Day 2, Level 3: Supermarket, baby Sam, gatherings and racehorses

I classed yesterday as Day 1 of Level 3, as we lurched into L3 at midday yesterday.
So today is Day 2. And soon I think we'll be lurching into Day 1 of Level 4 ... watch this space!

I decided I'd go to the supermarket today - better to get in early if Level 4 is coming soon (oh, yes it is, much as everyone hopes not!) 

Being unsure whether it would be seething or not, I figured the best time to go would be around 1pm when the daily Government briefing was happening. Surely everyone would be watching the TV and not at the supermarket!

Seemed to be the case, as there was hardly anyone at the supermarket. I did sit in my car for a bit once I parked, and heard the briefing - 13 new confirmed cases. Hmm, Lockdown Level 4 is definitely imminent, I thought to myself as I grabbed my bags and headed inside.

Ironically, this was possibly one of the most leisurely pleasurely supermarket shopping expeditions I've done in a very long time! If ever! I wore a mask, for the first time. Just about everyone was also wearing a mask. I honestly felt safe wearing the mask. Previously, I didn't care too much. Today, something inside me said "wear the mask". I did. Glad. And not a big deal.

Having initially gone to get a few items, I ended up doing a massive shop, with Level 4 in mind. I could stroll the aisles in isolation, ponder what I might need in isolation, and it was an unusually unhurried contemplative shop.

It was a good - but expensive - call! Not sure I'll encounter such a serene supermarket shop again for a while. But I do hope it's a long time before it amounts to that horrible total again!

I've nothing specific to share photo-wise - but here's one of Brett and his parents, and baby Sam (he must have only been about 2 months old). Brett's dad Ernie died about 6 months later. My dad had died 4 months earlier than this photo was taken. Young or old, life is precious. Sam and Michael never got to know their grandads.

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY:
Gatherings, events, travel and whatnot ... probably not! Includes HORSERACING!

Here's the awful thing if L4 comes calling (which it will) - so many things that have been planned (many postponed from original lockdown) will likely have to be canned again. 

Michael is booked to go to the South Island on 22nd August. No-go.

I'm involved in organising a few community events - several in September, which I suspect are no-go. Even events in December - dubious.

Our racing syndicate was planning to go to Cambridge to see our babies and watch them work this weekend. Now, not. Gut-wrenching, you've no idea!

Proposed Beyond trips to the WOW "Up Close' exhibition planned for September ... likely no-go.

We're booked to go to a few concerts. Probably canned. 

Can one plan for anything these days? The answer, sadly, is no.

For us Horselovers, one of the hardest things to get the head around is what happens with horseracing here in NZ through another lockdown. Last time it shut down completely. No racing, no training, no nothing. 

In Australia, racing continued despite lockdown, and provided a lifeline to the industry, owners, trainers, horses and to racing enthusiasts. 

Will racing cease again ... just as owners have invested in having their horses trained up for the new season? I sincerely hope not. I'll be advocating for it to continue under Oz guidelines. Otherwise, the industry is dead in the water. Which means a multi-billion dollar NZ industry gone (think breeding, beyond racing). It's a real worry. 

Not sure this will have been considered by government. Nor the ability for bakers, butchers, fruit/vege shops to open during L4. Yet people can go to a supermarket - and during the last lockdown without a mask and however they pleased. It's all a nonsense. 

If you race cars or bikes, and can't, you put them in storage if you can't race, and shut down shop for a bit.

If you play tennis or golf, and can't, you put your equipment in the garage and wait until you can use it again. It won't go off. 

But, if racing is your game, and a horse is your focus - this is a living breathing being that needs care and attention and money to keep it fed, alive and well. The way you can recoup the outgoings is to put it in a race and hope to win. If there is no race - there is no possibility for income. And it all becomes unsustainable.

If owners can't keep a horse in work, then a trainer has no work, the stable hands have no work, vets are not needed, jockeys have no rides, clubs have no race meetings ... the onflow is HUGE. Too big and hard to think about. 

The Owners Federation, of which I'm Vice President, will kick into action again ...

NZ - we're in isolation for some time yet it seems.

But perhaps the world will decide that Covid is beyond it's control and to hell with things ... we're all going to die somehow, sometime and if it's Covid that kills us, then so be it. 

Maybe getting out and enjoying life is what everyone needs to do ... and to hell with Covid. 

Maybe Sweden's approach will be the optimum. Time will tell. But what will it tell!?

Here's a photo of baby filly Eliza in 2018 as a yearling. She's now a 2YO - and ready to become a racehorse. Let's hope Covid doesn't stymie that. Is this cute and gorgeous or what! She's a big girl now and all set for a racing career. 

Also a photo of our Ziggy (races as Saintly Way) - Eliza (will race as Holy Sister) is a half sister to Ziggy. Love them both!

Eliza (Holy Sister) - by Redwood out of Entirely Saintly

 

Ziggy (Saintly Way) - by Thewayouare out of Entirely Saintly

Oh how I wish we could have gone and seen these two beauties this weekend. But Covid has said NO. Gutting on every level.