Day 12, Level 2: Last Day, First Visitors, Go Travel, and Gather Safely!

It's my last day/night of "lockdown at Omaha".

I've been here for almost 10 weeks! Despite everything, I've loved every moment up here. I cannot complain. It's been hard for some people, desperately bad for many. But I've laid low, taken stock and worked on a future offering that I hope has wings ...

In all reality I'm used to being away on overseas trips for 4-8 weeks, and even, on occasion, 12 weeks. With or without family. So that in itself is not a big deal or straying from the norm. I'm just very glad that the timing was such that I wasn't overseas, least of all escorting someone. Feeling ultra blessed.

This is certainly the longest I've ever spent at Omaha, in one hit, stay-put. And with barely seeing anyone! Oh how I've loved it. 

I also love filling the house with people and laughter and love - the more the merrier. So it's great that Brett's sister Vicki, and Lyle, are coming up for Queens Birthday weekend - and Vicki's birthday. It could just about be a normal weekend!

One of the Pou in Omaha

Another Pou

Looking to the South ridge - taken in 2018 (same time as Pou pics)

I'll head back to Auckland tomorrow, Tues. As Shania once sang, It don't impress me much - but it must be done. I have meetings to physically attend rather than on Zoom. And my resources are low. I've had no printer up here and have struggled a bit, especially recently. But it's remarkable how you adapt and make do with the minimal resources you have - without really losing anything, it just requires a bit more savviness I guess. Thank goodness for iPhones and iPads to act as second screens. 

And the good thing about Covid - generally, people have expected less, there's a softer regime from people who once couldn't budge a millimetre for no apparent reason. Que sera sera. I like it. 

Nothing is lost. And a better outcome is usually the result. Perfect. 

A miserable sort of day today, not worthy of a jaunt to the beach. I thought about heading home today, in view of horrid weather, but was happy to continue to eke it out as far as I could ... 

This fortunately meant I was home when a knock on the door came late morning - golly, could that be visitors (apart from neighbours)!?!? It was indeed - the people who owned the house next door to us here at Omaha about 8 years ago! How wonderful to see them. We had coffee and a good chat and they got to see the new era house. Caught up on all sorts and it was great. They've bought a motor home and had been staying up at Leigh - having decided that enough is enough, time to get out and explore life and land, rather than work yourself to an early death. I agree!  

We talked about so many people we knew who had retired - and then died within days, or their spouse had, or child had, or accidents happened and things went wrong. Awful and all too familiar stories about life coming crashing down or ending abruptly at precisely the time it's supposed to be all good and relaxed and freeing in advanced years. 

If you can, get travelling before you get too old - and that word has many connotations well beyond age. I'm just glad I've travelled all through my life, in a pleasurable and mostly discerning way. Travel can be gruesomely arduous and I always shunned that, although I've had my moments. 

Bottom line, if the time does come when I can't go anywhere, for physical or Covid-like reasons, I know I've already been everywhere I desired. Almost! 

I know I'll be eking it out till the bitter end.

This, folks, is the basic premise of my travel services ... do it while you can, independently, and for as long as you can, and before it gets too hard. 

But when it gets too tricky, or if there are issues, yet you still have that travel spirit calling - then call me! I'll get you travelling - locally for now - but when we can fly away again, let's fly away!

Let's make it happen!

I spent much of the afternoon putting finishing touches to costings and details of my small-group 8 day/7 night Matakana/Omaha/Leigh tour. The vibe is sophisticated and the blend of activities is unique. The local suppliers are excited, the offerings are fantastic. And I'll be escorting it with a point of difference. 

Ready to market next week. Good things take time ... I'm nearly there ... 

LUNCH: Fried egg and emmenthal cheese toasted sandwich with onion marmalade and relishes. The egg had just the right amount runny yolk without being messy. Not exactly healthfood, but yumfood.

DINNER: Shredded hoisin chicken and thinly sliced veges in rice-paper rolls. Made from scratch (with some learning along the way as I haven't made them for a very long time). Tricky but healthy and tasty. I fried one, like a spring roll - it was an experiment of pfaff and the thing emerged looking worse for wear. Shocking, actually, and you wouldn't have paid money for it - but it tasted damn good! I left the others plain.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

100 people gatherings ... 

So today we're told that larger gatherings are possible, coming to us soon. That's a good thing. As long as people "behave" - let's all listen to Austin Powers, folks!

The hospitality industry still seems hard hit, this relief doesn't actually help them much.

It's more designed to get sports under way again. Sigh. 

Good for weddings and funerals and occasions of note. 

But what about the bars and restaurants still stuck in the dark ages of spacing and seated and single server and silence ... while rugby players of all ages lock heads and tackle each other and parents run amok and shriek from the sidelines. 

Makes no sense. 

Not sure what this 100 person thing means for horse racing meetings as yet ...

Perhaps owners at least will get to go on course. Who knows ...

It's all random and it seems that much has been thought out in haste. 

I'm just glad I've been able to really consider and rethink my own offering in peace and with new perspective and insight within a new world. 

My Covid world since lockdown on 26th March ...

I've not been to a proper supermarket.

I've not been near a service station - my petrol tank is still half full. A litre a week max, maybe less!?

I've worked without distraction and been gently productive.

I've listened to great new music, learnt a thing or two via docos and written new stuff.

I've watched ballet galore, something I've missed in my life for too long.

I've stayed up late and slept like a log.

I've seen sunrises and sunsets, moon phases and star wonders.

I've enjoyed cooking great meals from scratch and sipping all manner of wines.

I've loved connecting with family and friends near and far, via Zoom.

I've been under no time pressures, yet delivering with do-able deadlines. 

I've enjoyed being on the beach most days, and so different every time I've visited.

I've devised new stuff, researched old stuff, made something of it all.

I've blogged every single day, no matter what.

I've revived and worked on projects left in abeyance for too long. 

I've quizzed many times, in many fora (ok, forums, but I learnt Latin ...), and loved every moment.

I've kept abreast of events in all realms and tried to make sense of everything. Not simple!

I've put on some weight, and my hair's gone wild.

I've enjoyed Indi the cat being right by my side; at 9yo she confirmed her status as the ideal cat she always has been.

I've laughed and talked and listened and learnt. 

I've thanked my lucky stars I wasn't off somewhere in the world leading a group of people.

I've refined the travel offering I've been working on.

Overall - I've worked hard. I've relaxed. I've contemplated. And got into action.

Yes there are things I've missed - but this is about the positives that I've gained.

Those missing things haven't disappeared.

And the new gains will always be there.

Win win.

Now, with all these new insights, I need to go forth and conquer the new world of travel!

 

And showcase Omaha and environs to NZers ... and then perhaps the world. 

Having said that, as soon as flights take us out of here to London, I'm keen, somehow, to go see Sam who's in lockdown in London, and friends in UK. Reconnecting with a new Europe is appealing, if and when.