30 April: Today ends the strangest month any of us, probably on the plant, has ever experienced. The world seems to have become kinder, less frenetic and we have given nature some breathing space. We have been given a glimpse of a different world, one that is not dominated by commercialism. Don't get me wrong, I do not, for one minute, underestimate the traumas that COVID-19 has inflicted. Not just the deaths and ill-health directly and indirectly, though TG in New Zealand we have been spared the rates of the likes of the US, UK and others, or the social, mental health and economic issues that it has presented. But I just hope that we, as individuals, communities and nations, can take some learning from this. I for one plan hope to make some simple changes. I do not intend to hope in the car so often to 'pop' into Matamata, and I will be thinking twice before I make purchases. I have always tried to support local and small businesses and will certainly continue to do that. I have also enjoyed our evening walks. Eric has never been a great one for taking walks (well for the last 3 decades since he got shot in the thigh and has ongoing leg pain so I guess that's understandable!). Having said that, he does often go for one during his lunchtimes at work, just to get out the office really but, with being in the house all day every day he has been keen to go out for one after work. With the evenings are drawing in a little now we are having to leave earlier to get back before dark. They have been a real pleasure, if hard work on my knee. I have said repeatedly here that we have had stunning autumnal weather. This in combination with the time of day and no traffic (we cross a main, and in NZ terms 'busy' road) has meant we have really been able to enjoy the pastoral beauty of our surroundings. I have often spoken of the quality of the 'light' here in NZ. My sister-in-law on a visit from the UK described it as 'like viewing the world in HD (high definition)'. The evening, and sometimes setting, sun on (now green) fields and across the Hinuera stones has been breathtaking. One of those experiences that makes you feel like the most privileged person in the world, and unbelievably grateful for it.
This led me in to ponder on my year. 3-5 months stuck on my bum following the quad bike accident in which I broke my leg, many more months of limited mobility (ongoing at this point) and then the world turning up-side-down by COVID-19 has certainly made this one of the most exceptional ones to date.
Harriette returned to work today and was bored silly! At the coffee shop they are working on their own and for full days. Almost all of their customers are office workers and most are still working at home. Alice is job hunting. She saw her sister today but across the correct social distancing. On a shopping trip she stopped at Demi Urgos for coffee. Eric went for a drive!! He bought a metal lathe on Trade Me and went to pick it up from Ngarawahia (pronounced nara-wa-hea). I contemplated going with him but thought I could be much more productive staying here.
Today we planned out family reunion. Harriette was delighted with the brioche burgers she made recently and offered to cook them for us on Monday to have with the new Miss Fisher movie The Crypt of Tears. I know this was not strictly within the rules of level three but.... how can we extend our bubble to one daughter and not the other?
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