March 26th 2020, 6.00am, day two…..we all survived day one surprisingly, although it felt weird that we felt guilty if we were outside or might be too close to each other..

Early morning walk for Floyd, Dan was walking past the gate about 7.30 am, dogs still only allowed on the beach before 10am. I thought about whether I would be allowed to walk at the same time…of course so long as I am the mandatory two metres away…half an hour stroll, freezing feet, happy dog and the tension slightly released.

It was then coffee time, Dan gone back to his house, check computer time (work) and job for the day….sheet changing! This filled up most of the morning, in between phone calls from friends and family to see if all was well, and an overdue catch up, as we all now have time out from our busy schedules to chat!

All morning I had been threatening to bake…a hobby, I used to be very active in, but for many years have had little interest….

So bake I did, most of the cookie dough got in the oven, some of it stayed in a little long and varying shades of cookies were produced….there, I can still do this!

This activity prompted my second walk (albeit small) of the day…..to drop a freshly baked bag of cookies to Dan….thinking again…am I allowed? Stop being silly, we’ve seen each other every day for the last two weeks…

Even quiet little Waiwera was quiet…I walked in the middle of the road, no cars, so I avoided the footpath where the rest of the community had been pounding up and down (with required space apart) all morning. The native flowers (and dogs) continue to bloom and play…oblivious to this new way of life.

I scuttled into Dans drive way, feeling like a criminal, to the end of his deck, placed the bag of cookies on his outside table and he came out his door stood other end of deck (three meters)….quick chat “hiya you ok” answer “yeah all good you ok” then “better go can be seen to socialise when we are social distancing“…. And I scuttled back to the cottage almost feeling guilty I’d spoken to my own son!

The Ducks also taking over the area….oblivious to human activity. Breathe Sue…ok that’s the morning done.

New chapter new image, or a month between haircuts is plenty of time to make a radical change….almost done!

And a beanie was worn for most of the day thereafter!

So we scratched through the afternoon , checking work, lunch (that’s a new experience for me), afternoon nap, 72 pages into my book…and boom…here we are 4.30pm. This is were the fun (?) began!

I thought ok, haven’t seen Trud all day and she is isolating with us, so I took a beer and strolled over, I had no sooner sat down, me on bench, her on chair 3 meters away, than in the front gate of Riverhaven marched 6-8 police…full kit and into camp. Their presence has been more obvious over the last few days and they ensure people are staying in their pods, isolating, and maintaining social distancing…

Instant thought, they are checking we are all (all three of us staying in the camp) in our own houses behaving ourselves..we have watched too many movies of the Germans tormenting the Jews in the war, and it sort of felt like I needed to run back to my cottage and stay inside like a well behaved human, not sit outside and have a beer with my mate! (Who I am isolating with). So until I knew what the action was I did….run….gasping for breath and downing half a beer in one swallow!

However, the grapevines act quickly in a small seaside community, and it soon unravelled that the police had identified and found a person, with a warrant out for his arrest, isolating himself in a property backing in to our quiet little Riverhaven community, and decided it was time to remove him. Did they really need 6-8 police for one man and scare us poor uncertain individuals on the first day of lockdown.

So in summary….time to catch up (by phone) with friends and family, bring out old hobbies, make new ones, clean your house, and smell the roses! (Or in our case hibiscus 🌺 flowers)

Do not panic, and keep your 2 meters distance, it is Ok to talk to people! Oh and don’t scrub the skin off your hands….hand washing is a biggie….keep a good supply of soap! And don’t think you have done something wrong if you see six police marching in….

It is March 25th 2020, 6.00am, day one of a National lockdown in New Zealand, to try and stop the spread of the untamed “Beer” virus. Covid19….total cases hit 205 with community infection….no death

It has been a few days of very strange emotions, panic, calm, anticipation, intrepidation and preparation, generally a little anxiousness as we all step into the unknown for a month (at least).

Step back to the weekend…

Beer pong on a Saturday night – a whisper of social distancing – beer pong table distance apart.

Fishing on Sunday Dan and his mate finally hooked onto a good spot, and now coastguard has said no boats out for the lockdown month. Where we slept last night is where we sleep for the next 30 days.

So on Monday…(today is thursday), before the PMs announcement that we would be locking down on Wednesday – I needed a shop after the weekend….No Speights in sight in the beer fridge….but managed to procure a box at the liquor store! They had plenty. That was about to change within an hour of my somewhat busy shop, the word was out we were heading for a lockdown…..and then the panic buying really started…the queues to get in supermarkets were along the street, not even a lonely box of “lion red” and the liquor shop sales increased by 1800%. By Tuesday not a Speights or Heineken in sight! One solo box of”Corona” totally isolated in the beer fridge with no one within a 2 meter radius! While this is not all about beer, I guess what I’m saying is that here in NZ we are seeing a human behaviour that we have never seen before – a desperation and reaction to what we can only imagine it would be if a war was impending.

Ok so working through final stages of lockdown, I received an email on Tuesday (a days notice) that Riverhaven, where I am staying in my cottage, is now a holiday park! (And all cottages must be vacant for the lockdown) The “Holiday Park” being the lastest catchphrase in an attempt to say we cannot stay here for 3months in one hit! Actually my share certificate and docs signed years ago do not tout the words “Holiday Park” in any form. It is no secret I was due to leave next week and head to USA and george back to UK. Apart from the fact there are no flights, I didn’t think everyone here disliked me that much that they would rather send me (and George) to places that are rife with this virus, than show a little compassion and kindness at these unpresidented times and maybe speak to me face to face and offer the days in lockdown….as an extra. However, it’s where I slept last night …. so be it “Jacinda” has spoken!

Social distancing begins…can’t see neighbours, family or friends, only those in your pod….that’s me, George and Trudi!

We are allowed to go for a walk by ourselves – had a small practice yesterday – beach was isolated – we are lucky to have this in our walking zone, as one of the rules is don’t get in the car and drive to the beach – you must stay in your community – and as infection cases doubled in the last two days our government declared a state of emergency, not only will we see police in numbers we will experience millitary enforcement control!

As I said earlier it is day one! Anxiety levels have been high over the last few days as we close all non essential business, many lose jobs ( for the short term at least), or face the prospect of not having a job as their workplaces may not reopen when this is all over. I pray my family and friends get through this time in good health, both mentally and physically….possibly a bit more phone and FB action!

Yes, we in New Zealand are also locked into a looming kiwi winter, surrounded by family and friends. The government and the airlines cementing our decision not to travel at this time has put our immediate plans on hold!

And we wake up to this each morning, one could almost believe the worldwide pandemic to be a hoax! Sadly it’s not and Kiwis, like the rest of the world, are emptying the supermarket shelves, drinking less coffee, cooking more meals, not watching any sport (as none is being played), not partaking in cultural events, working from home and generally keeping our distance…..not a natural way of living for the gregarious, outgoing kiwi culture. On a brighter note, it costs less to put gas in our cars!

We returned from Whanganui on Sunday, same route, more delays and another seven hour trip!

Sues turn to use the powder room at Otorohanga, with the mandatory 5 minute hand wash.

A leg stretch up close and personal in the makatote gorge….toi toi in the foreground!

For those of you who have been enjoying the life of Russell Rose, I do need to clarify that in fact the name is one of our making, being our name for this cute little miniature yellow rose given to us as a memorial to Russ….

He is in fact a beehive Gold….Graeme, Russ’s brother has ordered a Russell Rose to plant in his garden from their local centre! So it will be interesting to see what he is presented with. We all had a good laugh and Russ would have enjoyed this miscommunication too. Just goes to show, we shouldn’t always believe what we read in the media and social pages! ….. And just an update, Russell Rose is not liking the cooler mornings and evenings, it appears he is preparing for winter hibernation, as we all are destined to do in the foreseeable future.

Our planned trip to Whanganui began at 11am on Friday…motorway all the way to Hamilton, so far so good. Then the turnoff to head south west…bumper to bumper traffic, and we had set the first stop at Otorohanga..

Was a much needed one, and while George had been snacking on our packed lunch for the last three hours, I took a break and ate my roll!

Ten minute allocation and back on the road…bumper to bumper.

Another 10 minutes stop at Te Kuiti to peruse the monument and story of one of our Rugby greats, Colin Meads, who hailed from the King Country..not many make George look small.

Heading out, bumper to bumper, yes again! Then the turnoff to head to the Ruapehu area, and finally we realised the world was going to New Plymouth to a music festival, and we had the road to ourselves! We finally felt we were out of Aucklands traffic madness.

The Matatoke viaduct, where our first maltese ancestors (Sam My grandfather) worked upon their arrival to NZ early in the 20th century

Then a few miles south the site of the last spike, where the railway from Wellington met the railway from Auckland in 1908…oh and where’s “Wally”?

Last historical stop and a quick Bush wee (some of you may know what this means and it was through the Gorge on the homeward strait to Whanganui…landing time 6pm. Due to the slight delays encountered with concert goers a seven hour journey!

A great dinner was prepared, a couple of Speights and a good nights sleep after a long day!

Activities today included a stroll along the Whanganui city boardwalks

A mid morning food stop at the food and craft market, after walking about two kilometres to find a money machine as the market was a cash option only….then the highlight of the day…

A little volunteer activity, cooking and selling sausages at the Whanganui Mitre 10, a fund raiser for “singing for the brain”…. needless to say the Aucklanders slayed the local market and fed the masses…. one tradie even did a drive thru and could resist a stop in front to get his “sausage”

A little thirsty after all this activity….

A drive to castle cliff beach, a cold coke for me and a milkshake for George for $5.00…

Home to Brenda and Graeme’s, the real reason for our visit, to settle in for a nice cool Speights and roast dinner….

The countdown begins, three weeks tommorow George and I brave the coronavirus mania and fly to Texas…in the meantime…

It was a weekend spent with my lovely cousin and her furbabies.  Leonburgers lounging at the bathhouse, a saturday morning of fun and fur.  Shampooed, rinsed and blow waved as all girls need from time to time and smelling like roses…

And on that note, Russell Rose is flowering again.  He is the only plant to flourish in this abnormally dry spell we are having in New Zealand.  I think I almost killed him with love (and water), now just getting the odd misty drizzle and the March humidity he is blooming (literally).  All the other pots have all but given up, knowing that in three weeks they will be emptied and stowed away for the winter. I will need to find a good babysitter for Russell Rose over the winter as I take off to warmer climes.

But, seriously, this corona virus is putting a bit of a damper on travel plans.  As so many are cancelling their trips, the airlines are cutting out flight routes and limiting the options for this Maltese Kiwi to get to the homeland. Maybe people will start to rethink the panic actions once all the toilet paper is sold out…and go in search of a more relaxed environment.  We will take all care and precaution, continue to wash our hands and keep our distance from the snuffly sneezers on the way.

Meanwhile in the camp,  this endless summer has expediated the production of the Kiwi Feijoa fruit…

These guys are just dropping from the tree in masses on a daily basis and make a much healthier after dinner snack than my usual 2 or 7 chocolate biscuit habit.

The family is all gathering at Waiwera, just in time to wave me goodbye, Jaxon and Steph are moving up this weekend in preparation to move into their home behind Dans house.  I’ll be locking up the cottage and keeping some days available for weekends and December… This little seaside camp is getting quiet and everyone is leaving for their fixed abodes or overseas adventures.

 

 

 

 

After two months of very hot dry weather, we finally have had some mistings of rain….while the humidity soared the temperatures have finally dropped, at least overnight, we are not having to use the air conditioner every night.

Not saying it isn’t still beach weather, just a long walk to the water at low tide.  We had a visit from my nephew and his wee girl, who was determined to have a swim at the beach….and play in the sand, there was plenty of that to choose from.

George has had a trip to his old uni town, Dunedin, and returned rather the worse for wear….need a couple of days sleep and good food, say no more.

My Boss has braved the air travel scares and headed offshore for three weeks and left me “Charles in Charge”….. so long as I hit the road at 5.30am (to brave the march madness of Auckland traffic) and leave town before 3pm (to beat the school pick ups), I think I will survive.  With the odd day working remotely.

Our Rugby team, The Blues, has a home game this weekend after two South African wins…

The Hand sanitizer and antiseptic wipes have been cleared from the supermarket shelves, with no restocking dates, as these products come from China and most things from China right now are not reaching our shores.  This Coronavirus scare has changed our lives….or it will do if people continue to clear the shelves of toilet paper…seriously, I don’t quite get the toilet paper thing, as I watch trolley loads of the stuff roll out of our supermarket.  If you are quarantined for a bit, sure food would be a priority.  And Water??? Kiwi water is drinkable from the tap and there is no indication that these guys will stop running.  Anyway, by all accounts as with any flu, this nasty little bug will make you sick at the worst if treated with respect.  And George and I will fly off in a months time for the next adventure….Texas here we come!

After 50 days of sunshine, we had rain!

My evenings of plant watering have kept the flowers blooming through summer, and last week the dives came to help, and one sat on my head during the excercise! All those in our kiwi paradise were getting thirsty!

The week passed in a blur of heat, tiredness, work and traffic jams. Now all the universities are back at work the daily commute is somewhat more tedious.

Almost two months in, in 2020 and Saturday gave us some tears from heaven…which is a little how it felt waking up to a grey morning.

Dan got me moving with a tip run, shopping and a push to take the boat out for an evening trawl….jobs done, nanna nap and on the sea at 4pm, with the sky’s clearing for the evening.

As usual we went deep! And rocked and rolled in a two meter swell, the fish were hungry, the fish were small and the anchor decided we needed to camp the night off the back of Kawau Island! It did seem like we may do this as the sun was closing in on the land. Some tricky manoeuvring, by Dan, round in circles, back and forward, and we were free to head back to the warmth of our own beds…

A beautiful evening, cruising back up the river at sunset, easy boat wash , no fish to fillet, hot shower and relaxing evening preceded a great nights sleep (in our own beds!)

We cannot fathom the changes in our lives when loved ones leave us.

My beautiful mum finally succumbed to the Parkinson’s that she has been battling for the last 10 years…

She was determined to share Jaxon and Stephs wedding a month ago but waiting for a baby was a big ask!

Needless to say she fought and was determined to walk again right up until the last minute.

We honoured her wishes with a BBQ and Bubbles, and platters of cheese and crackers at the beach – surrounded by her wonderful friends and memories.

A little lost and missing my morning coffees with mum on the way to work, time for a routine readjustment and instant coffee at the bach!

Well, this solo adventurer will need to find some new travel buddies, Mum and Russ and I have shared some amazing trips, and trip ups….and family time, now I must venture into the future taking their memories with me.

After a blustery weekend, a lot of tears, a lot of reminiscing and reconnecting, it’s time for this tired little kiwi to get her feet back on the ground and move forward.

There is always washing, food to make, work to do and friends to catch up with…

I have these three wonderful young men to keep me on my toes!

A four day trip, quite different to the planned eight day adventures when we left Auckland at the beginning of the week….

Not only did we not get into the Hollyford Track, we didn’t make Te Anau and I didn’t have two days off…and we are heading back as mum not well.

On the upside, I’ve been driving a great Jeep and have seen lots of clients and been very productive work wise!

Today was a clean up and pack up and rebooking flights to get home today.

Up and over the Crowne Range, with a break at Bradrona! Yes a fence of bras, in the middle of nowhere.

Well not quite nowhere, we were actually taking a short stop at Cardrona Distillery, the last client on my list.

The place was a buzz with excitement as this morning they had just found out they had won a prestigious award in London.

The best single malt less than 12 years old in the world!

After an celebratory morning for the Cardrona team (breakfast of whisky shots) our man Kenny was busy taking tours through the distillery. I was given a coffee and George water in a shot glass!

We enjoyed a hour or so of peace in the southern summer mountains.

A quick visit with Kenny, between tours, and we hit the road, heading up to the top of the Crowne Range.

A photo stop at the highest point, lake wakatipu in the distance, way down there, our destination.

A picture does not really do this part of our country justice. We were high up and about to embark on a very windy descent, behind a very cautious campervan.

Halfway down, and closer to the Queenstown airport, we watched this plane fly in between the mountains to land.

So now, we have spent 3 nights in Wanaka, $60 in gas, a little more in food, met lots of lovely people and now I’m anxious to get home to Mum!