Beyond COVID-19 NZ

Today I pushed on with projects, made good progress. I didn't go down to the beach - weather a little gloomy - and was so busy making good progress I just  stuck with it. It's ok. So instead of Omaha photos, here are some photos of stunning Pakiri Beach, taken in February 2020.  The distinctive Hen and Chicken Islands lie out to sea beyond it. Pakiri Beach To be honest, this piece of coastline is still as pure and pristine as you'll ever find in the world. There's a holiday park and some minor development here, but mostly it's just the same as it ever was, centuries ago. Part of Pakiri beach is ideal for surfing and beaching, and the rest of it (miles and miles and miles) is largely deserted, and actually dangerous for swimming - but perfect for horse-riding. We used to have superb fun horse-riding on this beach a lot, in the early 1990s, before kids. It's freedom personified. It was 30 years ago - and it still is now. There's simply no better...

With Michael having gone back to Auckland, I'm all by myself ... Like lots of people in lockdown have been. I enjoy time alone so for me that's okay, but I know people who have been alone the whole time who are relishing, finally, some contact with people in their new extended bubble. Fab. I did some housework and washing and chores and other dull stuff. And also rearranged my work station at the dining (working) table. Now that Michael's big screens and whatnot are gone, I have the table to myself so I moved to a different position. Glare has been a pain at times, with sun streaming through windows and bouncing off surfaces. I think this new position is better. It was really windy all morning so I left my beach walk till mid-afternoon when the wind died down. There were a few people in swimming and a few surfboards and paddle-boards being given an outing. Omaha Beach photo of the day - beach back in business! It's still very warm and I have to say, April h...

So today is first day of Level 3. There's definitely a bit more noise about the place, with builders back in business and a general gentle hubbub of a more active community. Another fantastic day weather-wise. I went for a beach walk after Michael left to go back to Auckland (around 5pm). Indi the cat joined me and trotted alongside me all the way there. She often does this at twilight, but rarely in the daytime. She'll never venture onto the beach itself, but waits for me by the top of the dunes. I tried to coax her onto the beach today but no, she was content to wait. Parts of the white sand on the beach are squeaky (top part nearest the dunes), parts of it are not (between squeaky sand and dark wet tidal sand). After wondering what makes sand squeaky or not, and unable to come up with a reason, I researched when I got home. To squeak, the sand must be very pure and spherical, and of a certain size. The sand needs to contain quartz/silica. And temperature/humidity plays...

So, after 33 days, this is New Zealand's last day of Level 4 lockdown. Level 3 isn't going to be that much different for most, except perhaps in mindset, but I suspect the takeaway outfits are going to be inundated. And small businesses will be happy. Unless you're in the travel/tourism game (that's me). Funnily enough, despite being at the beach house, today is the only day of lockdown that Michael and I acknowledged we actually felt like we were on holiday! Generally it's been BAU. However, today we didn't have our entire focus on work (although we still both did some work). I spent an hour completing a tricky contract job and had a few phone calls about some other voluntary work stuff, but otherwise largely stayed away from my computer for the first day since lockdown. All other days, we've both been working across from each other at the dining room table all ... day ... long. Personally, I've loved being able to be so productive - no distraction...

A leisurely morning - did the bumper Herald quiz with Brett by phone which amused us for half an hour or so. We did well. Glorious day but mostly spent at my computer. I've spent most of every day of lockdown sitting on a dining room chair (it's comfy enough) at the dining room table working on a laptop in one way or another. This project, that work deadline; this Zoom catchup, that Teams gathering; this email trail, that google research; this leisure moment, that horserace; this joke, that serious document. All good, but I don't want to even think about how many hours I've spent sitting in that chair over the past four weeks. Michael and I went for a walk to the beach later in the afternoon. Pleasant and chilled. With his fully grown Covid days mo, I suggested that if he donned walk shorts, walk socks, a short-sleeved polyester shirt and thick tie, he would resemble some of my work colleagues from the 70s/early 80s. Definitely time for the mo to go he decided. And...

Another beautiful day dawned - but I did not see this 2020  Anzac Day dawn. I did, however, see Anzac Day in as a new day (at nighttime). I went out on the deck around 12:30am Saturday morning 25th to pay my ANZAC Day respects. I looked up into the inky sky - there was just one star shining brightly up there and I saluted it. And then went to bed. I can report that the floors did indeed get a spruce up today, as did the lawns. Keeping on top of the sand that gets into the house here is a never-ending chore. Clean it away - it's back within the hour, and somehow this happens even when you don't even go outside! It gets on every surface. It gets in the grooves of everything. It gets in the sheets. But hey, we're at a beach place ... "And would you like sand with that?" We narrowly avoided a broken ranch slider today - Michael was mowing the lawns when a huge stone flew up and out at bullet speed. Thankfully it hit the LPG gas tank. Half a metre to the left a...

Another glorious day in lockdown - I'm talking about the weather! Again, today was mostly spent on the computer being gently productive. I brought some art stuff up with me, but I haven't done any painting. Not yet, anyway. Perhaps over the weekend ... I went for a twilight walk to the beach at 5pm, it was absolutely beautiful down there with interesting cloud banks and sky of a cerulean blue hue with a lemon tinge that spread far into outer space. The light at this time of the year is outstanding. Omaha Beach photo of the day - 5:15pm Same view, half an hour later The waves were curling perfectly and it was mesmerising. Twilight perfection Curling waves I called in to the Superette on my way back from the beach. I only needed a few things so just a quick pit stop. I have not been to a proper supermarket since lockdown. I may never go again - the local stores have everything I need and I haven't wanted for anything. I bought some very fresh ...

First up - Brett's Covid test was ... as expected ... Negative. Phew. He's feeling much better today. Excellent! We had a Zoom catch up with Sam in London; he's doing okay. We're all doing okay, even though somewhat apart. That's how life is right now. And we're better off than many. Whilst we're in a country that is handling this thing very well (the stats are highly encouraging and speak for themselves), Sam is in a country that is not handling it so great ... although he's had to cancel travel and has been furloughed he's making the most of things. Workouts in the park, Zooms with friends at home, and yesterday he went for a bike ride around central London, past all the landmarks - Buckingham Palace etc. Encountered a few other bikers, walkers, runners but that's all. Hell, when could you ever do that in London? Once upon a time ... in a fairy tale or in your dreams perhaps!!! Lucky Sam! Even I'd get on a bike to do a city cycle of Lond...

A shortish post today. It was the most splendid weather imaginable. Like summer, only better. Shame we can't swim. Today felt more leisurely than most, due I guess to the weather - although I spent most of the day working away on my laptop. I went for a fantastic beach walk around midday, my longest to date, and, for the first time since this whole thing, it really did feel "holiday-ish", for that hour at least. Warm and beautiful - and the light was exceptional. Every shade of blue surrounded me. The sky was cobalt blue one way, tinged with muted turquoise tones another. Today was an autumn day as good as it ever gets. There were plenty of  birds and quite a lot of people out walking. There was someone in the water up to their waist - I think they were gathering pipi or tuatua. Omaha Beach Photo of the day - At the northern end A gull surveys the scene Hibiscus beauty against a cobalt sky - stunning! - in a garden near the entrance to the beach ...

It rained gently but constantly all day. Definitely an "inside" day, with  staying at home being the preferred option regardless of Covid restrictions! So today's Omaha Beach photos were taken on 21st Feb - at twilight when there were some stunning cloud formations in the sky. Like a fresco. Pink clouds dropping out of the sky, almost dripping towards earth like the paint hadn't dried yet. Surreal. Omaha Beach photo of the day - taken 21 February 2020 Cloud formations like a fresco Coffee: At Omaha beach house, we have a superb home coffee machine - a Rancilio Sylvia E, for those into coffee machines. Shout out to Warren for enabling this for us! It's a machine that kinda requires a licence though - being a single boiler machine, you do need to know what you're doing. Practise makes perfect (and YouTube is good too!) I've got it sussed and Michael is getting to grips with it. So a freshly brewed morning coffee has been our daily morning tre...