2020 Not the way we planned

Any ANZAC Day is worth reflecting on, but it seems this will be one that for years to come we will look back on with mixed feelings. ANZAC Day is traditionally a time of coming together, gathering en masse to commemorate those who have lost their lives in service to their country and its citizens; and celebrate those who have served and are still with us, and those who continue to serve. It is also a time for reflection about some serious errors of judgement in the past - such as unequal treatment of returning First Nations people who served in war; and the less than desirable treatment of some soldiers returning from the Vietnam War - to ensure these mistakes are not repeated. Not to mention the reported ongoing mental health issues and high suicide rates of returning service men and women still, no doubt along with other issues. For many Australians ANZAC Day resonates deeply and personally. In my family, generations have served in the armed forces and seen active duty. Dad is a Vi...

Happy Birthday to me! started a day early. We had already scheduled our online Wine Chat for the 16th.  To my delight, it was my party :) Richard and Kirsten wore party hats and had cake.  Sam had a birthday tshirt and sparklers.  Alicia and Frank produced a whole sign for me and Mel had decorations and was herself very decorative.  I was the most under-dressed and unprepared, though I did have wine of course. It was so special, so lovely.  I could not have been more chuffed. My first phone message on my birthday was from Mal (ex-husband of 24 years) follwed by a message from Eddie.  Friday morning Gem and Billie came to visit, bearing flowers, wine, fruit and cheeses, and a car load of items essential to transport one teeny baby from one house to another.       Soon after they were settled, flowers from Rod and Brian arrived and then a delivery from my siblings. Flowers with a free matching baby! ...

Well anyone who knows us would easily imagine the momentary fear that was struck into our collective hearts when we were told  1) stop hugging and kissing and touching each other, 2) stop going out (in crowds first, and then for anything 'non-essential' - which of course we would define differently from the authorities!), and  3) stop having hoards of people over...and then - you can only have 1 visitor that's not part of your household! AND they're not supposed to be going out unless its essential... Its all very confusing 🤷‍♀️🤦‍♀️ But first world problems...we've got this!! We are nothing if not versatile and creative, and it is fortuitous that this is happening to us in a remarkably technological age. In this crazy time we're forced to create a "covid bubble" - your own little bubble with a limited number of people you know and trust, who can get within spitting distance regularly.  Luckily for us our respective bubbles can b...

Wednesday is house cleaner day.  After much deliberation, I decided to continue with getting the fortnightly clean.  My beyond-superb cleaner Andrea left a month or two ago, but offered the business to her 18 year old son, Ken, who had worked with her during his study holidays. Ken is no Andrea, but with my limited mobility and deep hatred of housework, I really do need some assistance.  I've never liked being home during house cleans and in the current CV19 conditions it's probably wise to vacate.  So Gem gets a 2 hour visit every second Wednesday. My knees are less than keen on the 35 minute drive.  I suppose basically holding them in the same position, particularly the right, stretches the friendship.  Consequently I am even more hobbly and swollen when I get to Fernvale. This morning Gem greeted me at the door, with Billie choosing that exact moment to fall into a blissful sleep, despite howling and up-chucking pretty much constantly for the pr...

16 April The irony of having to break isolation to collect a parcel from PO, and the parcel contains Face Masks, is not lost on me. 15 April I really should have had that haircut before going to hospital.  No, I figured it will be much easier to tie back long, and what do I care if I have regrowth while I'm laid up. Four and half months later ... Plaits seem to be the only control option 11 April During the day, my neighbourhood is now very, very quiet.  A fact emphasised by the silence-shattering sound of me tossing a wine bottle into the wheelie bin. Must take more care. 2 April Don't scare the postal workers.  Lovely, regular guy knocked at the door with a delivery.  Out of habit, I placed my hand on the screen door handle to open it.  He leapt back about 3 feet, almost yelped, and said DON'T COME OUT, I'll just leave it here.

Ruby Princess will forever be known as The Plague Ship Social Restrictions March 13 - Gatherings of 500+ to be banned from March 15 (excluding education, workplaces, transport)  PM initially followed up this announcement by stating he would still be going to the NRL footy game on March 14.  He decided against it, but was later outraged and appalled as crowds continued going to the beach. March 15 - Fourteen days self-isolation for anyone entering Australia.  Cruise ships banned from docking for 30 days.    Except for plague ship Ruby Princess - 2700 people disembarked and went on their merry contagion-sharing way on March 19.  Border Force and NSW Health still finger pointing over this decision.  March 15 was also our last lunch at The Boatshed for some time 😢 March 20 - Australian borders closed to non-citizens and non-residents March 21 - social distancing 4 sq mt pp in enclosed space Somewhere around here #fuckingraging was ...