Welcome to Another Weekend Coffee Share!
Before I ask you how your week was, and if anything, indeed, anything at all has transpired in your neck of the woods, let me offer you a drink.
If you’re in lockdown here in NSW, you might be wanting a stiff drink, although it could be worse. Covid could be spreading like wildfire unabated. We had 830 cases overnight and three deaths. Parts of Sydney have now gone into an extreme lockdown and a nightly curfew from 9.00pm to 5.00am I believe. Meanwhile, we live on the NSW Central Coast which was classified as part of Greater Sydney, but we lobbied the State government to be reclassified “regional”. That was passed, and so we’ll be left out of future Sydney lockdowns unless our own incidence warrants it. That’s a relief, I think.
Meanwhile, over the last couple of months, frictions have been mounting in the community. There’s the vaxers versus anti-vaxers, different attitudes to wearing masks and as the incidence of covid in Sydney has shot up and Police surveillance has increased, heated discussions about protecting civil liberties have also eschewed. Again these tensions climaxed on the weekend with large, sometimes violent, protests in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast and it just makes me wonder what on earth these people are thinking and what gives them the right to keep the rest of us locked down longer?
My personal view is that too many people take breathing for granted. As someone who has crook lungs and lives with dodgy breathing all the time and has experienced crisis point, being able to breathe is something to take seriously. Just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it’s not important. Indeed, most of us think that not being able to walk is one of the worst things that can happen to you. However, not being able to breathe is fatal. I’m not prepared to play Russian Rouette with my own life let alone the lives of those I care about. My 15 year old daughter sums things up well: “Why can’t they just stay home for a month so we can get out of this?” Short term pain, for long term gain. Sounds logical to me. However, we’re still hearing about parties being held. Party is now a euphemism for “super-spreader event”. Well, at least, it is for the parties that make the news.
Meanwhile, I’ve been sinking into a deep state of hibernation. I’ve always been a bit of a pyjama princess. However, now after wearing PJs for a few months, and then putting on real clothes, they feel so scratchy on my skin. Unpleasant. I bought a really soft pair of cloud pyjamas from PJ Guru Peter Alexander, and they’ve been so soft. However, they’ve probably had the equivalent of 10years wear during lockdown and are wearing out. Never fear. I’ve ordered a replacement.
Anyway, as I said, I’ve been in a state of hibernation. I wasn’t feeling 100%, and didn’t get out for a walk for a few days. Then, I felt a bit wonky on my feet, and decided to wait until Geoff was free. On Saturday, we drove over to Pearl Beach and went for a walk around the rocks and peering into the rockpools for signs of life. It was rather liberating to get out. You know how it is once you finally fight off the inertia and get out there and you feel like you’re soaring on eagle’s wings, and wonder what took you so long to get out there. I blame the politicians. They keep telling me to stay home. I know they didn’t tell me to eat chocolate, and they do allow us out for exercise. However, the predominant message is to stay home, and I have.
So, after going out for our walk yesterday, Geoff and I went out kayaking today. I know that sounds incredibly sporty, especially for someone with disability issues. Well, I can assure you that I’m no Jessica Fox (Australian gold medal Olympian kayaker). I’m slow and I don’t have a lot of stamina, but we did manage to move and had in some ways a rather indulgent time out there on the water together. It was pure bliss. You can read more about it here: https://beyondtheflow.wordpress.com/2021/08/23/kayaking-in-lockdown-a-new-beginning/
Meanwhile, we’ve been watching The Voice on TV. This year, the judges are Guy Sebastian, Jessica Mauboy, Rita Ora and Keith Urban. I always love watching the show hearing the music and the backstories of both the performers and judges. It’s all about people to me, and being an extrovert I need people more than ever. I see the judges smiling and chatting away on the TV and all sense of perspective just evaporates and they’re right here in the loungeroom with us and not a thousand miles away. I don’t know where it was being filmed but they’re hugging, breathing on each other without a concern in the world. So, it can’t be Sydney right here right now, which we all know anyway as these things are always filmed in advance.
By the way, here’s a real treat from The Voice, where Guy Sebastian performs Climb Every Mountain with contestant Julee-Ann who is legally blind and had to ask if anyone had turned a chair after an absolutely stellar performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKfOlZtNlxI
Also, Seann Miley Moore sings The Prayer by Andrea Bocelli & Celine Dion- The Voice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki_r85XrxnE
Anyway, throughout much of the last week, dog Zac has been sprawled across my lap like a rug. He’s so beautiful and almost fused to my soul.
This is another contribution to the Weekend Coffee Share is hosted by Natalie the Explorer https://natalietheexplorer.home.blog/
Best wishes,
Rowena
Beyond the Flow 
We love fresh water kayaking. Last year it was our escape from lock down. This year, so much smoke from California fires that we are missing our kayak mornings. So glad you are getting out to enjoy a paddle.
Hi Vicki,
I know exactly what you mean about being stuck inside with bushfire smoke nd unable to get outside. It’s now just about 2 years since Sydney and NSW had it’s horrific bushfires and that smoke circulated round the world and was even observed from space. Do you tackle white water at all? My husband used to be quite daring back in the day.
Good for you to go out kayaking and beat the lockdown blues. I enjoy kayaking in Toronto Harbour and within Toronto Islands in the summer. Stay safe and well. Thank you for your contribution to #weekendcoffeeshare.
people have been taking breathing for granted… and then everyone else trying to force their opinion as fact like hey please show me your laboratory where you have done the tests to support your position hahaha anyhoo kayaking definitely is a good way to just experience life far from the madding crowd as it were
cheers
~B
Hi Rowena,
I’m so sorry for NSW. I don’t know how to unpack everything you’ve written above, I don’t trust that governments have either the skills or inclination to honestly tell us what’s going on with any useful degree of accuracy (this happens when you’re wrong or lie too often to me) but clearly something bad is unfolding. I just don’t know to what degree.
Mix this with a bunch of polarized people who can’t agree on, well anything really and turn passive (mostly) aggressive as I often do except I’m okay with staying home for now and writing. Introversion is useful in times like this.
Our children are going to have such warped memories of this season and I greatly regret this.
I do wish we could just sit down and tell our stories to each other face to face with something pleasant to drink and snack on as we enjoy the shade of a grand old tree on a sunny warm day.
That would be therapeutic.
Blessings/
Yes it is so frustrating, with no end in sight. Protesters anywhere in the world are just creating spreader events and further lockdowns. The young family next door have just tested positive even though both parents vaccinated. I have just started chemotherapy so have joined the vulnerable community!
Hi Gary,
For some reason the simplest pleasures end up being the unobtainable – at least at the moment. I remember back when I was a uni student cutting out a poem from the uni newspaper called “The Impossibility of Having Coffee With You”. It was about someone who was madly in love with someone but didn’t have the courage to ask them out for coffee. They were reading my mind and I stuck it on my wall for some time. That poem’s come back to me during these covid lock downs. Oh boy! Coffee seems so simple yet has become mission impossible unless you get takeaway.
I’m not finding it too bad, but really hard on the final year students who have had their education mucked up for both senior years. I’m pretty sure the school formal was cancelled. Not sure what’s happening with their final exams. The Premier is madly trying to get people vaccinated so we can open up again.
Anyway, I need to get to sleep.
Best wishes,
Rowena