ones!

Sandy had a huge following and her life celebration was shared with 300 people….one of whom was my dear friend from Te Anau, laden with seafood (vacuum packed) from Stewart Island! For those offshore followers, Stewart Island is the third most southern of the New Zealand islands! A diamond in the south.

Monday nights dinner was Blue Cod, pub wedges and beans (for Al) salad for me! It’s a bit tough to smile these days but “blue cod” certainly helps.

Whitebait fritters and lemon wedges last night – another South Island delicacy! George and I added a few greens to our plates.

Continue reading “South Island Seafood” →

Saturday 25th of July 2020. Who would have ever imagined such a year of direction changes….

A week of canine visitors, visits and scraps – Floyd and Alfie (the black one) didn’t realise the other was allowed at Al and Sandys house. After a quick sniff the small one (Alfie) decided to stake his territory and bark….big mistake when the one you are barking at is 40 kgs heavier and doesn’t really like many other dogs anyway! Luckily Dan was “Johnny on the spot” to grab Floyd and save the obnoxious little ones life!

We now begin our journey without Sandy, Dads partner of 46 years who was snatched from us a week ago and who we laid to rest on Thursday in true Sandy Style….she at least had a few days to plan her farewell and the cousins, Sandys friends, Steve, my friends and boys worked so hard to make it all happen her way.

Daniel spent two days, second one under Dads direction, painting some of Sandys world on the coffin lid (chosen by Sandy, artwork directed by Sandy and Al)

Dad and I, after a hectic morning of asparagus roll making, garage cleaning, beer icing, vacuuming and three pairs of pants before we found the right ones! Lucky I had my two mates, Pam and Trudi, and my sons here to help get the house ready for the aftermatch activities. Steve, his wife and family arrived around 11am then went and had lunch before meeting us all at the church.

A mass of 300 turned up at the church, most staying for the afternoon tea and refreshments prepared by a wonderful team of Bonnici cousins and then back to Dad and Sandys (and now my new home) for an evening of story telling and more refreshments!

So we can’t all be angels all the time and my breaking point was when I got back to the house and realised the alcohol was limited to Heineken and wine and ginger beer. Those that purchased the liquid supplies (Steve and Dad) had forgotten that the chief cook and bottle washer actually drinks Speights! My reaction, while a bit harsh was nothing to what Sandy would have let them have! My sons to the rescue…and raced up the road to return with a box of the golden stuff! Seriously I don’t ask for much!

Crisis averted and not too many guests had to witness my tantrum…Sandy seemed very much with us all evening (probably even directed my tantrum) at a Bonnici et al family gathering…

People tell me to look after myself when I am too busy looking after others. The only time this year (2020) I have worn make up is to Jaxon and Stephs wedding in January(didn’t do a very good job) and it’s now July.

I think maybe my friends are saying it’s about time to put some lipstick on and brighten the day (Or face) and I might stop getting asked for my gold card (the senior citizens over 65 discount card!)

You know what, it doesn’t matter what you wear, what you look like, how much money you have in the bank when it’s time to say goodbye.

Another page in our lives closed yesterday, with Sandy taking another piece of our hearts with her (and her friends and Aussie family too).

Covid 19 has been bittersweet! It meant I was here (no travelling) for Al and Sandy through this and out the other side (whatever that journey is). It also meant Sandys beloved brothers, their family’s and friends could not be here to hug her through this. A casualty of Covid 19 that many have had the pain of not being where they really want to at critical times.

This most recent journey has been cruel and fast, and leaves us all gasping for breath. Just when you think you are treading water, a tidal wave swoops in and knocks you for six!

So Today is Sunday 19th July 2020….and we are in for a whirlwind week with a celebration for our Beloved Sandy on a Thursday! She wanted a party and she will have one….46 years is a long time for a McInnes to hang out with the Bonnici clan!

And maybe a little makeup will be in order for the second time this year….grey hair, well that’s kinda blonde now!

We keep searching for that ray of sunshine….even in Winter it can break through the clouds.

The joy of standing on the side of a soccer field, even if you are the only mum! Poor George, his support team is his mother….

Number 7 (behind the flag) George Bonnici-Carter ronaldo….in action. A close fought game.

Years of being a soccer mum to three sons and now that we can play team sport again in New Zealand we take whatever moment presents itself.

While I know the sun will be shining and the sea will be warm in Malta, my destination of choice, right now I am happy to be in our New Zealand winter with family.

A road trip out west to “brains park” heralded a typical bi-polar winter afternoon, with rain, sunshine and shadows…

Just me and my shadow(and umbrella) hanging out with all my mates on the sideline! A welcome respite in the wilds of the west!

Now we have sport, Saturday night TV offers a much more attractive reason to snuggle up and be entertained and support our Rugby team! Not quite the result we wanted but we have another Crack at the south islanders on our home ground in a couple of weeks! Belief is a wonderful thing!

So that’s the excitement for our last week as we battle on through July 2020.

Once again New Zealand is an Island, disconnected from the rest of the world! It’s a whole new world for many of us who have taken for granted the options of leaping on a plane and following the sun when winter rears it’s chilly head!

As many countries open up and welcome back the humans from other countries to try and save what has become one of their biggest industries, tourism, Kiwiland is sealed off in a relatively virus free world.

The stock market is volatile, the young people are bored, the older people are happy and safe and pets are relishing having their humans working from home!

On that note..This little branch of Kiwi Family has most team members set up from home…

Jaxon having been made redundant from the much reduced hospitality sales environment, is now back at his previous job, working at home, surrounded by his new workmates (washing and Floyd)…

My workstation is totally remote. It’s like our wardrobes in the 70’s…you know, when you opened the car boot and there was an outfit for any occasion. I am now set up at Dad and Sandys place working remotely!

George swings between the rented house at Waiwera and my new abode, depending on work and Gym schedule (and dinner menus). Dan is working locally in a Waiwera, building and renovating the world! Which is lucky, as his truck decided to hibernate in the cold weather and wasn’t going anywhere..except off on a tow truck to the doctors! Oh well have tools will walk (next door).

Soooo, the only one, in my crew, battling the frustrating Auckland rush hour traffic. is Jaxon’s wife Steph. Who’s new job (before lockdown) is moving her all over the place, instead of local as envisaged. It sure is weird times, saving travelling time and work clothes expenses while balancing the fine line between work time and home time (when all is in one place)

Kiwis (and most humans) are like ants, we like our routine…and this new work environment, for many, takes a bit of adjusting to. George and I are quite good at it; I’ve been doing it for a couple of years while travelling the world with Russ, and George has had almost a year of being in NZ and working for his UK Company!

The good bits are, we all have work and we live on a post covid Island where we can play sport, go shopping, see our friends, hit the slopes (now they are covered in snow) and discover adventures in NZ…that many have travelled from the other side of the world to experience. And most importantly we are surrounded by family and friends! (I do miss my Maltese and American families though…just saying)

Sunday 28th June, year half gone and grasping onto a glass half full…

International travel appears to be a thought for 2021! and work (if you still have a job) in many cases is very different.

Thunderstorms and tornadoes are waking us up at night and surely….the water shortage is diminishing with the buckets of rain being unloaded on Auckland.

We are aware of our fragility as another one of our own spends time in hospital. I always seem to be trying to drink more water, drink less beer, eat the right stuff, smoke less….as we know how fragile our lives are.

I see daily my memories of Russ and mum and it brings a smile to my face knowing the good time’s we all had! And I’m sure there are more ahead!

I think covid has brought more to us than a virus that is ravaging the world….we have all had time to listen to our bodies and realise that some things we cannot ignore and now is the time, when we are not racing all over the world to repair and rejuvenate what is most important to us all….our health!

Some memories from 12 months ago – boating in a world on the other side of the world – my second home “Malta”

And a sunset on the city of superyachts, family and wonderful friends!

This time last year Russ and his old friend Dave were soaking up the sights and sounds and cocktails (2 for 1) in the magical town of Bormla, Malta….

While Lizet and I (bronzed babes in the Mediterranean) where soaking up the evening sunshine!

Landlocked in our home countries where no planes are flying, we hold on to our precious memories which brings warmth to our hearts!