Day 34, Level 1: Stuck in NZ (or out of it), Thai curry, and Shoes

- July 12, 2020

So today is Sunday 12th July.

If you're a regular reader and have wondered why no post yesterday - well, I had a day away from a keyboard! But, in the interests of posting EVERY day, I have now added a post for yesterday - with a racing theme, so you can read it now.

It's 111 days since I started this blog - which started due to Covid. Now we are somewhat Beyond Covid - but still embroiled in it.

We've had:

- 3 days prep

- 33 days in Level 4

- 16 days in Level 3

- 26 days in Level 2

And now we're up to our 34th day in Level 1. It's the new cautious normal - there are still some blips, anomalies, unfairness and whatnot, but generally things are going pretty well.

I should be heading from Spain into Portugal today, leading a tour. But not to be.

There are so many Kiwis who were supposed to be somewhere else in the world right now - but we are here in NZ.

There are so many Kiwis who are somewhere else in the world right now - but wish they were here in NZ!

There are stories of stressed and displaced Kiwis, from South Africa to Canada and many places in between. It's mooted they'll have to pay for isolation if/when they return as this is under discussion. So far the Govt (NZ taxpayers) have paid $81m in isolation/quarantine costs for returning Kiwis.

NZ prisoners being deported from Australia over coming weeks are going to be isolated in special corrections facilities. The Govt (NZ taxpayers) will be paying for that. But the honest desperate Kiwis trying to return home will have to pay - a lot. Hmmm, not quite right.

We have another Covid case today - someone returning from Italy. Most recent cases have been from India.

So instead of arriving in Portugal and hopping on a river cruise boat to head up the Douro, I had a good clean out and tidy up in the lounge. Brett was at golf - again - so I spent the whole afternoon sprucing and was pleased with my efforts. This is something I would definitely have done during lockdown had I been at home.

On this reasonably sunny Sunday afternoon - when I could have/should probably have been working on my computer - I decided the lounge required my attention more. It's amazing how magazines pile up, books get higgledy-piggledy, pens run out of ink and dust settles. I put on music and, with duster and cloth in hand, I rather enjoyed a bit of cleaning and cleansing, sorting and tidying. I also seemed to do a lot of washing, including a mega bedding wash. Then I had a Zoom meeting (Racehorse Owners Board).

Brett got home and cooked a nice Thai style chicken curry for dinner. I had something planned but he was set on doing his curry. Fine by me! It's interesting, because ever since I've known him he's never been a fan of coconut style curries and has been highly unenthused (and even uncomplimentary) whenever I've served one up for dinner (the boys and I have always enjoyed a good Thai chicken curry!) Now that he's recently discovered a recipe of his own he seems to cook this curry every week - even the night after we've had Thai takeaways! Good, I'm glad his tastebuds have learnt to like a good Thai-based curry. But he wasn't able to answer my "very difficult" question as to what's changed to convert him from "turn his nose up" to "can't get enough"!!! It's a recent thing (during Covid I think) so perhaps he hasn't worked it out yet!!!

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:

Shoes ...

I've always been a bit of a shoe-lover and have a reasonable collection. I tend to wear my shoes to their death; throwing away a pair of shoes that has no more life left is a very sad occasion for me and I'll delay it as long as possible. I still fondly remember much-loved shoes that came to the end of their lives. They are never forgotten.

I have a couple of pairs of favourite shoes (strappy dress style) that both had a strappy bit break - so they have been up at the local cobbler for repair for the past week. I intend to collect them tomorrow. Mr Cobbler said he could fix them up no problem at all. I hope that's the case as I do like those shoes.

I love boots and in winter that's what I mostly tend to wear if I'm going out. Boots are more sturdy and hard-wearing than shoes and consequently last longer which is good.

Bottom line - shoes do get a battering and comfort is the key. A heel is nice - but low is good. How I ever got around the London tube in high heels I'll never know - but in youth, you can do just about anything, almost. These days, flats rule.

But on the matter of shoes - several years ago a shoe fanatic launched a Shoe Extravanganza and I entered. The shoes were modelled in a catwalk style show and it was something quite outside the norm.

The brief was ... do anything with a shoe, as long as it can be worn and walked in. Below is what I created - they were also displayed in another exhibition a year or so ago and featured on TV!

They are called Fioretta - which means "flower of wine" in Italian! Creating using Venetian mask artisan techniques with iridescence and metallics, feathers and glass flowers. The "fronds" are made from that plastic strapping that wraps around boxes.