Beyond COVID-19 NZ

The last day of 2020. Windy for the most part but then abated. A social day ... Drinks next door and then friends called in. So busy talking, missed the spot of midnight - but to be honest, with days melding into each other, life isn't about timeframes! The Full Moon is shining bright. And a new era begins ... 2021 ..

I went for a swim today! My first for the season - and one of only a handful in life! I'm really not a water babe and the temperature of both air and water has to be high for me to even contemplate it. Not often the case here. Today, all things aligned - and in I went! Even the wind was just a gentle breeze. I think I might just be getting more enamoured with swimming in my old age - as long as that water is tepid! The tide was quite far out which was a nuisance as it stays shallow for some time - but the water was as clear as a bell. A little chilly getting the top bits under but once I was fully immersed, I stayed in for ages! The beach was the busiest I've seen it in a very long time.  Here are some photos looking either way - and I'm being 100% serious when I say this is "busiest"!  Looking north Looking south Watched The Green Mile - it's a very good film - touches on the best and the worst in people with a bit of come-uppance thrown in. A film that is bo...

Today is all about the beach ... long beach walk, gorgeous vistas, warm water.  SHARE-NOTE OF THE DAY: Clouds ... As you know, I love clouds. Today at 12"30 ish - I thought it might rain - but it didn't. Half an hour later this cloud didn't even exist! And here's a plant ... in Morocco!

Another leisurely summer's morning. Why not? You can never get enough of a leisurely summer's morning. More strong winds blowing. Why? Wind ... Enough is enough, go now!  Here's a video link to Neil Young's "Four Strong Winds" - with EmmyLou Harris (left) and his late ex-wife Pegi Young (mostly featured in this footage, separated from Neil after 36 years of marriage, died 2019).  What an intriguing video - a seemingly endless line-up of men, with Neil's voice star of show, and Emmylou and Pegi popped in amongst the males. The end result, regardless of all that, is amazing. Love it. The most haunting and beautiful song prevails likes it's being carried off on the wind for all to hear.  Neil is now married to Darryl Hannah (Splash). This affair caused the split with Pegi. Awful angst. I rate Pegi, strong woman. Three children - 2 with cerebal palsy, one with epilepsy. Neil ran. Pegi did the hard yards.  Love Neil's music - and perhaps I now understan...

Another leisurely morning at the seaside. Doors wide open. Alas, wind still blowing. Being from the south it has a definite and annoying chill. After lolling around for a bit, we had fried eggs and friend ham for brunch (ham sizzled up with relish, tropical juice and honey to give a tasty glaze) served with mushrooms, fresh locally-grown tomatoes and avocado.  A tad too windy to eat outside on the deck but no matter, it tasted good nevertheless. And the sun was shining.  The cricket test continued - I have to say I am now fully engaged in this test cricket match and actually do care about the stats and tactics - even though I'm still not fully clear on how test matches operate - it remains a conundrum for me, and will do so for all time. It's the skill I'm interested in as much as the result. There are injuries, nasty ones. Today there was a shin hit with a ball flying at high speed (Pakistani fielder in agony on the ground), a dislocated finger (NZ fielder tried to catch a...

Boxing Day 2020. Saturday. Stunningly beautiful weather.  A mellow morning. Coffee, paper, lounging around, sunshine, doors open. Perfect.   The Boxing Day cricket Test match between NZ and Pakistan was on so Brett and Michael tuned in. I have to admit I do "get" cricket - thanks to having two sons who have played for years. Before that I knew nothing but now I know rather a lot and it's a game I've come to enjoy. How some of those guys catch that small hard unforgiving and speeding ball is unfathomable. Hand-eye coordination to be in utter awe of.  I did some horseracing study as the cricket played out and we had ham rolls for lunch as the sun shone strongly.  Brett and Michael went off to golf around 2.30pm and I went into Matakana. Called into the sports bar to watch a few races - the usual crew were there. Good fun, loads of laughs. I had several friends with horses running at Ellerslie but alas none of them came anywhere - as expected, most of them were pay...

Firstly - Merry Christmas to one and all! Christmas morning dawned nicely with a bit of cloud which burnt off quite quickly to reveal mostly blue skies. Brett was up early (why!?), Michael and I more leisurely. Talked with Sam in London - they were having a Christmas Eve poker night in the flat and plans for a big feast on Xmas Day. The Covid situation in the flat has settled, the two girls who had it are now okay, and everyone else tested negative. The vaccine situation sounds positive. Sam sounds quite positive (after sounding despondent a few days ago). And travel after April seems possible if the vaccine can take care of things as hoped and intended. Brexit - also sounds positive but, well, who knows - but I guess it's a big and sudden step forward after years of [not even sure what to call it!] Not complacency, not procrastination, not dragging feet, not daggers drawn, not indecision, not power games, not ... well perhaps it was all of those and more ...! Brett, Michael and I ...

This may be Day 77 of Level 1 - but it is Day 277 of me posting. That's every day for 277 days! I'm quite astounded that I've actually managed to do it in some shape or form for each and every one of those days since initial lockdown in March.  Poor Michael ended up having to do some work this morning which he wasn't too pleased about as he'd [supposedly] finished up for the year yesterday. At least it was stuff he could do from the Omaha bench on his laptop! Seems he was sorting out stuff that other people had left unfinished before heading off for their break. Mike to the rescue ... there's a danger in doing that ... people become reliant on you doing that ... and, as is usually the case, those with the good work ethic end up picking up the pieces!  Blustery today, and raining on and off. That's good for the garden - and the fig trees - but not ideal for summer fun. At least it's warm. And hasn't been too humid these last few days. But that's j...

Finished off a bit of work and then packed up Indi the cat into her travel cat cage - thankfully she hadn't gone AWOL - she's getting older (now 10yo) and sleeps much of the time, which was a good thing as that's what she was up to when I disturbed her to put her into the cat cage. She never likes being handled too much, but she goes into her cage without drama or fighting. I tell her "we're going on holiday" - the word holiday is said "holleeday", in a high-pitched cat-voice(!) - which I think she knows by now (I've been saying it for 10 years!) I hope she finds it soothing and exciting! She meows a few times along the way but settles in on her fleecy sheet, quietens down and waits out the journey. Today she was quite tired as she did sleep a bit of the way (doesn't usually). A few meows cropped up when she'd had enough and we were nearly at Omaha - but first I had to call in to the oyster shed to get a dozen for entree, and then into th...

Sam's Covid test is negative. Yay. Two of the [female] flatmates are positive - they were self-isolating in their rooms while the rest of the flatmates got tested - I think everyone else is negative. Not quite sure how that works but I guess those girls are basically stuck in their rooms until they recover and test negative. If they were to mix and mingle in the flat, the others are highly likely to get it too. How dire. I feel gutted for Sam and his mates, it's awful. So many hopes and plans dashed, and he hasn't been able to fully enjoy one of the most brilliant cities on the planet. Today was the Christmas function of the company I do minute-taking for (for a range of clients). I do it part-time, ad hoc, fill-in. The flexibility is great, suits me well, I do it from home via Zoom link or audio recording. I take on jobs that I have time to do in between all the other stuff. It's been a blessing through Covid, with having to put my travel biz on hold for the time bein...