Day 5, Level 1: Gloom, Zoom, slippery - and lovely Fiji

A miserable day dawned - blowing and dull. Unpleasant, with a misty rainy feel, although it didn't actually rain until later in the afternoon. Gloomy is the word. All day long. And into the night - it's still howling a gale. 

I only set foot outside to bring in the recycling bin. Otherwise ticking off more work projects. And adding more to the list. It's never-ending. 

Chaired a Zoom meeting at 5pm - I do like meetings via Zoom, they somehow seem to be more efficient. And are becoming more ingrained. Why drive when you can sit at home?

This one was over in an hour - which surprised me a little as it was a full agenda with lots discussed and decided. If it had been a face to face meeting, I'm sure it would have taken a fair bit longer than that, as people do tend to go on more when in person for a variety of reasons. 

From a chairing perspective, I definitely prefer Zoom - everyone is looking at each other, there is no room for bamboozling or hiding, people can see themselves and if they're rambling it's very apparent to one and all. People don't (can't) talk amongst themselves or take things off track with asides. It's great!

A 5pm in person meeting requires half an hour either side to get there and back, a longer meeting is inevitable and that's 3 hours gone. For the same achievement as a one hour Zoom.

Short, sharp, productive, done. Sweet! 

The lasagne I made last night tasted even better tonight, served with broccoli. 

Today's Inktober prompt word was SLIPPERY. Hmmm. By the end of the day I was slithering into lethargy - but I did create this rather slippery, slithery, snakey, serpent thing - like a snake from Snakes & Ladders. 

I'm not at all fond of this creation and find it rather sinister actually! Kind of a Nessie gone very wrong. I feel a bit sorry for it! 

Nothing went quite right with this inkwork - but it is what it is, and I wasn't going to start again. That's the thing with Inktober, it's about exploration, success, failure, trial, error etc. That's the road to true creativity!

Talked with my friend Anna in Italy this evening - she lives near Sienna. Masks have become compulsory when out and about. I really think they need to get that habit going here - currently virtually no one wears a mask. Hardly anyone signs in with the Covid app when visiting a place, supermarket, bar, whatever. 

For the majority of NZers, Level 1 means life as normal. But hang on, this is 2020 and nothing about it is normal. Wishful "we've got this" thinking means life in NZ is being treated as such. We've had no new cases today and long may that continue. But it's unrealistic to believe it truly can if life really is to resume as "normal". Whatever that is. 

Tomorrow is another day ... and I doubt I'll see anyone wearing a mask. 

SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY: 
Dreaming of Fiji ...

Here are some photos from a holiday in Fiji back in 2007. It's a popular destination for NZers - but currently off limits of course. We were supposed to go to an Indian wedding in Fiji in June - no-go, what a shame. The couple had been planning it for a long time. 

Finding these photos has brightened me up on a gloomy day!

And here's a rare (and not great quality) pic of me in Fiji - 13 years ago!

Sam and Michael with Jeremy (the tall one!) with a local and freshly chopped coconuts.
Jeremy and Sam have been besties since they were 6 months old. They are the same age. Truly!
Here they were 14yo. Michael 11yo. 
The boys and I went on holiday with Jeremy and his mum, my good friend Jill. 
What a fab time we had!