Day 8, Level 1: Ellerslie, Covid and Quiz

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OMG so after 24 days or so with no new cases, today there are two new cases of Covid. Sisters who travelled from the UK. Given compassionate approval to drive from their quarantine hotel in Auckland to Wellington. And now they've tested positive. How the hell were they able to transfer from one major city to another without being tested first when they hadn't completed quarantine!?!?!?!?
It beggars belief. Another sign of complacency.

And now ... shambles ensues as contact tracing is followed up and people who've been anywhere near the hotel wonder if they're infected. How many touch points did those sisters have along the way ...?  How many steps back is this!? I guess we'll find out.

They'd been quarantining at the Novotel - which is situated by Ellerslie Racecourse - which is where I spent the morning! There were horse-racing trials at Ellerslie today. A friend and I met there for a catch-up - a morning of chatting, racing and talking with other keen racing folk. So good to get a dose of racing after so long away from it!
Alas, I completely forgot to take photos - I was too busy yakking, engrossed in watching horses, studying breeding, chatting with racing industry people, and generally having a fine time reconnecting with horse-racing after such a long hiatus. It should have been able to continue through lockdown - if Australia could do it, so could we. But now the TAB is in turmoil, training regimes disrupted, jockeys a bit rusty, and racing clubs bereft of income.

And, very close by, there was action galore at the Novotel, police present, and renewed Covid fear.



The [reasonably] new stable block at Ellerslie


After watching the 2yo horse of trainer friends' run - a beautiful race, pipped for second on the line - I then visited a friend who lives in Ellerslie for a long overdue in-person catch-up. So nice.
Although what's not nice is that a great big residential building project is taking place right at the back of her house - three 5-bed townhouses being built right up close to her boundary and about to block her entire view. Not to mention the living room window of this new build being right opposite and up close to her own living room sliders and deck.
How does this happen? Surely it can't be compliant. And if so, why, how? There must surely be some mega greasing of someone's hand in Council. It happens, this I do know from our own horror fiascos with our hideous neighbour who built a monstrosity of a "garage" which has actually turned out to be an entire studio unit with kitchen and bathroom and is mostly occupied either as Air BnB - or now, it seems, with a permanent tenant. The Council plans do not give consent for habitable accommodation. But do the Council care? No.  Would they care if I asked for consent to put in an extra kitchen cupboard? Hell yes. I wouldn't be greasing someone's palm. Ridiculous.

Off to quiz tonight. As I sat down I did a double take as I observed the guy at the table across from us - what's Sam doing here, I thought. Of course, Sam is in London and he wasn't there at all. It was none other than Beauden Barrett. Sam looks so much like Beauden (and has always been called "Beaudie" by his own rugby team). Dopplegangers. And they both play No. 10.
Wow, Beauden sure looked fit and buff and vibrant. In great order. Playing for the Blues suits him! And suits us Aucklanders - the Blues just might have a chance ...

Quiz was fun ... and better still, we won!!! Very thrilled. Some tricky rounds but we acquitted ourselves well. We're enjoying our new quiz venue - The Corner Bar, Remuera. Good food, good prices, good service, good vibe. And a very good first prize of a voucher for $100. Plenty of ticks for The Corner.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Ellerslie ...
The first race meeting of the Auckland Racing Club was held on 25th May 1874. The racecourse was rural and quite a distance from the city. Took racegoers several hours to get to the course by horse and carriage - so worth it for a great day out!

The place was always packed in the early days, and right through the decades until, in the late 90s and early 2000s, when a day out at the races lost its appeal - possibly due to sports being plastered all over the TV sports channels, and other activities becoming more prevalent and accessible.
It's been picking up again - until Covid came along. It's certainly in a state of change again right now.

Let's hope it gets back on its feet quick and flourishes again.
First race meeting post-lockdown will take place next Saturday 20th June at Counties. I'll be at Omaha but I'll be tuning in. Can't wait!


Ellerslie 1874



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