It’s now Thursday February 24^th, 2022. Kia ora.

During the night I listened to podcasts about the history of Ukraine. What a sad one, where borders changed repeatedly, as they did over much of northern Europe.  It seems that a sense of place, of ownership, is really important, even though it may be built up over a relatively short number of decades. Poor Ukraine!  Putin, after delivering a maudlin speech, is showing all the tactics of being a thug. It seems he’s taken over Belarus, the Russian troops there aren’t leaving any time soon; and Ukraine is, of course, threatened.  A fine speech was made by the Kenyan Ambassador to the UN, talking about the evils of empire, and the haphazard demarcation of boundaries in Africa. I am hearing a lot about the history of Ukraine, and debates about the sanctions delivered so far; it’s really unsettling that senior people on the far right wing (like Trump and Pompeo) in the US are decrying Biden’s moves, and praising Putin’s. Hey, guys, what about the Budapest Agreement? It’s clearly forgotten by many people.  If you look at a map of Ukraine, it’s pretty much surrounded by Russian troops, especially now that Putin has neutralised Belarus. As ever, truth is a casualty of this conflict: there are reports that citizens of the “breakaway republics” of Luhansk and Donetsk are asking for Russian help, and other reports that no, they don’t want to be part of Russia. The whole thing has escalated fast, after weeks of inaction; it’s said that parts of Ukraine will be muddy soon, making movement of troops and tanks on the ground very difficult. 

With regard to sanctions, the general agreement is that UK imposed sanctions are very weak; US sanctions are potentially very strong; and that the German Chancellor’s action in delaying certification of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline is very significant, although it should be remembered that it wasn’t operational yet. Apparently if sanctions are lifted on Iran it could supply plenty of oil. There are arguments, of course, about thee timing and effectiveness of sanctions on Russia.

Ukraine has declared a state of emergency, and has asked its 3 million citizens who live and work in Russia to leave. Kyiv has mobilised its reserves, and people are buying guns.  It’s thought Putin may attack tonight. Lieut-Colonel Alexander Vindman (Retd) is predicting “shock and awe”. President Zelensky of Ukraine is vowing to defend his country.

Last night there was a skirmish between police and protesters in the grounds of Parliament. Protesters moved one of the heavy concrete bollards, and allowed several (about 100) vehicles to enter the grounds. There was some violence.

This morning I went to Tai Chi. It was lovely, and there was a huge turnout.  There is a limitation on numbers of 100 in the large hall – we are well short of that. It’s quite possible to “socially distance” there.

Afterwards, I read a few pages while I am waiting to be picked up. I don’t want to get the train from there at present. I have almost finished An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris, about L’Affaire Dreyfus. It is such an interesting book, and tells a great deal about the times – late 1800’s/early 1900’s in France, and the French army.  I would like to read it again, but I suspect I won’t.

Then I catch up with today’s news here in Wellington, New Zealand. Apparently we are to move to Phase 3 of the government’s omicron response at midnight tonight. Given that more than 5,000 new community cases are expected today, everything changes.  More RAT’s will be available, and people are expected to notify their close contacts (now other household members), and isolate for 10 days, I think. Close contacts should isolate for 7 days. But basically, you’re on your own, now, scary as that may be. RAT’s will be the primary testing method.

As it turns out, there are 6,137 reported new community cases today, with 205 people in hospital, including 2 in Intensive Care. Of these, over 2,000 were diagnosed through use of RAT’s. Another person has died at Middlemore Hospital. The protest camp at parliament is now deemed a ”high risk” location of interest; it was visited by hundreds of people over the weekend, so that poses a danger too. The only other locations of interest in Wellington seem to be airline flights – heaps of them. Evidently there are two sex offenders at the protest, wearing ankle bracelets. There have also been more vile threats. Ambulances are under pressure, with several staff off sick or isolating, and added demand for their services. Patients are waiting up to 12 hours in Auckland, in some cases, for an ambulance. It’s reported that 2,624 RAT’s were used to diagnose positive cases.

Cases diagnosed through PCR tests are in: Northland (56), Auckland (1979), Waikato (314), Bay of Plenty (116), Lakes (75), Hawke’s Bay (30), Mid Central (69), Whanganui (13), Taranaki (30), Tairāwhiti (26), Wairarapa (11), Capital and Coast (120), Hutt Valley (68), Nelson Marlborough (112), Canterbury (194), South Canterbury (3), Southern (305) and the West Coast (4).

Cases found through rapid antigen tests (RATs) are in: Northland (24), Auckland (1900), Waikato (163), Bay of Plenty (75), Lakes (16), Hawke’s Bay (30), Mid Central (8), Whanganui (4), Taranaki (4), Tairāwhiti (0), Wairarapa (4), Capital and Coast (44), Hutt Valley (5), Nelson Marlborough (11), Canterbury (43), South Canterbury (3), Southern (290). No RATs in West Coast district health board area returned positive results. Combined, that’s a lot of cases in the Wellington area.

Rotorua’s mayor, Steve Chadwick, got Covid 19, despite being fully vaccinated and generally fit and healthy. She was very ill, but is recovering now. Infected students in Dunedin are planning to hold a Covid party – a move police called highly irresponsible.

It seems to me that there’s little to protest about now, given that we’re all on our own, and self-responsibility is key. I realise it must have been upsetting to lose your job, if you refused to be vaccinated, but I wouldn’t want an unvaccinated person caring for my daughter or teaching my grandchildren. That says it all, really.  We have a very safe and effective vaccine; you don’t have to have it if you don’t want to. Sadly, in most families there’s one hangout, someone who refuses to be vaccinated, no matter how young the grandchildren, or how frail the elderly parents. It’s not as though the middle so-called adult generation are immune, either. Thankfully there are no vaccine-deniers in my immediate family.  Apparently a convoy protest is planning to march on and settle in Washington D.C., in time for Biden’s State of the Union address.  DC police have been warned.

This afternoon (4:22 pm) I learn that Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is all on. There is rhetoric, of course, but the invasion is on.  Before I go to bed, it’s evident that Russian troops are attacking several sites in Ukraine. President Zelensky has imposed martial law over Ukraine.  We watch some Youtube footage of cities in eastern Ukraine; some cars are trying to leave; there isn’t much other traffic about. People are withdrawing money from banks. Otherwise, things are quiet.

Back here, there has been another clash between police and protesters.

It’s now Friday, February 25^th.

This morning I learn there is still more devastation in Ukraine. The Chernobyl area has been taken by Russian troops. Evidently there have been protests in Russia against this war, and some arrests have been made. Some sanctions have been imposed by the West, although evidently the EU is holding out on denying Russia access to the Swift international payment system. With regard to sanctions: are they ever enough? Are they effective? The  threat of sanctions did nothing to deter Putin from this attack, it seems. Although Russian troops  had been building on Ukraine’s borders for some time, the attack, when it came, was sudden and severe. Poor, poor Ukraine! They’ve had border changes, tragic things happening under Stalin, such as the collectivisation of the kulaks, and the Holodomor, the dreadful famine of the 1930’s, caused by Stalin. There is a very good film about it called Mr Jones. Stalin evidently knew who his political enemies might be, and sought to eliminate any resistance by killing them or imprisoning them. Then they had the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986. They tried to cover it up, as they had other nuclear disasters, but this one was the beginning of the end for the USSR, and Ukraine became a country in its own right in 1991. Under the Budapest Treaty, its independence was guaranteed by Russia, the US and the UK, provided Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons. That guarantee seems well forgotten, now. As at early afternoon, the death toll  was 137. It’s reported that Ukrainian staff are being held hostage at Chernobyl. There’s potential for significant threats there.

Here in New Zealand, we moved to Phase 3 of the government’s omicron response last night. I wonder what the protesters have left to protest about, seeing that most Covid 19-related restrictions have gone now.  Schools are very hard hit: Tawa College has had 4 students test positive’ hundreds of students in Dunedin have tested positive; and a principal of a school in Hamilton has talked about a “tsunami” of Covid 19 cases. A Tauranga café has more staff ill or isolating than well – the owners are having to turn their hand to dishwashing.  It’s said that yesterday’s new case tally of over 6,000 is probably only a third of actual cases.

This morning I got my hair cut and coloured. It was lovely at the salon: they looked after me very well, and there weren’t many people there. Afterwards JD and I debated having lunch at one of our favourite cafés, but decided it was safest to buy something to take home from Nada’s Food Truck in Tawa. I think the food truck is a genius move, although they don’t have all the items on sale that you can usually buy from the shop.

Today’s tally is 12,011 (that’s almost double yesterday’s); there have been 5 deaths, and there are 237 people in hospital, with three of them in Intensive care. . People have died in Auckland (2), Waikato (2) and Tauranga (1). More than 8,000 positive results were detected using RATs.

The total number of cases found through a PCR test is 3807 and the total number of cases found through RATs is 8223.

Of the cases diagnosed through a PCR test, it’s reported that 1,585 are in Auckland, Waikato (388), Bay of Plenty (297), Northland (46), Lakes (23), Hawke’s Bay (54), MidCentral (112), Whanganui (13), Taranaki (37), Tairāwhiti (34), Wairarapa (10), Capital & Coast (182), Hutt Valley (85), Nelson Marlborough (79), Canterbury (355), South Canterbury (13), Southern (524), West Coast (6) and Unknown (1).

The PCR testing positivity rate in the past 24 hours is 12.3 per cent.

Positive RATs were returned as follows: Northland (87), Auckland (6403), Waikato (544), Bay of Plenty (338), Lakes (140), Hawke’s Bay (40), MidCentral (41), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (11), Tairāwhiti (18), Wairarapa (4), Capital & Coast (77), Hutt Valley (20), Nelson Marlborough (23), Canterbury (114), South Canterbury (5), Southern (343), West Coast (3); Unknown (7). There are 19 cases at the border.

We are in the thick of this current wave; let’s hope it peaks soon. These are scary times. 

I am listening to lots of podcasts about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops are attacking Kyiv. Peace be with you. Ngā mihi.

Today is Wednesday February 23rd, 2022. Kia ora!

Actually, it’s still Tuesday. The latest Covid 19 case numbers are being reported, and New Zealand continues to break records, with 2,846 new community cases, and 143 people in hospital, with one person in Intensive Care It’s reported that the new cases were in Northland (36), Auckland (1802), Waikato (285), Bay of Plenty (86), Lakes (19), Hawke’s Bay (25), MidCentral (25), Whanganui (19), Taranaki (26), Tairāwhiti (17), Wairarapa (two), Capital and Coast (84), Hutt Valley (25), Nelson Marlborough (77), Canterbury (105), South Canterbury (four), and Southern (206). Nearly 450 (477 on Monday), with more than half of them in Auckland) schools and ECE’s are “managing cases”. The MOH says the positivity rate for Covid 19 tests is now 11.7%.  It’s taking longer for test results to be processed, so the tally is probably understated. It’s reported that 15 cases have been detected at the border.

On Tuesday afternoon it’s reported that police are taking a slightly more aggressive stance with the protest; they’re now “armed” with riot shields and helmets. I guess if you drive a car at them, and spray them with acid, (after throwing faeces the previous day), there has to be some reaction, no?  Apparently concrete bollards are being moved around the grounds of New Zealand’s Parliament, and there are a number of onlookers – protesters, and Wellingtonians. Will there be a show down? 

Wellington Girls’ College has closed for a few days, not because of Covid 19, but to protect its girls from the protest in the grounds of Parliament. The Victoria University campus near Wellington Railway Station has closed, and its students, albeit they have paid significant fees, have to learn online.

It seemed, last night, that the war of Russia against Ukraine has begun. During the day on Tuesday, Putin recognised the states of Luhansk and Donetsk, and then moved Russian troops in to ensure their security. Since then he has become even more belligerent. He gave a long, angry, ranting speech, where no one dared answer him.  It reminds me of Hitler’s rants, where no-one dared to interrupt the crazy, angry person. It’s fascinating, in a shocking way, how these guys portray themselves as victims – Trump, Hitler, Putin – and yet they have so much (to be thankful for).  I don’t think being thankful, or apologising, is part of their remit.

People have been asking is it war, yet? As former Lieut-Colonel Alexander Vindman says, it’s war when you move your troops into someone else’s country.

Others have distinguished themselves: the UN called an urgent meeting, where the Ukrainian ambassador to the UN gave a press conference: was a very good speaker, amusing, and fast on his feet. President Zelensky also spoke very well. All the diplomatic efforts, it seems, have not dissuaded Putin. Russian-speaking troops in the “break away” provinces have been sent to join Russian troops, leaving their families bewildered.  There are already lines of people departing the conflict that may come. Vladimir, this was quite unnecessary: how could you do this?  The world is already such a sad and dangerous place.

It is now Wednesday, February 23^rd.

Last night was weird. I was awakened by a strong earthquake, followed by an even stronger jolt, the sort where one goes to investigate whether there’s any obvious damage. I checked my phone for the stuff and NZ Herald websites, and geonet, but there was no reporting of a sharp quake. The time was 00:46 am – not a good time to be awake.  I put my headphones on and listened to a podcast. Next time I woke up, I checked the websites again. Still no reporting of a strong earthquake. I realise I must have dreamt it!  Then I fell asleep again, and dreamed about telling someone about my experience.  It was very vivid. Perhaps my body shuddered involuntarily, as it sometimes does when I’m trying to go to sleep, when you feel as though you’re falling down a stair, but you’re safe in bed.

This morning I got up early and went to hymn singing. We sang in the church, this time, rather than in the organ loft. It was lovely, as always, although quite warm, and hard to sing with a mask on. Afterwards, rather than having morning tea at one of the nice cafés nearby, I bought a cheese scone and a date scone to take home. JD picked me up, and we had coffee and warmed scones at home.  There are very few people about, where I went.

I’m now catching up on today’s news. With regard to the Wellington protest, the Dompost has a big heading on the front page, Thanking the police for keeping us safe. Huh.  Evidently the students at Wellington Girls’ College and at the local Victoria University campus did not feel safe. I wonder if would-be church-goers feel safe?  I don’t feel safe to shop at the New World Supermarket in Thorndon, if people aren’t wearing masks. The mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, has spoken to some of the protesters, unlike most politicians. He’s being thrown plenty of shade for this: “He won’t be mayor much longer”, said Nicola Young; I don’t agree with her about many things, but I do about this.  It’s said that the head of one gang has joined the protest; I’m sure there are many disparate elements here:  while many protesters are peaceful, some certainly aren’t, as is evinced by swearing at police and mask wearers, throwing faeces, and generally unlawful and unpleasant behaviour. It’s not at all endearing. Goodness, the present “red light” restrictions aren’t arduous; but the protest creates a host of difficulties, while we’re all just trying to stay safe. Ambulances won’t go to the protest site now, a carefully taken decision – they don’t want to be abused, and who can blame them? It’s said that some people have quietly left the protest, while others have joined it. I guess it remains a really annoying situation, and the police seem determined to handle it with kid gloves., despite the appearance of riot shields and helmets, and some more concrete bollards yesterday. Of course the far more important issue is the war in Ukraine, with potential escalation, and use of nuclear weapons. The poor people of Ukraine! I wanted to go there.  I guess it’ll join other countries, like Turkey, on my no-go list.

I say again, we’re not under war-time restrictions, like rationing, although this is a bit like a war; we’re not being bombed in our beds, like the people of Syria were; we’re not afraid of nuclear radiation, we’re not currently experiencing extremes of hot and cold, or fire or flooding; and people with Covid 19 don’t have bodily emissions: they don’t bleed, or have sores, or vomiting or diarrhoea. We have an amazing vaccine, too, developed quickly, which prevents extreme illness and death in most people. There is still much to be thankful for. Get a grip, people!

Today’s Covid 19 report is out. There are 3,297 (yesterday 2,486) new community cases (bearing in mind that it can take up to 5 days to get test results), and 179 people in hospital, with one person in Intensive Care. It’s reported that of today’s community cases, 1729 are in Auckland. The other cases are across Northland (40), Waikato (297), Bay of Plenty (157), Lakes (54), Hawke’s Bay (18), MidCentral (56), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (30), Tairāwhiti (16), Wairarapa (16), Capital and Coast (123), Hutt Valley (28), Nelson Marlborough (85), Canterbury (176), South Canterbury (7), the Southern (455) region and the West Coast (3). At the border, eight Covid-19 cases have been detected. Prime Minister Ardern says we’re getting closer to Phase 3 of the government’s response. What does that mean? I think Phase 3 means more use of RATs (Rapid Antigen Testing), a different definition of “close contact”, and ? It’s not easy to find out.

Regarding Putin’s attacks on Ukraine, some quite serious sanctions have been applied, and there is remarkable unity between the US and its NATO allies, including Germany. I won’t go into details here. It’s thought Bojo in the UK may be compromised because of his links to wealthy Russian oligarchs, and Russian donors to the Tory Party.

Locally, another Thorndon school has closed, not because of Covid 19, but because of the protest. They haven’t said which school. The Reserve Bank has raised the OCR by 25 basis points to 1.00 %. That was not unexpected.   There is a case of Covid 19 at Hōhepa; a staff member at one of the houses in Clive has been diagnosed positive. I guess it had to happen sooner or later. They are using RAT’s to test residents of that house, and getting good public health support.

Prime Minister Ardern has clarified what phase 3 will mean: at phase 3, the length of isolation remains the same but the definitions of who is a close contact changes. Only household contacts, or “household-like” contacts, will need to isolate for seven days. People with Covid-19 will still need to isolate for 10 days. The biggest change at phase 3 will be the change to contact tracing and testing regimes.

Associate Health Minister Ayesha Verrall​ said that at phase 3, those with Covid-19 should be able to personally notify their close contacts. She said there would also be greater reliance on self-service testing, rapid antigen testing and technology to identify “high risk contacts” and to self-report infections. The focus at phase 3 was “self-management” of Covid-19, with Government support for those identified as high risk, in need of medical care, or unable to use technology. “There will be continued support for those members of our community who are not digitally enabled,” she said. How will they be located, I wonder?

At 5:30 pm the NZ Herald reports that at least two of the protesters in parliament grounds have tested positive for Covid 19. They’ve been asked to isolate. It’s thought these folk may have been arrested, and subsequently tested.  The concrete blocks brought in by police are preventing rubbish collection and emptying of portaloos. Dear me, that’s very inconvenient.

You’re on your own, now, guys! Free to take most risks, as long as you wear a mask and have a vaccine pass (which may or may not be valid). Tomorrow morning I plan to go to Tai chi. In the meantime, Ngā mihi.

It’s now Saturday February 19^th, 2022. Kia ora.

Today JD has as appointment in the afternoon, so I get him to drop me off at the Johnsonville Shopping Centre so I can go to Hannah’s shoe sale.  The really nice sandals I want aren’t in the sale, of course, but I try on some that are and buy them – feeling a little guilty, but I have worn out several pairs (even had some fixed) and I feel justified. Afterwards, I catch a bus to Churton Park, go to the supermarket there, and walk home.

The Covid 19 numbers today are less than on Friday: there are 1,901 new cases, 76 people in hospital, and 14 new cases identified at the border. The convoy protest remains in Parliament grounds; it’s grown, if anything; the police and the mayor of Wellington, Andy Foster, are now being blamed for the disruption. I must say the police have come across as particularly ham—fisted in not dealing with this crisis; at least, methinks, they could have had some of the vehicles towed away.

On Saturday evening we watch Call the Midwife, and another episode of Inventing Anna.  It’s a fascinating series, despite one’s ongoing frustration with the main characters – especially the journalist, who does an “Anna” on her co-workers, to say nothing of her boss. Everyone is very nice to her, as they are trusting of Anna. I’d have to say, though, that Julia Garner has a certain charm as an actress; think a female combination of Harvey Weinstein and Donald Trump. People fall for the snake oil, time and time again. It fascinates me how some women are charmed by not good-looking men who are nevertheless n positions of power, too. 

It’s now Sunday February 20^th.

It rained heavily last night, but it was very hot and sticky too.  I had trouble sleeping, but at some point it cooled down. On Sunday morning I went to church: do good to those that hurt you, and the mystery of growth, when a seed turns into a beautiful plant, after being sown in the cold earth. What a mystery growth is! 

The Covid 19 numbers today are dreadful: 2,522 (!) new community cases of Covid 19; that’s probably an understatement, since there are now delays in getting test results – up to 5 days, in some cases, instead of 24 hours. There are 100 people in hospital, and there are 17 new cases at the border. Two students at Rangiora High School have tested positive for the virus. Someone at an Auckland rest home has tested positive. The NZ Herald suggests that the positivity rate for tests given is 9%, but this has not been confirmed by the Ministry of Health. The majority of cases – 1,799 – are in Auckland; it’s reported that there are 188 in Waikato, 111 in the Southern DHB area, 86 in Bay of Plenty, 53 in Nelson Marlborough and 54 in Capital and Coast. Other cases are in Northland (41), Canterbury (76), Hutt Valley (25), Hawke’s Bay (24), MidCentral (13), Lakes (11), Wairarapa (14), Tairāwhiti (12), Taranaki (9) and Whanganui (2) and South Canterbury (1). Three other cases are in an unspecified location.

With regard to the protest in Wellington, Andrew “Cuddles” Coster, head of police, is taking some serious shade for not doing more about the protest sooner. He’s looking for cooperation, but what about the regular folk who live in Thorndon and can no longer go about their business?  Transport has been hugely disrupted. It seems a shower has been set up at one of the Wellington Railway Station bus stops; yesterday there was a makeshift toilet at the Cenotaph, of all places, which deeply disturbed veterans (and others).  This morning a journalist has written a long article about Freedom.  I’d be happy to add a comment, if I could. He’s written well, in my view. Here’s the link: https://www.stuff.co.nz/opinion/127815331/do-the-protesters-in-wellington-even-know-what-freedom-means.

Over dinner we had a discussion about protest and engagement – about the Springbok Tour of 1981, about then Prime Minister Muldoon, and the current protest in Parliament grounds in Thorndon, Wellington. There was a view that there should be engagement with this cash-free, exercise loving, community; I tend to have great sympathy with the locals and bus drivers and law-abiding members of the general public who continue to be inconvenienced by this occupation, to say nothing of folk wanting to relieve themselves at the Wellington Railway Station, and who cannot, because the rest rooms there have been vandalised. I insist on my right to wear a mask, and not to be “egged” or sworn at. While I recognise people’s choice not to  be vaccinated (although I find this hard to understand), I would not want anyone unvaxxed to look after my daughter, or teach my grandchildren. These restrictions are temporary, and they’re there to protect us, from serious illness or even death.

It’s now Monday February 21^st.

The first piece of news I heard this morning was that the Queen has been diagnosed positive for Covid 19. That just seems so unfair – in this special year, too, or her Platinum Jubilee as monarch. What a lot she has to deal with, poor thing! Apparently Prince Charles visited her two days before he was diagnosed positive; there were pictures of him doing an investiture unmasked. I did think that was very foolish of him. What a strange dude he is; I have tried to find sympathy for him, but it’s difficult at times. Duchess Camilla has Covid 19, too. I think it’s the second time Prince Charles has had it.

This morning a friend and I are due to go to a movie in town – C’mon c’mon.  It was a very good film, and we both enjoyed it.  A kind young man carried our cups of coffee into the theatre for us. There was hardly anyone there. Afterwards, we had lunch at Prefab. It’s so good to see Prefab open again. There weren’t many people there, either, although there’s a lot of traffic in Taranaki Street.

Apparently this morning some protesters threw faeces at police. It seems that police moved some vehicles (assuming they got brave). The reporting on this is very vague and confusing. I know there was formerly no hesitation in towing vehicles if they were incorrectly parked, or on a clearway.

Today’s Covid 19 figures are worse than yesterday’s. The total of new community cases is 2,375, with 116 people in hospital (one in Intensive Care), there have been 2 deaths. It’s reported that most of today’s community cases are in Auckland – 1692. The remaining cases are across Northland (50), , Waikato (136), Bay of Plenty (42), Lakes (24), Hawke’s Bay (23), MidCentral (14), Whanganui (5), Taranaki (4), Tairāwhiti (9), Wairarapa (8), Capital and Coast (89), Hutt Valley (19), Nelson Marlborough (58), Canterbury (105), South Canterbury (1), and the Southern region (86).  That’s a large number in Wellington. Some police in Wellington have tested positive for Covid 19. The Prime Minister has said that mandates will be lifted once we’re over the worst of the omicron wave, probably by the end of March.  Criticism is flying, as expected.

It’s now Tuesday February 22^nd.

The situation here is pretty bad and divisive. Last night it was reported that areas of Wellington Harbour are unsafe for swimming and fishing, because raw sewerage (presumably from portaloos) has been emptied into storm water drains.  That’s also assuming there was some human waste left over from what was thrown at police. The ED at Wellington Hospital is very busy; everyone is tested for Covid 19, and many are turning out to diagnose positive, although they came for some other reason, and didn’t know they had Covid 19 too.  One manager said that patients were determined if they were high-risk; if they are unvaccinated, they’re deemed to be high risk.  John Tait is asking protesters not to come to the ED, but instead to go home and see their local GP. There’s a suggestion that care will be reserved for those who have been vaccinated and really need medical treatment.

This morning there’s more terrible news; a white vehicle has been driven into police and protesters; and police have been sprayed with an unknown substance (believed to be acid).  Three are seeking medical treatment. Five police attending the protest have diagnosed positive for Covid 19. Cuddles Coster, where are you now? What are you doing to protect anyone? Surely you should be protecting your own workforce, if not the rest of us? Apparently some concrete blocks have been placed to separate protesters from politicians and their workforce.

Meanwhile, more and more educational institutions have been affected by Covid 19 infections, and are struggling to fulfil educational requirements at this difficult time.  Someone said they’re getting good support from the Ministry of Education, and some are placing students in pods. Now St Andrews College and New Brighton School have been affected in Christchurch. In other really upsetting moves, protesters have been shopping, unmasked. Shopkeepers can’t really enforce mask requirements; protesters even reached Commonsense Organics in upper Tory Street! As well as the lovely New World Supermarket in Thorndon. Oh dear! I was near there yesterday, and the Taranaki Street/Tory Street area was very busy. I misguidedly thought it would be safer there. Is it safe anywhere?

Prime Minister Ardern has asked people not to visit the protest, and Deputy Prime Minister Robertson has decried the violence on public radio. It has all turned very nasty. There are calls for politicians to address the protesters; so far Prime Minister Ardern and Chris Luxon have refused to do so. One of the difficulties is that there is no one definitively in charge. I can’t help thinking that other protesters would have been dealt with far more harshly. There are no tasers, tear gas, stun guns, or even batons. Today’s Dompost claims the protest website has a link to that of the protest in Ottawa (which I gather has been largely put down now); apparently any traffic fines given out are being paid; it seems this protest is being well-funded by certain business interests. Meanwhile, the omicron surge is blighting our activities, especially educational activities, to say nothing of our health and wellbeing, more and more; and we have to deal with the havoc created by this protest!

In other news, the wily Putin has recognised breakaway provinces in the east of Ukraine; he’s now moving troops there to strengthen their borders. So what does the West do now?  I just keep remembering the Budapest Agreement, in which the US, the UK and Russia agreed to defend Ukraine’s independence if it gave up its nuclear weapons. Does nobody remember this?  Are international treaties of no value, whatsoever?  I remember the 1989-90 period, when the Berlin Wall came down and East and West Germany were unified, apartheid ended and Nelson Mandela came to power as the leader of South Africa, the Iron Curtain was pulled back, and the USSR became the Russian Federation,  with many of its former states becoming so-called independent republics (with varying degrees of independence). What a time of hope that was! It was the end of the Cold War, and anything good seemed possible. Now we’ve come to this, with dictatorial right—wing governments in many countries, and struggles to recognise the climate crisis, much less do anything truly meaningful about it; despite being confronted by storms, cyclones,  extreme temperatures, droughts and flooding – which have made life uncomfortable for many. It seems that good people struggle on, content to have their faith, if not much else.  I wonder what today’s Covid 19 figures will be? I wonder what the protesters have to do to police to get any meaningful response? I need to buy some groceries today, but I wonder where it’s safe to do so? Ngā mihi.

Today is Wednesday February 16^th, 2022. Kia ora.

Last night I hardly slept at all, but I got up early this morning and went to hymn singing. It was lovely, as always. I decided I really wanted to see the film Belfast at the Lighthouse cinema, and I figured that the bus from Khandallah would go up Victoria St, and from there I could walk to the theatre in Wigan St.  There were very few people in the bus, and not many at the theatre – I could sit well away from other folk.  Afterwards, JD picked me up, so I didn’t have to navigate walking down Cuba Street or catching a bus to the Northern Suburbs. It was a bit risky to go to the cinema, but I figured it was a risk worth taking. Hopefully, it will prove to be so.  Now that we’re in Phase 2, the isolation period is down to 7 days, rather than ten.

Belfast is a very good movie, I think; I’m, so pleased that I saw it.  It was extremely well acted – yes, credit to Jamie Dornan, although I didn’t like him in The Tourist; and the little boy was amazing. Ciarán Hinds and Judi Dench were awesome, as expected. The opening of the film reminded me of the opening sequence of the television series Call the Midwife – did they use the same set, I wonder?  But the violence and the poverty and the huge pressures were daunting. I listened to a reviewer who claimed it was “sanitised”; I did not find it so.  I found it terrifying.  Once again, I’m glad to live in this distant, far-away land where things are for the most part civilised. Long may they remain so.

As JD arrives to pick me up, I learn today’s numbers. As warned, there are now well over 1,000 new cases. There are 1,160 new community cases of Covid 19 today, and 56 people in hospital, but still none of them are in Intensive Care. There are 43 new cases at the border. At Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital’s ED, 10% of patients tested positive for Covid 19. It’s reported that the new community cases are in Northland (24), Auckland (861), Waikato (73), Bay of Plenty (33), Lakes (5), Hawke’s Bay (15), MidCentral (3), Whanganui (4), Taranaki (9), Tairāwhiti (9), Wairarapa (5), Capital and Coast (32), Hutt Valley (20), Nelson Marlborough (15), Canterbury (8), South Canterbury (3) and Southern (39). Two of the cases’ locations are unknown. An Auckland gym is shutting down.   It seems the NZ police are under pressure, with the convoy protest still going strong, some isolating for Covid 19, and some having left the police force because of vaccine mandates.

Late yesterday I remembered that I have Tai Chi at Mana tomorrow.

It’s now Thursday February 17^th.

This morning’s newspaper has a nice story about new homes and facilities being built in Wellington. This development will be in Te Aro, quite close to educational institutions and to Cuba St.  That has to be good news.

I went to Tai Chi, and it was lovely!  We had the Walk to Tai Chi, the Lotus Qi Gung, a break, and then went through the Form, very slowly. I am a bit rusty, but I really enjoyed it. They had a great turnout too – over 30 people, and since it’s a large hall and Tai Chi is non-contact, I felt quite safe.  Afterwards, I sat outside in the beautiful sunshine and waited for JD to pick me up.

He wanted to go shopping; we decided to chance going to New World in Thorndon – I always like to go there.  If there seemed to be lots of people there, we’d go somewhere else.  But it was lovely there, and there weren’t too many people.  We bought raspberries, some salads, some brie, and a pie.  There were no black doris plums, but they had some greengages. I bought some more lettuce, tomatoes, baby cucumbers, and avocadoes too. Avocadoes are still 3 for $3 – a great city price. We are enjoying them.  Everyone was masked, the store was not busy, and we felt quite safe there. Afterwards, we were able to turn right and drive up Molesworth Steet to get onto the motorway.

But the Covid 19 figures are shocking: 1,573 community cases of Covid 19, with 62 people in hospital but still none in Intensive Care. It was reported that 1140 of the cases are in Auckland, with the others in the Northland (31), Waikato (143), Bay of Plenty (29), Lakes (35), Hawke’s Bay (2), MidCentral (3), Whanganui (11), Taranaki (8), Tairāwhiti (8), Wairarapa (30), Capital and Coast (20), Hutt Valley (22), Nelson Marlborough (49), Canterbury (7) and Southern (35) DHBs. 

There was a crisis meeting about the convoy protest, and some defence force folk have been moved there, but as yet there is no action to break up the protest. There are plenty of complaints from local residents and businesses, and some Thorndon schools have hired extra security. My guess is that the authorities want them to go of their own accord, but this is not happening. The NZ Herald reported in tones of admiration that Russell Coutts is to join them.  To me, and I suspect to many New Zealanders, he is a rat who should never have been given a title. I can’t see him camping or suffering any inconvenience.  Whatever the circumstances, I continue to wonder how people do their ablutions, their washing, and charge their phones. It must be very boring.

This ongoing pandemic has given rise to many conspiracy theories, and in my opinion people have far too much time on their hands. Initially the stop to many crazy luxuries was welcome -that initial pause, where there was a great deal of goodwill, and kindness and cooperation.  Now – all countries are lifting restrictions, and many are lifting mask mandates. In New Zealand, there are delays in testing, and you’ll be notified by text message if you test positive. Some efforts are being made to assist vulnerable people in isolating from their whanau, and doing shopping for them, but I fear the contact-tracing team are overwhelmed already, or they soon will be.  I think the message is that you’re on your own, now. Be careful out there!

It’s reported that 320 schools, kura and ECE are now affected; Tamaki College in Auckland has closed, for the time being; lots of students attended a party in Dunedin, which was pretty crazy of them.  At Auckland’s Starship Children’s Hospital, 6 patients and 6 staff members have tested positive. In Wellington, three senior police who have their office in Molesworth St have tested positive, thus putting further pressure on remaining staff to isolate if required, and, of course, limiting the numbers of police available to serve. Wakatipu College has two students infected, and lots of close contacts since apparently masks were worn incorrectly.

On television, we are watching Inventing Anna on Netflix.  It’s quite fascinating how gullible people are.  I have to say Julia Garner does a great job of acting the part of Anna; she reminds me of Maria Butina – Russian accent, looks, going for the higher-ups (rich white men), and the cheekiness.

It’s now Friday February 18^th.

Someone from Access was rostered to come – first, at 11:30 am, then at 12:15 pm. It’s now almost 3 pm, and she hasn’t shown up. I’m not too bothered at this stage.

Today’s Covid 19 numbers continue to break records: today’s total of new community cases is almost 2,000 at 1,929. There are 73 people in hospital, and now one person is in Intensive Care. There are 12 new cases at the border. It’s reported that of Friday’s new cases, 1384 are in Auckland. The rest are spread across Northland (13), Waikato (155), Bay of Plenty (58), Lakes (9), Hawke’s Bay (17), MidCentral (3), Whanganui (11), Taranaki (9), Tairāwhiti (8), Wairarapa (5), Capital and Coast (28), Hutt Valley (50), Nelson Marlborough (60), Canterbury (35), South Canterbury (7), Southern (77). At Wellington Hospital, a ward has been closed to visitors after a staffer tested positive. 5.9% of people tested were positive for Covid 19.

There is a horrible and misleading story on the stuff website with the heading as follows:  Woman dies at home of real estate boss after taking drugs at Christmas party.  The story concerns the sickness and death of the woman; the real estate boss, whom I know, is Paul Ellis, one of the owners and managers of Harcourts Active Real Estate in Johnsonville.  If you read the story, the party was held somewhere else, and Paul Ellis took the woman to his home on The Terrace, where she subsequently died.  It’s a very murky story – police were in attendance, illegal drugs were taken; one wonders why she wasn’t taken straight to hospital, but she may have insisted that she was all right.  The thought of getting a sick person into one of the apartments on The Terrace doesn’t really bear thinking about, but I don’t doubt that Chopper was trying to do the right thing in helping her, and in so doing, has ended up with some very poor publicity. I know people love to hate real estate agents, but some of them are decent family people, and certainly not rogues. They suffer illness and losses, too. When the protesters talk about the lying media, they certainly have a point.

Another headline reports 78 new Covid 19 cases in Wellington; that would indeed be shocking, but the number is 28.  That’s still shocking, but it’s a lot less than 78. Get it right, Stuff! You keep asking for money – that’s so annoying, but one would be more sympathetic to your situation if you reported correctly more of the time.

It’s reported that the police say that “de-escalation is the only safe option” for dealing with the protest at Parliament, now in its 11^th day.   Metlink informs me that the toilets at Wellington Railway Station are still out of action. Rosemary McLeod has written a thoughtful column about protest in today’s Dompost. I have to say that I agree with here: the only protest I ever went on was a peaceful march through Wellington streets against the Vietnam War, although there were also protests about the threat posed by nuclear weapons, and, of course, the Springbok Tour in 1981.  Thankfully, at that time I was heavily pregnant with my second son, and so excused myself from protesting about this highly divisive issue.

I guess ideally those in charge want the protesters to leave of their own accord. In time – weeks? Months, perhaps, they’ll be gone; who’s feeding them, I wonder?  I suspect when winter comes it’ll be very cold and uncomfortable there. It seems that enforcement is not an option, at present. Whatever happens, no doubt there’ll be some acrimony: there should have been action taken sooner, or later;  there’ll be plenty of blame to go around. 

That’s it for now. No doubt things will get worse here before they get better. Nga mihi,

Today is Sunday February 12^th, 2022. Kia ora!

Yesterday there was a record number of new cases of coronavirus, up slightly from yesterday at 454; there are 27 people in hospital, none in Intensive Care. It’s reported that the new community cases are located in: Northland (12), Auckland (294), Waikato (72), Bay of Plenty (23), Lakes (8), Hawke’s Bay (7), MidCentral (5), Taranaki (1), Wellington (5), Hutt Valley (12), Wairarapa (2), Southern (13). There are 8 new cases at the border.

Late last night I learnt that there are 13 new cases of Covid 19 at Auckland Hospital – 7 patients and 6 staff, I think. A staff member became symptomatic tested positive, and then far more people were tested – patients and staff. 

Last night, the weather grew steadily worse, with rain so heavy that we had to turn the sound way up on the television.  I watched Call the Midwife, and then we watched more of a new series we’ve found on Neon – This Way Up. It’s very quirky and well written, and the Irish accents are delightful.

In the morning, the weather is still pretty wild – it’s wet and windy in Wellington, and wild in Auckland too – so much so that they’ve closed the Harbour Bridge in Auckland.  There’ve been power cuts, there and here, and slips, and the police are advising people to stay home if they can.

It must have been very uncomfortable for those camping near Parliament Buildings; horrible music is being blasted from the speakers. Apparently hay is being brought in to combat the mud.  Metlink has sent a message saying the toilets at Wellington Railway Station are closed, because they’ve been vandalised.  Those portaloos must be overflowing now, surely! The New World supermarket in Thorndon was to close 2 hours early yesterday, for the safety of their staff.

This morning I went to church: an oasis of calm and sanity, amidst the awful weather.  I feel for the people who would normally go to St Paul’s Anglican Cathedral in Molesworth Street: you’d have to be brave to risk going there, today. By midday the weather here is not quite so wild.  Apparently flooding has blocked Holloway Road in the Aro Valley. Some state highways are closed.  But the protesters in Parliament grounds are dancing in the rain. I’m glad to be safe, dry and warm! There’s a power outage in Tawa, but not where I live.

The Covid 19 news, when it comes, is shocking: 810 new cases of Covid 19, and 32 people in hospital. There are 18 cases at the border. It’s reported that the new community cases are located across the country: Northland (13), Auckland (623), Waikato (81), Bay of Plenty (11), Lakes (11), Hawke’s Bay (8), MidCentral (3), Whanganui (6), Taranaki (5), Tairawhiti (3), Wellington (15), Hutt Valley (10), Nelson Marlborough (2), Canterbury (3), South Canterbury (2), Southern (14). Wellington – 15 new cases! People are now urged to get tested only if they have symptoms. I check the MOH website for newly added Wellington locations of interest, but there are none, so far.

Later this afternoon it’s reported that there are faeces in the grounds where the protesters are camped. It’s also reported that the police are afraid that there are far-right elements there, who may be armed – with baseball bats (or worse).  I listened to another American podcast this afternoon, where discussion of the protests in Ottawa and other capital cities makes me very afraid.

I heard that a student at one of the Halls of Residence at Canterbury University has tested positive; also a pupil at a Dunedin primary school.  Evidently someone at a hostel has tested positive, and consequently all residents are regarded as “close contacts”, and consequently have to isolate. They are not best pleased.  I wouldn’t be either! 

It’s now Monday February 14^th, Valentine’s Day.  It’s a big thing in the US.

This morning I learnt that the Cubadupa Festival has been cancelled; also that Prime Minister Ardern has been asked to give the graduation address at Harvard – a “liberal enclave” of Boston. Ha-ha! It’s still a very highly regarded university, and it’s a huge honour to be asked to speak there.

The protesters in Parliament grounds are not daunted by the weekend’s very bad weather, as the rest of the country tidies up, moving fallen trees, opening roads and highways, and presumably moving people back who had to evacuate from their homes. One hopes the power is on again.  The Speaker of the House, Trevor Mallard, has tried turning water sprinklers onto the protesters (before the rain came), and playing awful music over the loudspeakers. The police have publicly taken issue with these approaches. They are concerned, as are many of us, that people have brought children to this protest.  I get an email from Metlink this morning telling me that the restrooms at Wellington Railway Station are still unavailable. Concern is expressed again about unsanitary conditions at the protest.  I send an apology for my Tai Chi class this morning; I am due to see the orthoptist at the Terrace Eye Centre tomorrow morning. They have sent me many text messages; they want me to ring and tell them mu vaccination status; they also require me to show my vaccine pass tomorrow. Well, I’m not going to do both. I wonder if they have payWave yet?  Last time I went, they said they’d email the receipt. They did not, I had to ask for it, and there wasn’t even an apology!

There’s been a mandated increase in the minimum wage to $21.50 per hour. This is reported as being a “slap in the face”. To whom, I wonder? Is it too much for business, and not enough for workers?

With regard to the protest, there have been several medical incidents, but as yet no one has diagnosed positive for Covid 19. One woman had a “cardiac event” (presumably a heart attack), and had to be stretchered out because the ambulance couldn’t get to her.

In late morning we went into the city to get my watch fixed. JD decided to take the Thorndon exit from the motorway, which I thought very unwise, but there were no traffic problems at all. There’s quite a bit of traffic, but we found a carpark; I’d estimate probably over 80% of people are wearing masks. We dropped my watch off, and went to a café for lunch: we both had herb, cheese and mushroom omelettes. We had to show our vaccine passes to be served. After we’d eaten, we still needed to wait a few more minutes for my watch; it’s awkward when you don’t really want to go into any shops!

While we are eating, I learn today’s new case numbers: 981!  There are 39 people in hospital, still no-one in Intensive Care, and 25 cases at the border. Apparently Central Hawkes Bay (that would be Waipawa; it also includes Waipukurau and Porangahau) has its first confirmed case of Covid 19, although Hawkes Bay has several. Of the community cases, it’s reported that 768 are in Auckland, 21 in Northland, 82 in Waikato, 23 in Bay of Plenty, 12 in Lakes, five in Hawke’s Bay, five in MidCentral, one in Taranaki, six in Tairāwhiti, 12 in Wairarapa, six in Wellington, 14 in Hutt Valley, two in Nelson Marlborough, four in Canterbury, one in South Canterbury and 19 in Southern. It’s great to have my watch going again.

The protesters in Parliament grounds have evidently settled in for another week, despite the weekend’s wild weather. Apparently they vandalised the toilets at the wellington Railway Station: that doesn’t come as a surprise. There is criticism being flung about as to what the correct strategy might be to move them; who knows?  Tama Iti decided this protest wasn’t for him, he told National Radio’s Susie Fergusson.  Police have said they will start towing vehicles from 6:30 pm this evening, and have invited protesters to move them voluntarily before that: evidently parking is available at the nearby Sky Stadium. I watched a video tour of the site from a NZ Herald website, and I must say it seemed peaceful; there were several flags, mainly New Zealand’s, although I saw one Maple Leaf flag, and I did not see a single MAGA cap. 

New Zealand is to move to Phase 2 of the Covid response phase at midnight tomorrow night. This means: self-isolation requirements drop from 10 days to 7 days; it also activates a close contact exemption scheme. It also means the following: asymptomatic, vaccinated close contacts can keep going to work instead of self-isolating, Prime Minister Ardern said. Businesses signing up to an essential workforce scheme will be eligible for some free rapid antigen tests. While many cases will still be diagnosed by the more familiar PCR test, rapid tests will become more widely used, the PM said.  Dr Bloomfield said that Bluetooth notifications would be used less. 

It’s now Wednesday February 15^th.

This morning I have another appointment with the orthoptist at The Terrace Eye Centre. They are very careful there, although the orthoptist is running a but late and there are several people in the small waiting room. They still don’t have payWave, but I don’t have to pay, so that’s good. Afterwards I go down to Lambton Quay. It’s interesting how people define a metre – or perhaps they don’t. I think you should keep two metres from another person indoors, or one metre outdoors; not zero metres!  I don’t want to get pinged again. There is an article in the NZ Herald about Bluetooth notifications, but I can’t read it without paying. Grr!  How mean is that?

In Florence (Firenze), Italy, rich people are being called on to pay utility bills for struggling pensioners, in a very altruistic bid. I remember that during one of the plagues in the Middle Ages the Florentine authorities decided to feed everyone – quite well, too, in a true bid of kindness. Methinks the world could do with far more of that.

In the UK, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has tested positive for Covid 19. Putin in moving more troops to the border with Ukraine. Why would he threaten, if he doesn’t plan to attack?  We are all on edge. Meanwhile, Putin and China’s Xi are grinning over their cooperation.  That’s not trustworthy behaviour, on either side.

The Covid 19 news here isn’t great, either. Last night it was reported that 164 schools, kura and ECE facilities, most of them in Auckland, have been affected by Covid 19 and are closed or partially closed. Two schools in the Wairarapa are affected, and a student at Onslow College has tested positive.

Today there are 774 new cases of Covid 19 – less than yesterday or the day before. Evidently about 5% of tests are positive for Covid 19. There are 40 people in hospital, (none of them in Intensive Care), and 19 new cases at the border. It’s reported that of the new cases, there are 535 in Auckland, 43 in Northland, 69 in Waikato, eight in Bay of Plenty, 10 in Lakes, one in Hawke’s Bay, six in MidCentral, two in Taranaki, seven in Tairāwhiti, one in Wairarapa, five in Capital and Coast, one in Hutt Valley, nine in Nelson Marlborough, nine in Canterbury and 30 in Southern (sic).  It’s reported that Queenstown will be “dead” by Friday – it’s true there are many “locations of interest” there. On the other hand, there are alarmingly few in the Wellington area. I find that concerning.  It’s as though one lives in two worlds: I was in the city again today, and there are quite a few people around; out in the suburbs where I live, we’re all terrified.  We have been, and continue to be, terrified. What am I looking forward to?  Being able to do regular stuff again, like using public transport, or going to a movie.

The protest in Parliament grounds continues.  The police’s offer of free parking under the Sky Stadium (it’s usually really expensive) has not been taken up. Nearby residents are fed up, and they’re not the only ones!  While there is a right to protest, having a bus driver spat on, and neighbours threatened, is just not on. Fears have been expressed of a gastro bug caused by the unsanitary conditions. The protesters claim this won’t happen, but it’s evident that they don’t speak with one voice; they are united in refusing to move, however. Where do they charge their phones? Go to the toilet? Wash and shower?  Do their laundry? One wonders. It must be getting a bit “high”, one thinks. The NZ Herald advertises (in a red headline banner) that they have some answers to these questions, but when I click on this, I find again, that have to pay to read the story.

Well that’s probably enough for now.  It seems crazy to me that while restrictions are being relaxed in favour of more individual responsibility, the protesters in Parliament grounds are still there, settled in, and causing all kinds of distress to people who would want to shop there, take the bus there, and go about their business – while trying to stay safe.  More news tomorrow. Ngā mihi.

Today is Tuesday February 8^th, 2022. Kia ora!

Yesterday evening it was reported that four students from Te Mata Primary School in Havelock North have tested positive for Covid 19. Close contacts are being followed up. We had lunch in Havelock North last Thursday!  That is a bit of a gut punch.  Testing rates are expected to be up after the long weekend. Apparently several schools are affected by having infected pupils or staff members. A convoy is progressing to Wellington, from Bluff and Cape Reinga.

Today it’s fine, so that’s good news for the convoy.  I fear that Trumpism is spreading here, as it has too Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, which has called a state of emergency, such havoc the convoy has wreaked.  But here for the most part people are well behaved.

This morning I spent some time with a son and his two pre-school children. Grandpa started teaching the 4 year old how to play chess; I found a Thomas train for my granddaughter. Afterwards, we walked to the local park, where we were the only ones there!

I walked to the local supermarket; then we had lunch. Today there are 202 new community cases of Covid 19, assumed to be omicron; there are 67 at the border. The locations are reported as follows: Northland (17), Auckland (119), Waikato (39), Lakes (4), Bay of Plenty (8), Taranaki (1), Hawke’s Bay (8), Hutt Valley (1), Capital & Coast (4), Nelson Marlborough (1). There are 14 people in hospital.

It’s now Wednesday February 9^th.

This morning JD couldn’t take me to hymn singing, and I was too nervous to get an Uber.  Instead I went to have morning tea with two old friends. I used the bus (there was one other passenger), and the train from Johnsonville – it’s not at all crowded, so one feels quite safe on it.

This morning I learnt that a pupil at Mana College in Porirua has tested positive. Later, I learnt that there is a new case in Horowhenua – it’s not saying where, exactly. At 1 pm the new numbers come out: 204 new community cases, and 16 people in hospital (none in Intensive care). There are 46 new cases at the border. It’s reported that of the new cases, there were 135 new cases in Auckland, eight in Northland, 35 in Waikato, two in Lakes, 11 in Bay of Plenty, one in Taranaki, two in MidCentral, three in Wellington, three in Hutt Valley, one in Nelson Marlborough and three in Canterbury. More locations of interest have been published.  Prime Minister Ardern is reported as saying the omicron epidemic is likely to peak in March with up to 30,000 daily cases.  That’s according to some models; it seems a huge number, and late March seems a long way off. We’re all very scared; at least it’s fine and warm, and while it’s a bit sticky here, it isn’t as humid as Auckland (which is reported to be like Fiji). I think that 240-odd cases per day is the highest we’ve gone, so far.

Meanwhile, it’s fine and warm for the convoy, which is evidently causing some traffic problems around the Parliament area in Thorndon. I daren’t go to one of my favourite places: the New World Supermarket there, I certainly don’t want to run into protesters, or people who are anti-vaxx.   It’s said that some tents have been set up in Parliament grounds, and it’s been reported as follows: “Protesters at parliament trespassed by the police”.  Now that statement doesn’t make sense to me: the police may have given them trespass orders, but why not say so, if that’s the case?  There’s a growing police presence there. Neither Prime Minister Ardern nor Luxon will engage with them, but they claim they’re not going anywhere and they’re there for the long haul. Where’s a bone-chilling cold, windy spell (like we had last weekend) when you need one? Offensive language has been used, and some local businesses intimidated. It upsets me that protesters, perhaps following the Canadian convoy in Ottawa, are not, I believe, representative of the larger population; have no respect for others; and have no respect for our government’s amazing attempts (at the government’s expense) to look after us all and keep us safe. No one wants the coronavirus, and it’s been interesting to see how different governments have handled it. The New Zealand government deserves much kudos.

Today I visited a friend for morning tea and lunch, and saw another old friend at her place. It was very enjoyable. I used public transport to get there –  an almost empty bus, where there was one other passenger, and an almost empty train. JD picked me up. I was going to go to Tai Chi at Mana on Thursday, but it would have necessitated using a fairly packed train service between Mana and Wellington, via Porirua, and I cancelled out of this.

Later this afternoon it’s reported that three of the protesters have been arrested. There is a significant police presence. It’s also reported that a student at Pakaranga College has tested positive for Covid 19.

It’s now Thursday February 10^th.

This morning I read that police were going to break up the convoy protest in Parliament grounds in Thorndon. There have already been traffic problems in the surrounding streets.  A 17 year old girl was mocked and egged for wearing a mask: evidently her freedom to choose to wear one was not respected.  Some vile language was on display.  This morning, it was reported that 130 arrests had been made; some friends were due to pick me up at 1 pm to go and play Scrabble, so I missed the 1 pm announcement. It was reported this morning that there was a confirmed case in Queenstown, and that the airport there is a location of interest.

Later I caught up with the news. Today’s number of new Covid 19 community cases breaks all records to date: 306! There are 12 people in hospital, but none in Intensive Care. It’s reported that today’s new community cases are in Northland (12), Auckland (216), Waikato (48), Tairāwhiti (4), Bay of Plenty (7), Lakes (6), MidCentral (2), Taranaki (5), Hutt Valley (3) and the Capital and Coast (3). Meanwhile, 30 cases have been detected at the border.

 Later this afternoon it’s reported that there are two cases of Covid 19 in Queenstown.

With regard to the Convoy protest, it’s that there have been 120 arrests, and two policemen have been assaulted; others say they’ll be there for days, but it’s reported that the remnants of a cyclone are coming, and it could be an uncomfortable weekend for protesters. They might wish they’d been nicer to the staff at The Backbencher. Last night there were reports of splintering amongst different factions of the protest, and there was exhortation to “remember why we’re here”.  I haven’t heard from anyone sympathetic to the protesters.  Correction: apparently Rodney Hide is on their side.

There is anecdotal reports that people are reluctant to get tested, fearing that they’ll have to isolate, and their close contacts will have to isolate – this would be very bad for some businesses; but what about their children, their parents, their friends and other vulnerable people? In the UK, Boris Johnson is abandoning the need to isolate if you’re diagnosed with Covid 19! He’s gone from flagrantly breaking the rules to not having any rules!  That is shocking.

The Hon Chris Hipkins has announced a potential reduction in isolation requirements for “essential workers” who are asymptomatic and score negative on RATs.  And on the West Coast, some householders face evacuation again for another heavy rain downpour.

It’s now Friday February 11^th.

I had a bad night last night.  Something I’d eaten didn’t work for me, although I’m not sure what. Furthermore, I stubbed a toe, and it was really sore. I’d left my bed with the sheets half-changed, and had to finish making it before I went to bed. We watched the movie French Exit on one of the streaming services, but it wasn’t a very good movie.

This morning someone was due to come from Access to do some housework; JD had an appointment; and someone came to fix the printer, so it was quite a busy morning.  The lady from Access was a bit late coming, and I read on my phone that someone has diagnosed positive for Covid 19 in Dunedin; also someone has diagnosed positive at Petone Central Primary School, and consequently school is closed for two weeks.  New locations of interest are being added all the time, and they include the airport at Queenstown, a restaurant, and several other places. There are cases of Covid 19 in Levin and Shannon.

After 1 pm, the day’s total new community cases total really blows me away: it’s 446!  There are 23 people in hospital, but none in Intensive care. The new cases are reported as follows: Northland (16), Auckland (340), Waikato (48), Bay of Plenty (14), Lakes (13), Taranaki (1), Hutt Valley (7), Capital and Coast (4) and Southern (3). There are 32 new cases at the border.

After lunch, we go shopping. I figure that the New World supermarket at Tawa may be the safest one, but it’s pretty casual there. I read this afternoon that Covid 19 has been detected in Blenheim wastewater; also that locations of interest have been published in Cromwell and Wanaka.

Meanwhile, the convoy protest in Wellington in the grounds of Parliament Buildings continues; continues to block neighbouring streets; swearing continues as frustration continues with businesses closed and people unable to go about their business. Vehicles have been ticketed, and are now being towed away. There is a growing police presence, and some of them are carrying batons, but apparently the protest is growing, despite the police actions. A cold front is sweeping into Wellington – it’s been very hot and sticky, but already the temperature is dropping here, and rain is expected this evening.

Overseas, the Ukraine/Russia crisis is still very much with us.  Putin’s aggrandisement seems very like that of Hitler before World War II, and the Putin-Xi treaty seems eerily like the pact between Hitler and Molotov before the invasion of Poland; thus neutralising Russia.  Meanwhile, we learn more and more about Trump’s efforts to stay on as American president after the November 2020 election.

It’s now Saturday February 12^th.

Last night I heard there were Covid 19 infections in Invercargill and Gore. This morning I learnt that more schools are affected: St Patrick’s College at Silverstream, and Martinborough School.  They have closed for a week, or partially closed as pupils and staff are isolating.  It’s reported that far more locations of interest are being published, including several in Queenstown, Lake Tekapo, and some far north locations, including several in Auckland. I guess we just have to get through this somehow.

I don’t know what’s more upsetting: the convoy protests, the letting go of any Covid 19 restrictions in many countries, the imminent invasion of Ukraine, despite many diplomatic efforts, or Trump’s destruction of documents. He had a great deal to hide, and it seems he did it well. In Wellington it’s a bit cooler, and it rained a bit during the night, but it’s not really cold or wet enough to deter convoy protestors.  Today they’ve been joined by motorcyclists, although their aims are still conflicted – peace and love versus threats and actual violence. They’ve brought children, too. How can it be good to teach children that it’s all right to transgress against lawful authority?  There are fears that the convoy protest in Wellington may be a super-spreader event; I feel really sorry for the policemen who are doing their jobs, and have family and friends of their own.  Even under a level 3 or level 4 lockdown, we all have circles of people we interact with. I wonder what the numbers will be like today?

I’ve been listening to a Lawfare podcast about the Convoy protest in Ottawa. It made for very depressing listening. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, seems to be Missing in Action.  There was plenty of warning that something was planned; now they’ve raised a great deal of money, and it seems they’re not going away any time soon. Someone did sue on account of the noise they’re making, honking their horns, and won the court case! Consequently there’s less noise now. In New Zealand, several businesses are closing because lack of numbers has severely impacted their profitably. Some of them were quite good, too. I’m really sorry that I no longer feel safe to use public transport, as I used to, to get around. I still haven’t got my watch fixed, which is really annoying. Coffee bars, I liked, are also abandoned by me, for the mean time.  We’re not formally locked down, I’m just too scared to go anywhere that I don’t have to, especially after my scary experience of getting a message on my phone to say that a “close contact” had tested positive for Covid 19. I still don’t know who this person was, but the ensuing isolation, testing, and waiting for the test result, and then waiting for clearance, were terrifying. I had far to much time to think of all the people I would need to inform if I had tested positive. I’m very wary now about keeping my distance from any others.

That’s it for now.  Today’s case numbers? Tomorrow’s surprise! Ngā mihi.

It’s now Friday February 4^th, 2022. Kia ora!

We just got back from Hawkes Bay. It is very hot!  At least it’s not raining, we don’t have forest fires, and the electricity is working.

I got formally released from isolation on Wednesday morning. Someone called from Healthcare, agreed that they did have my Covid 19 negative test result; after they’d run through their check list of questions, I received an email saying I was formally released. I wasn’t having a good day, but we took off, heading to Hawkes Bay via the Remutaka Hill and the Wairarapa. We normally go north using SH1, but the northbound lane is closed between Levin and Shannon, necessitating a detour. It seemed a long way through the Hutt Valley, before climbing the Hill, although it was interesting to go a different way. We had lunch in a café at Carterton. It closed at 2 pm; we got there not long before this. We had to show vaccine passes; there was hardly anyone there. We sat outside, and were glad of the breeze.  I had a frittata with salad: salmon and asparagus, and a long black coffee. It was delicious.

We stopped in Waipukurau, buying more drinks; we got safely to Napier in the late afternoon. Our motel was very good, with plenty of room, a spa bath and a shower, and a mini-bar. Normally one doesn’t use the mini bar, but this time was different. I am super nervous now, realising that having a negative test result on Tuesday does not mean that I’m immune from future exposures.

We had lunch at the lovely Birdwood’s Gallery and Café in Havelock North. It was lovely there, we were very well looked after. We sat outside, and although it was hot, there was a lovely breeze. I had a vegetable quiche and salad, and lemon tart.  We had pizza for tea on sitting on the balcony, enjoying the sea breeze, and drinking juice and wine.

Coming back to Wellington, we stopped at Dannevirke for lunch. We sat outside at first, but the heat, combined with the flies and traffic noise, drove us back inside. Everything was well spaced, and we had to show vaccine passes.  Then we stopped again in Shannon. It was very hot there, too.  Driving back to Wellington, the expressway extends ever further north towards Te Horo, and south to the end of Transmission Gully. Around Otaki, there are huge road works, and we look forward to being able to use more of the new road that is being built. There’ve also been improvements between Waipukurau and Waipawa, and beyond Waipawa.  There’s also a dividing line for much of the Napier expressway. In Wellington the Dompost is making a big issue over the delays in opening the new Transmission Gully highway. I figure that while this part of the highway is not open yet, the extensions around Paekakariki and Otaki are coming along well, and deliver more usable road each time we drive north.

It was lovely to see our daughter in Napier. We were very careful about where we took her; I’m very careful whatever exposures I have, seeking to limit them as much as possible.

Today there are 209 new community cases of Covid 19, and still only 9 people in hospital. The vaccination gap has been shortened to 3 months, between one’s second vaccination jab and getting a booster jab. Holidaymakers for this long weekend are warned that they may have to isolate if they’re away from home, and they should allow for this.  The government has also announced that it will open the borders from the end of February, first to Australia, and then to the rest of the world; vaccinated visitors can self-isolate for a week, before going their merry way; unvaccinated incomers will be required to spend time in MIQ.  That seems fair enough, as long as people abide by the rules. I do have to put in a plug for the loathed MIQ, which has kept us safe for a long time! When we went to my friend’s funeral in September 2020, her sons were able to get places in MIQ. Sometime after that it became hard to get into to. People seem to forget this.

It’s now Saturday February 5^th.

Friday night was very hot, although it rained, gently, off and on. But the next day, Saturday, is much cooler, to my relief. The rain has become steadier, and it continues, gently, more or less non stop. I enjoy cooler weather.  In the early afternoon I picked up some KN95 masks which I’d had on order from my local chemist. They’ve finally arrived. Then we went shopping at New World in Thorndon. It was extremely busy there, but everyone seemed patient and kind, except for the folk who kept standing over the ice cream trumpets!  JD did a great job of packing the groceries.  I was able to get yoghurt, cheese, salads, coffee beans, tonic water, salad greens, more fruit, hummus and prepared salads.  No doughnuts this time.  Thank goodness it’s not threatening flooding here, as it has on the west Coast.

On the way home I learn that there are 243 new cases of Covid 19 today, the most community cases since mid-November (222 on 16 November). Most of them are in Auckland. There are ten people in hospital, one of them in Intensive Care.

It’s now Sunday February 6^th, Waitangi Day.

This morning I went to church, in person, wearing one of my new KN95 masks.  I kept it on during the service, finding that I could sing quite well with it on.  People seem to be more spaced out than usual.  There is a lot of Te Reo in the service and the singing, but my friend plays the organ before and after the service. I enjoying singing How Great Thou Art – in Māori and in English.It’s a nice blend, I think. It is much cooler today – my computer says 15C, but other readings have given 9 or 10C Celsius.  I enjoy its being cooler, but this is much cooler, and necessitated getting out corduroy trousers, and proper shoes and socks. It was nicely warm in the church.  I still feel pretty tainted by my imposed  isolation experience, so I used the namaste sign when we pass the peace of Christ. Afterwards, JD picks me up at the supermarket across the road. Thankfully, there aren’t many people there.

Last night we watched a very good film on Māori Television: Dark Horse, starring Cliff Curtis.  It’s about mental illness, and the game of chess. I found it very moving. I am reading The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout, which I picked up from the library on Friday after we got back to Wellington. It’s very thought-provoking, as her books tend to be.

Today there are 208 new community cases of Covid 19 (lower than yesterday’s total), and 12 in hospital. There are 19 new cases at the border. The new cases are reported as being in Auckland (128), Northland (7), Waikato (49), Lakes (1), Bay of Plenty (11), Hawke’s Bay (5), Wellington (3), Nelson Marlborough (3) and South Canterbury (1).

On Sunday evening we watched McDonald and Dodds on TV1, the final episode of the current series.  That makes three that we’ve watched: perhaps we missed the first one. I must say that having four episodes in a television series seems like short-changing us; in a Netflix series, they have heaps of episodes: sometimes up to 14, at least 10.  You don’t get the annoying advertisements, either, although it can be good to have a short break to draw the curtains of finish loading the dishwasher. This episode of McDonald and Dodds didn’t start till 8:50 pm and then ran for two hours; I have to admit I struggle to stay awake for these two-hour episodes, especially complicated detective plots.

It’s now Monday, February 7^th, a public holiday for Waitangi Day (which was yesterday).  Yesterday it was reported that Erdogan, President of Turkey, had tested positive for Covid 19, as had 19 ministers in Iran. In China, a city is under lockdown for a few cases of coronavirus. At the Winter Olympics in Beijing, there is some frustration over the restrictions and the cold. Ukraine is still on a knife’s edge with Russian troops seemingly poised for invasion.  In the US, we learn more and more terrifying details of just how far Trump was prepared to go to retain the Presidency after the November 2020 election, to say nothing of his heinous helpers. Meanwhile, the RNC has censured Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger.  Mike Pence has come out boldly to the effect that Trump was wrong to argue that he had the power to overturn the election, but said nothing about President Biden being legitimately elected, or the January 6^th events being a riot. He did not condemn what is now known as “the big lie”, and it was offensive that he stated that Kamala Harris (not Vice President Harris) would not be permitted to overturn it after 2024; as if she would stoop to do so. I find that implication really offensive.

Yesterday it was reported that there were six cases of Covid 19 in Wellington, but some had their registered address in Auckland. All very strange. Today there are 188 new community cases of Covid 19, and 27 cases at the border. There are 14 people in hospital and one in Intensive Care. It’s reported that at a Christian School in Hamilton, 80 pupils and staff are isolating after a pupil tested positive for Covid 19 last week. Meanwhile, the numbers of tests is down – by about 6,000. There are no new cases in Wellington. Of the new cases, it’s reported that 117 are in Auckland, 16 in Northland, 15 in Waikato, one in Tairāwhiti, 12 in Lakes, 20 in Bay of Plenty, one in Hawke’s Bay, one in MidCentral, two in Hutt Valley and three in Canterbury. The Restaurant in the Copthorne Hotel in Wellington has been confirmed as a location of interest, as has the Tahuna Beach Holiday Camp in Nelson.

The week ahead looks interesting:  do I meet with a son and grandchildren tomorrow? Go to hymn singing? Go to town to get my watch fixed? Go to Tai chi? Dare to go and see the movie Belfast? Will my cleaner come on Friday?  Who knows, it’s too soon to tell. Ngā mihi.

N.B. a convoy is driving to Wellington to protest vaccine mandates. Once again, it has rained on the parade, and there’s been some social media interference, confusing protesting groups.

Today is Sunday January 30^th, 2022. Kia ora!

Well, what an eventful couple of days it has been. On Saturday night at almost midnight I rang Healthline’s 0800 number. The Bluetooth advice had been nagging at me; if it was just a test, I  wanted to know that too.

I  rang, and was told there were 11 calls ahead of me, and the wait time would be around 31 minutes. I waited a while and rang again. This time my call was second in the queue; for some strange reason, they wait the wait time would be 17 minutes. I waited on the line. I was told that the way Bluetooth works is to ping nearby mobile phones, if someone tests positive.  I pointed out that the only outing I’d made on Thursday 20 January was a walk up to the Churton Park New World supermarket, which hadn’t been registered as a location of interest.  They agreed that the date conflict was confusing – 20 January vs. 6 days ago, and said I should ring the Bluetooth hotline between 8 am and 8 pm the next day. And by the way, I should isolate, and shouldn’t go to church on Sunday morning. I should take this seriously.

Well, I just couldn’t sleep after that. I worried about the next day, and all the implications of being a “close contact”.  The definition says being in contact with an infected person for 12 minutes, in an unventilated place where protocols such as mask wearing aren’t being followed. I’m still mystified.

On Sunday morning, I join my church service via zoom. There’s hardly anyone there – last Sunday would be six days from yesterday; and perhaps attendees have received similar alerts? I wish I hadn’t enabled Bluetooth on my phone. Actually, there are only three other zoomers, so I suspect most older people don’t know the intricacies of enabling Bluetooth on your phone. Church is different – the minister is wearing a mask, except when he’s speaking; they don’t exchange the sign of peace; and there’s no reference to morning tea afterwards. But after the service I see one woman rush over and embrace another. Come on! We all have networks, and friends if not family! You don’t have to hug someone!

Around midday I call the Bluetooth 0800 number. There are lots of recorded messages, but “Please don’t hang up” is the dominant one. I don’t have to wait long to speak to a real person.  I have to give her my full name, date of birth, and NIH number. She waits while I dig this out. It’s recorded on my phone, but I daren’t risk losing the other person while I look it up there. She confirms that there is someone who’s been diagnosed with Covid 19, but she can’t tell me who or where. She confirms that the “contact” was on Thursday January 20^th, so that narrows things down – to the New World supermarket at Churton park..

She asks about isolating, who else lives here, and wants to get me into the daily call/isolating tracking regime. I point out that if the contact was January 20^th, my 10 days is up today. She wants me to have a test: they’ll “release” me once I’ve had a negative test for Covid 19; sadly, I missed my day 8 test (yes, because I didn’t know I needed one!)  She wants me to get tested at the Unichem Pharmacy in Johnsonville; I demure, saying I’d much rather get tested at the Johnsonville Medical Centre, where they have a drive-through testing facility in the car park; this seems much less risky. I tried to ring them yesterday to make a time too get tested before going to Hawkes Bay,, but they’re closed till 8 am Monday morning. We agree that this is a safer option (thank goodness!) I need to continue to isolate; can I do that? Can someone else shop for me? And there’s a warning about laundry, but I’ve already put the laundry on to wash.

Now that I’m in their system, I get what is to become a daily text, asking me to answer the call, or ring them back. At around 6 pm they ring me again. I agree to get tested on Monday, and they give me a code for this. That day I was very tired and fell asleep during McDonald and Dodds, TV One’s new English detective drama. It’s rather annoying – certainly not Morse or Endeavour, but watchable if it’s the “best of the rest”.   I did sleep much better that night.

It’s now Monday January 31^st.

I ring the Johnsonville Medical Centre just after 8 am, and wait and wait. “Don’t hang up!”  The annoying background music is interrupted frequently to tell me they’re experiencing heavy volumes of calls at present.  Eventually someone answers, and tells me they don’t take appointments for tests until 8:30 am, but they will ring me back. And so they do, and the appointment is for 11:21 am. Appointments are three minutes apart: don’t come early, and don’t come late, and by the way, what’s the car’s registration number and colour?  I check that, and then I’m booked in.

JD has to have a shave before we go – I tell him no one can see his face, if he’s wearing a mask, but old habits die hard. He has to shave before he goes anywhere.  In the event, there’s a holdup in Middleton Road, but we’re early, and the car park is very busy. We manage to stop outside the testing station, and someone comes to test me.  This time it’s quite intense – the prod up the left nostril, much more intense than last time I had it done in early December, before we went to Napier then. It’s very quick, though; I should get results within 24 hours; and I go straight home, as instructed. I have a book on reserve at the library, but woe betide explaining to JD how to retrieve it and issue it.

Soon after I get back home, Healthline calls again – their routine call.  I am quite impressed. It’s very comprehensive, and there’s no rush.  I confirm that I’ve had a covid 19 test, and am isolating while I await the results. No, I haven’t developed any of the Covid 19 symptoms, So I’m quite well, then?  No, I say, that wouldn’t be true, but I don’t have anything out of the ordinary. I can still smell the Dettol. She makes me repeat the instructions as to what to do if I do develop symptoms. Is there anything else I’d like to ask her? Yes, there is. I’m wondering why the New World Supermarket in Churton Park still does not show up as a location of interest, given that it’s the only place I visited that day, and no one came to my home. I have worked out that the exposure does probably relate to my shopping there, when someone stood very close behind me at checkout. This annoyed me at the time: surely you’re meant to wait back until the person being attended to has finished shopping, before rushing through to shop yourself. Now I just have to wait for the test results.  I am still terrified, although not quite as stressed as I was. I dread the thought of notifying everyone I’ve been with during the last 10 days. Even when one restricts going out to things one’s chosen not to miss (and getting some exercise, which we’re exhorted to do), there’s still quite a lot of exposure. I will have words with the owner of that New World next time I get the opportunity.

Yesterday it was reported that the PM, Prime Minister Ardern, was in isolation along with several others after the air hostess on a flight from Kerikeri to Auckland tested positive for Covid 19.  Apparently she was in isolation on what should have been her wedding day!  Poor thing. Today it’s reported that she’s tested negative. That’s a big relief. The new Governor General, Cindy Kiro, has also tested negative.

Today I was going into town to get my watch fixed, and to buy some hair conditioner.  It’s a shame not to be able to do that.

Yesterday there were 103 community cases, and one death. There were new cases, one each, in Wellington and the Hut Valley. Today there are 91 new community cases, and 13 people in hospital, with one new case in Wellington.  A South Auckland primary school has not opened as expected, because last Thursday was a training day, and someone has tested positive, so all the teachers are in isolation. The Ministry of Health has said it will no longer record locations of interest. Correction: it will no longer flag locations of interest as specifically for omicron. And as omicron is now the dominant strain in New Zealand, all cases will be assumed to be omicron.

I am reading a most interesting book about Alfred Dreyfus: it’s called An Officer and a Spy, by Robert Harris. It’s more interesting than I thought it would be. I hope I can renew it at the library.

It’s now Tuesday February 1^st.

I’m still waiting for my test results, although I was told I’d get them within 24 hours. It’s now longer than that since my test.  I don’t feel good today, it’s a “bad day” for me, but I still don’t think that I have Covid. I’m hoping that the delay is due to the test being negative – surely they would have got back to me by now if it were positive? Perhaps they’re really busy? Early this morning I got an “Important message from Healthline” by text.  It wasn’t my test result, it was a message saying they’d call me for my daily check, and would I please answer the phone, or call them back. Well they did call a few minutes ago, and I answered the call, which then stopped. When I tried to call back, I was told the wait was about 10 minutes. Am I correct to assume that in their eyes I’m low priority?

There’s a story on the Stuff website about a reporter who was pinged, like me, by a Bluetooth alert, saying he was a “close contact” of someone who’d been diagnosed with Covid 19.  His frustration is very similar to mine. He figures that his exposure was on a public transport trip, and he wonders whether people will deliberately avoid public transport (as I have been doing) because of the risk. It’s very frustrating to have to isolate for exactly how many days now? He also noted the big difference between reporting the numbers and “taking care”, to being plunged into isolation, and the daily checklist and testing regime, with no preparation.

This morning I have been watching Youtube instalments on British politics, where Keir Starmer gave a wonderful speech (you can see it on Politics Joe), and an SNP politician Ian Blackford was kicked out of Parliament for refusing to withdraw his statement saying (several times) that Boris Johnson had misled Parliament. The Speaker tried to get him to withdraw this comment; rather, he reinforced it. I enjoyed listening to his Scottish brogue.

In Covid news, Otahuhu College now cannot open, because a teacher has diagnosed positive for Covid; the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, has also diagnosed positive.  In the UK, the tall blond actor Laurence Fox, a prominent anti-vaxxer, has diagnosed positive and is treating himself with the horse-wormer drug Ivermectin. He played the conflicted Catholic sidekick to Detective Lewis in several follow-up television series to Morse. 

It’s midday now. I’m still waiting (anxiously) for my test result. Still, the only place I went to that day is not recorded as a location of interest.

The National Party’s new leader Christopher Luxon spoke yesterday to the party faithful in Queenstown. The media are making rather a lot of this. He accuses Labour of overspending (ha!) and it’s reported that he’s looking to the UK Tory Party for a lead.  That is rather mistimed, given the wrangling over Boris Johnson’s parties at 10 Downing Street. Queenstown seems an interesting choice of location. Meanwhile, more and more planned events are being cancelled, and people here are advised against travel unless it’s absolutely necessary.

In Portugal, the ruling Socialist party won a third consecutive term in government in recent elections.

Today it’s reported that there are 126 new community cases of Covid 19. There are three cases in Hawera, which will be included in tomorrow’s total. At the border? There are lots, from all over. It’s hard to get the numbers on a daily basis, and it’s becoming increasingly irrelevant, too. (79 today! 39 yesterday.) Omicron is here, we’re all scared, and once more, our lives are On Hold. That is, if they were ever Off Hold. 8 people are currently in hospital. It’s reported that today’s new community cases are in Northland (5), Auckland (84), Waikato (20), Lakes (1), Bay of Plenty (8), Tairāwhiti (2), Taranaki (1), Hawke’s Bay (2), Wellington (1), Nelson Marlborough (1), and Canterbury (1). Cases were also announced by health authorities in Taranaki, Hawke’s Bay, and Canterbury but had missed the ministry’s daily cut-off period for reporting.

At 2:10 pm I receive a text from the Johnsonville Medical Centre saying that my  Covid 19 test was negative.  That’s wonderful news. I was feeling very down in the dumps, and seriously doubting whether we should go to Hawkes Bay.  I had received a text from Healthline while I was preparing my lunch – not a test result, just another plea to answer their call for my daily check. Well, now I need them to release me from the isolation gig.  It will be a joy to go shopping again, and buy some lettuce and cucumber, some cheese that I like (preferably Havarti or Gloucester), and some more fruit.  The last couple of days have been even more boring than usual, but have seemed like an eternity. I hope I don’t have to go through this again – ever. 

Shortly after I receive my text from Johnsonville Medical Centre, Healthline ring for the daily check in. Am I irritable or confused? No, but I’m certainly annoyed! They don’t have my test results, so cannot release me from isolation. They expect to be able to do this tomorrow – after all, yesterday was a public holiday in Auckland for their Anniversary Day.

That’s it for now. Ngā mihi. With relief.

Today is Wednesday January 26^th, 2022. Kia ora!

It’s been quite a busy day today, with several appointments. It was a granddaughter’s birthday, there was a zoom meeting, and we were due to take a friend to the Rita Angus exhibition at Te Papa.  I could have cancelled this latter one, but thought we should go to Te Papa while the going’s good.  How wonderful Angus’s paintings are!  It’s a joy to see them again. The exhibition is very well curated.

At my zoom meeting, we discussed among other things wearing masks for singing, and whether to abandon term one.  Heavy matters, indeed!  My hymn-singing is due to restart next week, wearing masks for singing.  Maybe.

I heard the latest Covid 19 numbers before we went out this afternoon. It’s announced that there is a new omicron case in Taranaki, and then that there are 15 new cases of Covid 19/omicron, included in today’s total of 23 community cases of Covid 19.  There are 6 people in hospital, and none of these are in Intensive care. It seems we are doing well with the delta outbreak – it’s almost over, and yet omicron numbers are rising fast.

I miss Dr Verrall’s three-part plan. I’ll have to catch up with it. It seems that the government has commandeered deliveries of Rapid Antigen Tests that were supposed to go to private businesses, so that they could test their staff regularly. Just normal grizzles, really. The big news is that some Omicron-infected people attended a music festival in Hamilton, the 51 hour Soundsplash festival.  It’s reported that a number of covid-positive people attended the festival – which was held last weekend, presumably before New Zealand became status Red nationwide, limiting the numbers at mass events. A number? We don’t yet know how many.  It’s reported that some unvaccinated young people may have entered illegally by climbing over fences.

It’s now Thursday January 27^th.

I turn on my computer and find that Prime Minister Ardern and the Hon. Chris Hipkins are addressing the media in Lower Hutt. The questions are quite aggressive.  The PM urges people to get a booster shot of the vaccine. This morning a hotel in Queenstown (the St Moritz) is a location of interest. Minister Hipkins says that schools will reopen no matter what. I know that one of my sons with a child at kindergarten has chosen to keep the child at home, given the risk of someone – or a close contact of someone there – may contract Covid 19, and thus force everyone connected into a period of isolation. They are not keeping children in pods, as the Americans were doing. In the US, Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is to retire (he’s only 83). The news report doesn’t say when, but presumably President Biden will get to appoint his replacement.

Today there are 45 new community cases of Covid 19, and there are around 90 cases of omicron in New Zealand.  There are only 5 people in hospital, including one in Intensive Care. Evidently 5 people who attended the Soundsplash Festival have been diagnosed with Covid 19, and one of them is confirmed to have omicron. I’m thinking it’s not too bad, until I learn from the NZ Herald that there are 8 new Covid 19 cases in Hawkes Bay.  I had just been saying to JD that we’d better go up there sooner rather than later; this might change that, however. A second suspected case in Taranaki has been confirmed to have omicron. There are two new cases in Nelson.  It’s problematic that we don’t know right away if a positive diagnosis turns out to be omicron. There are four new cases of Covid 19 in Christchurch. The NZ Herald reports 34 new omicron cases. There are 51 new cases  at the border. The eight new cases in Hawkes Bay are expected to be the delta variant, and are linked to an existing Hawkes Bay cluster. Omicron is now in Queenstown, it’s reported.

Last night we watched some episodes of Fires on Neon.  This is a series about the bush fires in Australia at the end of 2019, just before the Covid 19 pandemic arrived.  It’s very well done, and a very moving series. The night before we watched an episode of The Gilded Age, which I found quite disappointing; ridiculous dresses, and I don’t particularly like Cynthia Nixon as an actress. I just have too much memory of her as the poet Emily Dickinson.  I remember thinking, when I watched that, how some Americans just have too much money and are too entitled and should go away and get a decent job and have a more normal life. That’s my not-so entitled view!

It’s now Friday January 28^th.

The news is not good today. It seems that the Soundsplash music festival was a super-spreader event; today there are 15 confirmed omicron cases, bringing the omicron total in New Zealand to 105. There are also 105 community cases in all, so that’s up quite a bit. It seems that festival organisers were very careful, but once in there, some festival goers lost their inhibitions, as people tend to do if they’ve had too much to drink or taken drugs. A teenager has reported that of her 30 odd group of friends, around 1/3 have so far tested positive for Covid 19.  There is an ever-widening number of locations of interest; a fourth wedding has now been implicated in the omicron outbreak. A Polo event in Tauranga has been implicated. Only four people are in hospital at present. It’s reported that today’s new community cases are in Auckland, Waikato, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Hawke’s Bay, MidCentral, Nelson Tasman and Canterbury. One case in Northland and one in Bay of Plenty would officially be added to tomorrow’s case numbers. There’s a new unlinked case in Palmerston North. The two new Hawkes Bay cases aren’t linked to the Hawkes Bay cluster, but one of them did attend the Soundsplash festival. Who knew there were so many music festivals?  Apparently Wellington’s Round the Bays Run, which was due to be held in February, has been cancelled.

It’s now Saturday January 29^th.

This morning we are to go to a birthday party for one of our granddaughters. It’s in a lovely park, and it’s fine a warm – a beautiful day, and not too muggy.  There is an awning over the picnic bench. No one is wearing masks, bur it’s outdoor and very civilised.  Before we went, the NZ Herald reported that a pupil at Hastings’ Lindisfarne College has tested positive for omicron, having attended the Soundsplash music festival. That is scary, but the report later seems to have been pulled (It was in Stuff, too, and seems to be true).

I wanted to go to the Nada Bakery in Tawa; they’re wisely operating from a truck, so no one enters the shop now. We had to show vaccine passes, as well as scanning in. We bought filled rolls and a doughnut.  They have really good doughnuts there.

After we get home, we wait for the 1 pm Covid 19 report. When it comes, there are 97 new cases, and 7 people in hospital (none in Intensive Care). 39 omicron cases have now been linked to the Soundsplash festival outside Hamilton (at Mystery Creek). Everyone who attended the event is encouraged to get tested, and to tell the testers that they were at the festival. Two of four community cases in Canterbury have been confirmed as omicron. It’s reported that there are active cases being treated as Omicron in Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Taranaki, MidCentral, Canterbury, Tairāwhiti and Nelson-Tasman.

Meanwhile, it’s reported that the virus had been detected in wastewater samples taken on January 26-27 from the Northland townships of Kerikeri, Paihia and Rawene, the rural south Auckland town of Pukekohe and the Manawatū town of Dannevirke. There were also continued detections from samples taken over the same days in Ahipara, Kawakawa Bay, Hamilton, Tauranga, Rotorua, Te Maunga (Mt Maunganui), Te Puke, Te Awamutu, Porirua, Moa Point in Wellington, and Motueka. 58 new cases have been reported at the border. The NZ Herald reports the locations of the new cases as follows: Northland (1), Auckland (61), Waikato (14), Tairawhiti (3), Bay of Plenty (8), Lakes (7), Hawke’s Bay (3).

What was really scary, though, was getting an alert on my phone – whenever I went to the Stuff website. The alert was in Red, and was a Bluetooth one, warning me that, dating from Thursday 20^th January, 6 days ago (sic), I was a close contact of someone who’d tested positive for Covid 19. I have Bluetooth enabled on my phone, but not connected. Well, January 20^th is more that 6 days ago, it’s more like 9-10 days. I looked up by Covid diary, and the only exposure I had that day was a visit to the local supermarket at 2:36 pm – a location safer in theory than many others.  I was quite alarmed, though; should I inform my family? Have a test? I have no symptoms, and I think I’d have some by now if I had Covid 19. I rang the local medical centre to see about getting tested before we go to Hawkes Bay, but they’ve closed for the day. I think about what planned activities I’ll have to cancel…JD eventually persuades me it’s just an example of a warning.  There are no locations of interest in Wellington – I check the MOH website, and there are no new cases in Wellington, but I was suitably rattled for a while there.  Meanwhile, several infections are linked to a child care centre in Tauranga.  A café in Paeroa is a location of interest. This thing is everywhere!  I think we should go to Napier next week – sooner rather than later, if they’ll have us. We might have to take our own refreshments! Thank goodness it’s fine and warm.

That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.

Today is Monday January 24^th, Wellington Anniversary Day. Kia ora!

We are all coming to terms with what status Red means for us.  Event organisers are deciding whether or not to go ahead with planned events; and, if they do go ahead, how to manage safely the event situations.

In Wellington a Lunar New Year Festival has been cancelled; there are many more planned events, including the Cubadupa Festival, and the NZ Festival of the Arts.  That used to be a big thing for us – our sons were usually performing, and there were several events JD and I (or our sons) wanted to go to. Prime Minister Ardern has indicated that she will make public a three stage plan for omicron on Wednesday. Hohepa sent out an email yesterday; they are meeting again today and will communicate again. The main thing I’ve noticed is a lack of anger this time:  people got very angry late last year when it looked as though New Zealand’s delta outbreak could not be stopped, and Auckland was in lockdown for about three months.  But it wasn’t just Aucklanders who were angry: everyone was angry, everyone was in a rush. Now it seems there is a quiet resignation.  We have seen the devastating effects of omicron across the world, and especially in our neighbour, Australia, whose government’s approach has been to “let it rip”, and who’ve had stunning numbers of daily Covid 19 infections and deaths.  Thank goodness we have a good government here.

Pupils will be required to wear masks in schools, when school goes back, either at the end of January or early in February.  The CEO of Air NZ has stood down a number of staff who are either close contacts of the staff member who has diagnosed positive with omicron, or staff who are showing symptoms. The staff member who tested positive for omicron was tested as part of routine staff testing. I would think that flying poses quite a risk, as it has done for the last few months.

In China, officials are fighting small numbers of Covid 19 positive cases in several cities by heavy handed means.  They are desperately trying to maintain the Winter Olympics in Beijing as a viable event. Omicron in the community has also reached Taiwan, who, like New Zealand, has tried to keep it out. It’s believed to be in Japan, too. 

I have ordered better masks from my local chemist. They were supposed to arrive last week, but so far they haven’t. Minister Chris Hipkins is warning that there may be tens of thousands of new cases each day. 

This morning I learnt that an Indian restaurant in Auckland’s Mission Bay is a location of interest, as is a Countdown supermarket in Motueka.

I walked up to the local supermarket this morning mainly to get a pie dish as part of their sticker rewards scheme, which closes soon. I was able to get a pie dish, and some croissants for lunch. There were few people there, and the mood was sombre and muted, with no anger visible.

The 1 pm new statement is confusing.  There are 8 new cases of omicron (in the community, we assume) across Auckland, Nelson and Palmerston North. These are all contacts of existing cases.  Several more locations of interest have been published. To date there are 19 cases of Covid 19/omicron in New Zealand.  Apparently there are 50 cases of covid 19 at the border. There are 25, new community cases: 4 in Northland, 13 in Auckland, 4 in Waikato, 1 in Lakes, 1 in MidCentral and 2 in Nelson /Tasman. There are 10 people in hospital.

Overseas, reaction to Prime Minister Ardern’s action is very negative. I don’t think the likes of Piers Morgan realise that under status Red you can actually do most things; it’s just that numbers at gatherings are limited, and further limited if attendees don’t have vaccine passes.  It was joked that while Ardern has cancelled her wedding, at least the bloke is lucky – he’ll still be free. Actually, do I detect a hint of jealousy here? I also understand that Prime Minister Ardern has postponed her wedding, not cancelled it.  Many of us have had to cancel events, or limit numbers in attendance; make sacrifices that we’d prefer not to make. I wonder if I will ever see my sons who are currently overseas again.

What a strange thing travel is.  When I’m at home, I yearn to be somewhere else; when I’m somewhere else, I often find it quite difficult, or boring, or tiring. You have to settle into whatever your brief home away from home is. One must always be aware of security. That is balanced by magic moments when you prick yourself to realise that you are actually seeing something special, or are in a special place. Sometimes I find out later that there were things I should have known about, and looked out for. I still feel that whatever the crowds, my own view and vision is unique to me, and I will carry the memory of that vision with me.

It’s now Tuesday January 25^th.

This morning I learn that Sarah Palin has Covid 19.  The US may send troops to Ukraine, after all. Biden is beefing up military support for Ukraine, and some embassies are withdrawing their staff from Kyiv.  The Russians withdrew their diplomatic staff first. I’m reminded of the Munich film – what do you do about Putin’s aggression? Appease him? Buy time?  Large numbers of Covid 19 infected people in Russia don’t seem to be holding him back.  Honestly, don’t the pundits drive you mad? They carry on, pretty safe in the knowledge that the conflict is very far away from them.  Mind you, it could have global effects, if not questioned, at least.  We’re all inter-connected.  In the UK, there are photos of a birthday party for Boris Johnson, which must have also broken the rules.  Another Tory MP has defected, although he claims it’s not about this rule-breaking issue.  There’s talk of bullying, and a Muslim MP is claiming discrimination because of her faith. Here, the elderly are advised to “hunker down” through an expected omicron epidemic, whatever that means. Hey, we’ve been hunkering down for most of 2021, waiting for vaccines, then having the delta outbreak, and exercising supreme caution; Auckland’s borders opened before Christmas, and now we have omicron to fear.  No wonder most people I know are thinking very carefully about each venture out of home, be it to buy food, use public transport (should I use Uber instead?), or meet in a coffee bar. All is risky. One only has to look at the ever-growing list of exposure sites in Auckland where the omicron-infected family went: a hotel, restaurants, Rainbow’s End, two weddings, a funeral, and, of course, an Air NZ flight.  That reminds me that nowhere is safe, although some places are probably safer than others, and some people exercise a lot more care than others.

Of course there has been some so-called panic buying.  I admit to securing a supply of toilet paper, rubbish bin liners (now they were scarce), and coffee beans, but I doubt that I’m depriving other people.  After all, you can always use tissues – which don’t seem to be in short supply.

Last night I booked our accommodation in Napier, with the option to cancel, of course.  The prices have dropped, so I’m glad I didn’t book earlier.  I was expecting Hohepa to send another email yesterday, but so far they have not.

Meanwhile, I am reading the Robert Harris book called An Officer and a Spy, about Alfred Dreyfus. I am finding it quite interesting. I have listened to The Rest is History podcast about General Gordon. Who on earth was her, one might ask. Well, I did not know, but I do now, and I’m looking forward to listening to part 2. He was a very interesting person. I won’t pay extra to belong to their club; I’ll put up with the sponsors, annoying though they are.

I’m still waiting for my N95 masks, which are supposed to give better protection against omicron.

At 1 pm I learn there are 10 new omicron cases in the community, including 2 in Tauranga. The index case has still not been found. There are 10 people in hospital, and none in Intensive Care. The PM is to give a press conference at 4 pm. Apparently there are 25 new community cases in all, and 37 at the border. Today’s new cases are in:  Northland (1), Auckland (18), Bay of Plenty (2), Lakes (2), MidCentral (1), Nelson Marlborough (1).

Prime Minister Ardern and Dr Bloomfield front a press conference at  4 pm. Again, I think the PM is amazing. Tomorrow there’ll be another presser with Dr Verrall, where she’ll outline stage 1 of the 3 part plan to combat omicron. It’ll be interesting to see how this new-ish minister handles the press. The gist is as follows: vaccine booster take up is good, and please continue; proper masks must be worn basically all the time, and they must be proper masks, worn correctly; ventilation units are being purchased for schools; testing capacity is being increased; Rapid Antigen Tests are on order but there’s huge demand for them at present. Meanwhile, I received a message from Access saying that only essential cares will be provided while we are at red status.

So that’s it  for now. Ngā mihi.