Day Twenty-Nine - Estonia, Travel, and the PPE of yesteryear
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 London like that! Especially seeing it's flat!
TRAVEL:
So I'm kinda struggling with the fact that travelling to some foreign wonderland soon is not an option. Having said that, I'm also looking at things a little differently and it's all positive ... read on!
I do believe that the best time to do international travel will be when everyone doesn't want to - when borders open, quarantine isn't a thing and airlines are begging you to get on board. Whenever that may be. There'll be a window of the old glory days of travel. Get in!.
And if you're older and/or need support ... I can help! That's my "specialty offering" that I was about to launch before Covid got in the way - travel companionship!
From here on, safe travel is more vital than ever.
Looking at domestic travel, I have no doubt that New Zealand will become NZers' paradise again - no need to battle droves of tourists, hideous prices and a constant focus on the foreigner's positive experience, that somehow negates the local's one. New Zealand will become our playground again - and there's nothing better than that - especially given so many NZers haven't even seen NZ.
So I'm working on various travel offerings that take into account all this, and a whole new mindset. My aim is to get Kiwis travelling again - near or far, it will be safe and it will be fun. www.beyondlimits.co.nz
TODAY:
It was overcast much of the day, but not unpleasant. I went for a beach walk around 2pm and spent the entirety of it, door to door, yakking to a friend in Wellington. Anna and I met on our first day at school, aged 5yo, and here we are, all these -ahem- years later, still the very best of friends.
Consequently, on account of yakking, I completely forgot to take any beach photos - although there were no unusual scenes or epic qualities to capture on the beach today. Just wind. And you can't photograph that!
So instead, today's beach photos are of ... Parnu Beach, on the Baltic Sea in Estonia. It's a popular spa resort where many people from the Baltic States take their holidays. Rather lovely. You had to walk out quite a long way to get wet as it's shallow, but there are lifeguard towers so presumably it gets rough and ready at times although it was hard to imagine turmoil in these calm waters on the day we were there, which was perfection (July 2019). It was busy but not seething. The sand was caramel deliciousness.
A fabulous interlude en route from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia ...
ESTONIA:
So, I was there last July leading a tour throughout the area. I was very taken with this small but fabulous country. The capital Tallinn is a divine place. I'd love to return.
Estonia may have spent time under Soviet rule, but from what I could gather during my short stay, and from talking to people, their government has to be one of the most compassionate and far-sighted in existence in this day and age.
People see NZ, under Jacinda, being all of that. I'm not sure we're doing it quite like Estonia - but I think we can. BTW, I have emailed Jacinda to encourage her to look at how Estonia operates!
Estonia: Population 1.3m - more the size of Auckland city than NZ. But lots of similarities.
What struck me is how much emphasis Estonia has put, over recent years, on people's well-being, first and foremost.
They have one of the world's most digitally advanced societies, have a high-income economy, and were the first country in Europe to introduce free public transport.
They also offer, far and away, the best maternity allowances of any OECD country - 140 days maternity leave (4.5 months), PLUS 435 days (wow, almost a year) of shared parental leave. Fathers get some chunk in there too. Hungary, rather surprisingly, comes second, and Japan third. Sweden is way down, and NZ way further down.
Lovely scenery, interesting history, delightful townships, engaging people. An emphasis on music and connection. There was contentment around every corner.
Their language is aligned to Finnish, not to Russian or slavic langauges.
Bottom line - the Estonian government wants their people to be happy and unstressed, and has created platforms to enable this, to truly bring the country way out of post-Soviet doldrums into a whole new era.
These things do take time, but from what I could ascertain last year, it's working rather brilliantly. I didn't see or talk to any unhappy or stressed people in Estonia!
A delightfully unique country with many fab initiatives thrown in, and I loved it.
Go Estonia!
Get there if you can!
During the wider trip, I really got the impression that the bulk of the people in ex-Communist rule countries (we visited a few), have finally got to the point where they really want to move on to a bright new future, rather than harbour resentment about the past, which serves no purpose other than to hang onto it. Why do that if you don't like it!?!? Let it go!
There are so many countries in Eastern Europe who could bear grudges (and have), with borders that changed a zillion times due to political upheaval and displaced people who lost everything. None quite like the other.
Reality is, people in these places have endured hardship like no one in NZ can even imagine.
It's heartening that these people are now focussed on getting on with their futures.
I'd also spent quite some time in Eastern Europe in the 1980s, a very different time, so my observations came from this platform.
In NZ, we've been constantly weighed down for years by resentment and claims for reparation of the wrongdoings of sovereignty some 200 years ago; it's been a daily and draining thing for decades.
Let's get past that ... hey, we still have every inch of our glorious country right here for us all to enjoy. No one chopped up New Zealand and took any part of it away.
If European countries can get over their difficult past and centuries of chaos, then surely we can move on. Our history isn't ideal, but it isn't as hideous to deal with as many other countries.
Please, let's work together as one nation, Aotearoa, towards a bright new future; let's not waste time dissecting a past that we can't influence or change.
The important thing ... we can influence the future!
The past is the past.
Just as these difficult Covid days will be.
NZ is for all of us. Let's enjoy it.
Let's create a bright new future!
Now is the time!
Brunch: Bacon and egg butties
Dinner: Prawn, lentil and spinach mango-curry with rice and naan (Michael loves curry and anything mango, but has never been a fan of prawns - but he loved it! Phew! Tick!)
Life goes on ...
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Well, back to masks ... my life for 20 years - masquerade not medical - but the mask I'm focussing on here is both!
All this mask stuff of current days got me thinking about the role masks used to play long ago. And the mask of one person in particular ...
The Plague Doctor (circa 17th Century) - a mask like no other!
The Plague Doctor's mask is symbolic of the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages.
European physicians specialised in treating victims of the plague, especially in Italy. These guys were in contact with victims of a deadly disease and were of course at risk of falling ill themselves. Not only were they treating patients, they were responsible for doing the stats of casualties, documenting last wishes of patients, and testifying wills etc. The essential workers of those times.
They therefore took precautions to minimise the risk to themselves and covered themselves head to foot.
They wore a suit that consisted of:
- a mask (more on that in a mo)
- a hat made of leather (an indication they were a doctor, as much as an item of protection)
- a long overcoat that went all the way to the feet, waxed for extra protection, and with the neck and mask tucked into each other.
The PPE of yesteruear ... but not as we know it!
Often the doctor would wear leather breeches beneath the coat to protect the lower body from infection. The wax (or suet) would keep bodily fluids from sticking to their gear, and was also thought to repel the plague.
The Plague Doctor also carried a wooden cane - it served to examine the patient without touching them, but could also be used as defense against assault from desperate patients (and there would have been many of those I suspect). It was also an indicator stick to show how and where to move a deceased patient.
The Mask:
The Plague Doctors' mask looked rather ominous, with it's beak-shaped nose, which was stuffed with herbs, straw and spices (which it was believed protected the doctor from disease) and glass covered eyeholes. Every part of the doctor's body was covered, aka PPE!
Whilst this gear was part of life for doctors during the plague (I wonder how many crooks masqueraded as bogus doctors!?!?), it also found its place in the Commedia dell'Arte theatre and is often worn during the Venice Carnivale.
After 20 years of masks, I closed up shop in November 2019 - but now, masks, in a different form, are more relevant than ever!!!
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 London like that! Especially seeing it's flat!
TRAVEL:
So I'm kinda struggling with the fact that travelling to some foreign wonderland soon is not an option. Having said that, I'm also looking at things a little differently and it's all positive ... read on!
I do believe that the best time to do international travel will be when everyone doesn't want to - when borders open, quarantine isn't a thing and airlines are begging you to get on board. Whenever that may be. There'll be a window of the old glory days of travel. Get in!.
And if you're older and/or need support ... I can help! That's my "specialty offering" that I was about to launch before Covid got in the way - travel companionship!
From here on, safe travel is more vital than ever.
Looking at domestic travel, I have no doubt that New Zealand will become NZers' paradise again - no need to battle droves of tourists, hideous prices and a constant focus on the foreigner's positive experience, that somehow negates the local's one. New Zealand will become our playground again - and there's nothing better than that - especially given so many NZers haven't even seen NZ.
So I'm working on various travel offerings that take into account all this, and a whole new mindset. My aim is to get Kiwis travelling again - near or far, it will be safe and it will be fun. www.beyondlimits.co.nz
TODAY:
It was overcast much of the day, but not unpleasant. I went for a beach walk around 2pm and spent the entirety of it, door to door, yakking to a friend in Wellington. Anna and I met on our first day at school, aged 5yo, and here we are, all these -ahem- years later, still the very best of friends.
Consequently, on account of yakking, I completely forgot to take any beach photos - although there were no unusual scenes or epic qualities to capture on the beach today. Just wind. And you can't photograph that!
So instead, today's beach photos are of ... Parnu Beach, on the Baltic Sea in Estonia. It's a popular spa resort where many people from the Baltic States take their holidays. Rather lovely. You had to walk out quite a long way to get wet as it's shallow, but there are lifeguard towers so presumably it gets rough and ready at times although it was hard to imagine turmoil in these calm waters on the day we were there, which was perfection (July 2019). It was busy but not seething. The sand was caramel deliciousness.
A fabulous interlude en route from Tallinn, Estonia to Riga, Latvia ...
 |
| Parnu Beach on the Baltic Sea, Estonia |
 |
| Me and Elaine - a gorgeous day! |
 |
| Estonian selfie! (Sally Selfies are very rare indeed) |
So, I was there last July leading a tour throughout the area. I was very taken with this small but fabulous country. The capital Tallinn is a divine place. I'd love to return.
Estonia may have spent time under Soviet rule, but from what I could gather during my short stay, and from talking to people, their government has to be one of the most compassionate and far-sighted in existence in this day and age.
People see NZ, under Jacinda, being all of that. I'm not sure we're doing it quite like Estonia - but I think we can. BTW, I have emailed Jacinda to encourage her to look at how Estonia operates!
Estonia: Population 1.3m - more the size of Auckland city than NZ. But lots of similarities.
What struck me is how much emphasis Estonia has put, over recent years, on people's well-being, first and foremost.
They have one of the world's most digitally advanced societies, have a high-income economy, and were the first country in Europe to introduce free public transport.
They also offer, far and away, the best maternity allowances of any OECD country - 140 days maternity leave (4.5 months), PLUS 435 days (wow, almost a year) of shared parental leave. Fathers get some chunk in there too. Hungary, rather surprisingly, comes second, and Japan third. Sweden is way down, and NZ way further down.
Lovely scenery, interesting history, delightful townships, engaging people. An emphasis on music and connection. There was contentment around every corner.
Their language is aligned to Finnish, not to Russian or slavic langauges.
Bottom line - the Estonian government wants their people to be happy and unstressed, and has created platforms to enable this, to truly bring the country way out of post-Soviet doldrums into a whole new era.
These things do take time, but from what I could ascertain last year, it's working rather brilliantly. I didn't see or talk to any unhappy or stressed people in Estonia!
A delightfully unique country with many fab initiatives thrown in, and I loved it.
Go Estonia!
Get there if you can!
During the wider trip, I really got the impression that the bulk of the people in ex-Communist rule countries (we visited a few), have finally got to the point where they really want to move on to a bright new future, rather than harbour resentment about the past, which serves no purpose other than to hang onto it. Why do that if you don't like it!?!? Let it go!
There are so many countries in Eastern Europe who could bear grudges (and have), with borders that changed a zillion times due to political upheaval and displaced people who lost everything. None quite like the other.
Reality is, people in these places have endured hardship like no one in NZ can even imagine.
It's heartening that these people are now focussed on getting on with their futures.
I'd also spent quite some time in Eastern Europe in the 1980s, a very different time, so my observations came from this platform.
In NZ, we've been constantly weighed down for years by resentment and claims for reparation of the wrongdoings of sovereignty some 200 years ago; it's been a daily and draining thing for decades.
Let's get past that ... hey, we still have every inch of our glorious country right here for us all to enjoy. No one chopped up New Zealand and took any part of it away.
If European countries can get over their difficult past and centuries of chaos, then surely we can move on. Our history isn't ideal, but it isn't as hideous to deal with as many other countries.
Please, let's work together as one nation, Aotearoa, towards a bright new future; let's not waste time dissecting a past that we can't influence or change.
The important thing ... we can influence the future!
The past is the past.
Just as these difficult Covid days will be.
NZ is for all of us. Let's enjoy it.
Let's create a bright new future!
Now is the time!
 |
| My group having fun in Tallinn |
Brunch: Bacon and egg butties
Dinner: Prawn, lentil and spinach mango-curry with rice and naan (Michael loves curry and anything mango, but has never been a fan of prawns - but he loved it! Phew! Tick!)
Life goes on ...
SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Well, back to masks ... my life for 20 years - masquerade not medical - but the mask I'm focussing on here is both!
All this mask stuff of current days got me thinking about the role masks used to play long ago. And the mask of one person in particular ...
The Plague Doctor (circa 17th Century) - a mask like no other!
The Plague Doctor's mask is symbolic of the bubonic plague in the Middle Ages.
European physicians specialised in treating victims of the plague, especially in Italy. These guys were in contact with victims of a deadly disease and were of course at risk of falling ill themselves. Not only were they treating patients, they were responsible for doing the stats of casualties, documenting last wishes of patients, and testifying wills etc. The essential workers of those times.
They therefore took precautions to minimise the risk to themselves and covered themselves head to foot.
They wore a suit that consisted of:
- a mask (more on that in a mo)
- a hat made of leather (an indication they were a doctor, as much as an item of protection)
- a long overcoat that went all the way to the feet, waxed for extra protection, and with the neck and mask tucked into each other.
 |
| Plague doctor mask |
The PPE of yesteruear ... but not as we know it!
Often the doctor would wear leather breeches beneath the coat to protect the lower body from infection. The wax (or suet) would keep bodily fluids from sticking to their gear, and was also thought to repel the plague.
The Plague Doctor also carried a wooden cane - it served to examine the patient without touching them, but could also be used as defense against assault from desperate patients (and there would have been many of those I suspect). It was also an indicator stick to show how and where to move a deceased patient.
The Mask:
The Plague Doctors' mask looked rather ominous, with it's beak-shaped nose, which was stuffed with herbs, straw and spices (which it was believed protected the doctor from disease) and glass covered eyeholes. Every part of the doctor's body was covered, aka PPE!
Whilst this gear was part of life for doctors during the plague (I wonder how many crooks masqueraded as bogus doctors!?!?), it also found its place in the Commedia dell'Arte theatre and is often worn during the Venice Carnivale.
After 20 years of masks, I closed up shop in November 2019 - but now, masks, in a different form, are more relevant than ever!!!
Good to know that Brett tested negative for Covid-19. The Plague Doctors mask, while ominous, it may not look so out of place during Covid-19.
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