100 Days of Lockdown

 Greetings everyone!  It's been a while!  Since we have been in a covid induced lockdown for 100 days now there just hasn't been much to blog about.  I live in Auckland which has had, and continues to have, the most severe lockdown of anywhere in New Zealand.   Throughout this lockdown we have not been permitted to go beyond Auckland city limits making us virtual prisoners in our city.  It hasn't been easy for a lot of people, however I'm of a generally optimistic outlook so in this blog I have decided to focus mainly on the positives of a lockdown. Apologies for repeating some of what I have written in a previous blog, I guess that just shows how uneventful life has been here! -)

Hmmm!  Will it be pasta or rice for dinner tonight.

As I mentioned in a previous post I decided to live off what I had stored in my freezer, fridge and pantry.  Amazingly I got through 12 weeks without going to a supermarket or having any food delivered although my daughter in law kept me in fresh fruit and vegetables.  I enjoyed the challenge and when things get back to normal I will replenish my stocks.  I did get a bit tired of rice and pasta dishes though, and I have to admit,  it surprised me how much food I had stored.

Having lived alone for a number of years was an advantage because  I am used to my own company.  Nevertheless I did miss my friends and my coffee catch ups. This is where the wonderful world of technology came in and regular zoom sessions with my book club and various friends and family were a welcome change from talking to myself out of sheer boredom.

I  enjoyed much more time in my garden.  I started growing vegetables from seeds I had stored and I pruned, and weeded and trimmed edges to my heart's delight. It was a calming, satisfying occupation.  With almost no aeroplanes in the sky the garden was a very peaceful place to be.

Taking  on the role of teacher to my 6 and 9 year old grandchildren four days a week was rewarding, fun and challenging.  I learnt a lot and I think they did too, at least I hope they did!  There is nothing like one on one attention. Now they are happily back at school but only on alternate days so my teaching duties have been halved.

 

  Hard at work at the
school of Grandma

I learnt that as the lockdown went on and on, with no end in sight, a lethargy took hold and I got lazier and lazier - "there's always tomorrow" - I thought.  No house painting this time just the  occasional small tasks, like tidying up my spices, or spring cleaning a room and then only when I felt the urge to do something.

There was more time for reading and I even reread some of my favourites.  Jigsaws?  Well there's only so many you can do, isn't there?

I am not particularly fond of shopping so didn't miss it at all.  Even now that things are slowly opening up and we can go to shops I can't be bothered. I do, however, make a point of buying take away coffee when I'm out walking, mainly to support businesses which are struggling through this difficult time.

I have discovered new places to walk close to home, that's been fun. And I always feel blessed to live in such a lovely area.

The pleasure of taking time to watch the sea and sky

I did miss going to the ballet, plays and the cinema.  I look forward to when they will reopen to audiences again.

I have family in London.  I haven't seen my grandchildren in two and a half years.  It's sad, they are growing up fast. It will be a joyous day when I do get to see them again.

Finally, there is no joy in being imprisoned in your own city.  Even if you are free to travel but don't go anywhere it is just good to know that you can if you want to.  Meanwhile I am trying to make the most of a quieter life and to be honest I'm quite enjoying the slower pace. Nevertheless, let's hope that freedom day is not far away and that this nasty covid decides to disappear as quickly as it arrived. Then I will, hopefully, be able to travel again and start writing things that are a bit more interesting.

Greetings from lockdown

 Greetings from lockdown!

Below is a photo of my suitcase all packed and ready for me to fly to New Zealand's South Island. I had a whole lot of adventures booked which would have provided me with plenty to blog about.  Sadly, just 36 hours before my flight the whole country was plunged, once again, into a hard lockdown.  The packed suitcase still sits there looking at me accusingly  every time I walk past. I know it will be weeks, if not months, before I can rebook the trip but I simply don't have the enthusiasm to unpack so there is sits as a sad reminder of what was to be.

I am luckier than many, though.  Although I live alone I have joined a bubble which includes my son, daughter in law and two grandchildren. While my son and daughter in law work I mind the children four days a week, doing their lessons with them, playing games and taking them for walks.  It is a privilege and immensely rewarding, they are a joy to be with. 

Auckland has been in lockdown off and on a few times now and the novelty has well and truly worn off, my motivation to get things done is diminishing. During our first long lockdown I painted the whole exterior of my house.  This time I feel proud of myself if I make some jam, bread or a cake.  In order not to become absolutely idle I have made a plan  to do at least one worthwhile thing a day.  Today it was emptying a drawer in my filing cabinet and dumping screeds of saved and no longer needed documents, invoices and emails.  Very satisfying indeed.

Killing time with jigsaw puzzles and  working my way through my freezer and pantry making tasty meals such as the one below - Snapper with olive oil, lemon, garlic, spinach, tomatoes and potato wedges.  Ready to go in the oven.                        

I know we have been more fortunate than many other countries.  I have a son who lives with his family in London they suffered through a very prolonged hard lockdown although now the country has opened up and they are once again just getting on with life.  New Zealand's blessing and misfortune has been to be geographically isolated. This has led to a lack of planning and complacency which is why we are now in the position we are in.  We are well aware the rest of the world, excluding Australia, is now opening up but that still looks a distant dream for us.

The area I live in is lovely indeed. Every day I go for a walk and it is so uplifting to see the blossoms and flowers of spring breaking through. It speaks to me of good times ahead.  I am also loving the time I get to read or chat to friends on the phone.  I've even broken out another jigsaw puzzle and am not too worried if the house gets a little bit messy, there will be no visitors. 

So lockdown is not all bad and it is up to each of us to make the best of it. Nevertheless I know it is very hard for many people including business owners, families in small flats with children to entertain, lonely people etc.  My heart goes out to them.

A sign of good times ahead

If you want a break from reading, TV or Netflix have a trawl through my previous posts on this blog and do a bit of armchair traveling. 

Meanwhile, stay safe everyone, stay healthy and anyone struggling, please reach out to someone for help.  There is bound to be light at the end of the tunnel. Hopefully, before too long, this covid 19 will seem like a bad dream and I will once again have some interesting things to blog about.

Update: While Auckland, where I live, remains in a hard lockdown now into the fourth week, the rest of New Zealand is in a light lockdown which means most can go about their business normally.  Also some states in Australia remain in a hard lockdown.