March 29th 2020 – 6.00am (early night last night)….and day four begins….it’s going to be a long day.

Yesterday, Saturday, blew in sunshine, rain, wind (had to pull in the awning before it took off) and many memories of my wonderful husband…

It was our wedding anniversary, and one of those firsts that I have to navigate without him in this twelve months…it wasn’t sad memories though, it was the good ones as we hunker down in this place that was a happy place for Russ!

Same bench, same cushions, same beer (no that looks like lion red)

Back to the lockdown activities….

Coffee…phone rings….chat….clothes out ready for long overdue shower….coffee…phone rings again…..chat….text….unlock gate….head to shower….Dan and Floyd on road….ready for beach walk.

Oh well, no shower, throw on shorts, T-shirt, and off for beach walk – 3 meters distance. A few people/dogs on the beach, so pretty much an on leash walk, or rather drag, as a very excited mastiff (50kgs) and determined master pulled against each other for half an hour until Floyd decided he wasn’t going to win and started digging (wet sand) on leash…needless to say they both probably needed showers when they got home.

The birds are very relaxed with little human activity and no outside our community visitors, the beach is feeling like it used to…a place of calmness

Walk done, it was time for today’s jobs…On my return, George was folding the washing and everything (clean washing from the day before) smelt like meat! Our delightfully busy neighbour had his outdoor fire and bbq cranking up in the afternoon before and given my washing that smoked bbq fragrance….tea towels in a bucket of Dettol and napisan to soak! And washing rewashed!

As George was sorting his clothes out, and unpacking some winter ones (that he was sure he would not need until recently) I did my makeshift yoga workout….with a bucket of hot water and dettol….windowsills, skirtings, and floors on my hand and knees (character building for my knees on the wooden floor) throughout the lounge,dining, kitchen and bathroom areas…I know this sounds like a huge achievement but the size of the cottage (very small) brings this back into perspective.

Lunchtime, banana fritters, and a “‘Brad Pitt” movie afternoon…pushing out and limiting the happy hour (beer time) to 5-6pm!

So the kiwi lockdown is fraught with activities, cleaning, home cooking a short daily walk and the catchphrase “social distancing”. Some folks don’t even want to say hello, their choice, but seriously we are not robots and standing four meters away on the other side of a neighbours fence (hands in pockets) should be ok! A five minute chat and human contact at a distance is safe??? I guess time will tell we are all in a bit of panic mode as to how this disease will progress in our country!

On that note, yesterday while USA skyrocketed over 20k cases, we only saw the same progression as the day before with 83 positive tests, a plateau, a total of 451, since the virus first hit our shores about a month ago…we will continue to go up, we are all aware of this, but the slower the better and we will all rejoice in sliding down the other side until we hit zero!

March 28th 2020 – as we wake to day three, 7.30am (beginning to sleep in) there is an eerie silence in our world…..yesterday morning started with a walk with Dan and Floyd ….. this video says it all, we keep trying to dig the water out from the hole and the more we dig the more water fills up the hole! So we dig more, and there’s more water…..and so it goes on!

We need to stop the flow, and as we are in our bubble we are all diligent and must be aware of any new waves infiltrating our bubble and we shut them down…

So the day began, with a beach walk and the dog showing us the world we live in is not such a bad place…

And social distancing is easy when you ignore all humans around you…

A hesitant trip to the supermarket was needed – yes we are allowed to get food. The roads and the town of orewa were eerily quiet, like being in a communist country, and we were waiting for the road blocks…. no one at the supermarket (well only us and a handful of other folk) no one spoke, we entered (george and I) donned with gloves and face masks , list in hand for us and Dad….he and Sandy are not leaving home, rushing through, keeping our two meter distance from the other few shoppers and out as quickly as we can, gloves off and sanitising before driving off! Sort of felt like a robber but paid for our food…

Then a chemist pickup for Sandy, prescriptions only, and a path taped with thar orange emergency tape to follow, threw the $10 in the basket and off, like a robbers dog!

Drop off at dads, table outside front door with our mail and supplies for them deposited….. a chat from inside to outside four meters apart (no hugs) and hightailed it back over the hill to our safe pod at Waiwera!

This is like a war zone and George and I have enough food for the next week….don’t want to be doing this on a daily basis….the first day was littered with walkers, police, smiles and hellos (from a distance) today was weirdly devoid of life…

Moving forward, we need to smile, smile at everyone you see, laugh at anything, a dog is oblivious…he will never beat the sea when digging the water away…and we must look out for each other, enjoy the quiet, listen to the birds, and SMILE at any human you see…..from a distance. Your smile may be the only human contact that person has.

So in summary, no Police events, public toilets on the beach shut down, our safe little Riverhaven pod looking out for each other, chasing away strangers, and keeping in contact….possibly 5 o’clock has become 4 o’clock beer time, not sure this is a good idea!

So….day three begins….

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!)