Today is Friday October 1^st, 2021. Kia ora.

On our first trip overseas at the end of 1973, there was all kinds of excitement, but our first experience of London was our McDonnell Douglas DC9 plane being stacked over Heathrow Airport, and flying over seemingly endless streets that looked like Coronation Street. We feel as though we’re in a similar holding pattern right now.

 On Friday it was a busy morning. I texted my cleaner to find out when she expected to come. She texted back midday, but then texted again soon after 10 to ask I was home and if she could come then. It was a bit of a panic because I had showered, but JD hadn’t; anyway, I rushed around, emptied the rubbish, decided not to change the sheets, and changed the towels and put the dirty ones on to wash. After she’d finished, I walked to the local shops, and back. It was a beautiful fine day, but it was quite windy, nonetheless.

One of my sons showed me a photograph his brother had sent him from the UK, where their local petrol station is has no gas. Evidently they’re short of toilet paper.  I listened to a podcast about Prime Minister Johnson, where he claimed that the relevant industries would just have to even things out, somehow. It seemed to be nothing to do with him.

Today there are nineteen new community cases of Covid 19, all of them in Auckland. Two people who’d been to the ER at Middlemore Hospital had tested positive, and 60 patients were regarded as close contacts.  The majority of these are linked to current clusters. But Dr Bloomfield has said not to expect level 1 freedoms while the delta variant is still prevalent in the community. So that’s rather sad. It means that singing and exercise will probably not take place, since most of these activities don’t happen unless we’re at level 1.This was reported as Bloomfield claims these freedoms are things of the past, which has not been reported accurately.  What he said was that level 1 freedoms are a thing of the past while there is a Codi19 19/delta epidemic in New Zealand.

In NSW, Gladys unpronounceable has resigned. The mournful Premier has resigned not because of her mishandling of the latest Covid 19/delta epidemic in New South Wales, but because of corruption! They’ll probably get someone worse next time.

It’s now Saturday September 2^nd. Today there are 27 new cases of coronavirus, all in Auckland. Another person has tested positive after visiting Middlemore Hospital’s ED. It’s suspected that some gangs have been infected, thus probably proving more of a challenge to health officials; they tend to come from larger family groups, plus there’s the difficulty of maintaining separation in a gang setting.  Today self-styled Bishop Brian Tamaki is holding a gathering in Auckland’s Domain to protest peoples’ freedoms and their right not to wear masks or get vaccinated. Any large gathering breaks all the rules for level 3. It’s reported that about 2,000 turned up for this gathering. Some of them wore masks, as did Tamaki before he took his off to speak to the crowd.

I think if there should be a protest it would be in the South Island, where there have been no Covid 19 cases diagnosed, and people there must be so frustrated at the limitations they’re required to obey. Steven Joyce, previously known as the National Minister for Everything, claims the Ardern Government is getting too big for its bossy boots. Really, that is mean and awful, in my view. Goodness me, we’re not dealing with cold weather, petrol and goods shortages, or even a great deal of sickness and death. Get over it, people!  You’re not dealing with radiation, bombings, or dreadful bodily emissions from sick people. 

In other news, in the US Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has tested positive for Covid 19. Corey Lewandowski has further disgraced himself by sexually assaulting a Republican donor, who has now sued him for this. India now requires all travellers from the UK to quarantine on arrival.  And there are dreadful shortages in the England: as well as petrol shortages (many stations have no petrol), and basic foodstuffs, people’s utility bills are set to increase, and benefits to reduce. Winter is coming. The whole situation seems very cruel, and very tone-deaf on the part of Tory politicians. This comes after years of austerity, where libraries and youth centres have closed. It’s reported that one in twenty school children has tested positive for coronavirus.

I’ve listened to several interesting podcasts lately – some about Max Chafkin’s new book about Peter Thiel (The Contrarian), about the CIA’s efforts under Mike Pompeo to kidnap and kill Julian Assange (lawyers stopped this, pointing out that Assange had not been charged with a crime); and more about lawyer John Eastman’s “legal” plan to overturn the election in favour of Trump. The more I learn about this plan, and about the events of January 6^th, the more horrified I am. Then there is all the wrangling about the Democrats’ and President Biden’s legislative program, and the  issue of raising the debt ceiling. Frankly, I’m sick of it all.

I was also upset by this heading in the UK Guardian: ‘Clearly not working’/ How New Zealand’s consensus on striving for Covid zero is finally cracking, along with the obligatory photo of Prime Minister Ardern frowning. I know newspapers have to print something, and there’s a huge tendency to exaggerate anything that is said, but c’mon, Man, who’s side are you on?  Prime Minister Ardern has, in my view, done an amazing job of keeping us safe here. The present restrictions are very frustrating, but it would be far worse to have the health system “overwhelmed” (I listened to a podcast recently explaining just what that might mean), and lots of deaths. Could it be that you’re jealous of New Zealand’s success, thus far?

This afternoon we were supposed to go shopping, but the chauffeur changed his mind. However a new issue of the LRB arrived in the mail, with some welcome reading in it.

It’s now Sunday September 3^rd. This morning I zoomed into my church service, along with several others. It didn’t look as though many attended in person.  I enjoyed this. I then watched the service at St Mathew’s in the City on Youtube. This was celebrating St Francis. I always find the Desiderata incredibly moving. The music was truly wonderful.

Last nigh I heard that a truck driver who commutes between Auckland and Palmerston North has tested positive for Covid 19. He was tested as part of regular cross-border checks.  Consequently, there are several new places of interest, including Burger King outlets and petrol stations. There is further trepidation.

In the UK, Christmas is cancelled, and it’s all Brexit’s fault: there’s a huge shortage of petrol, turkeys, and Christmas trees (real and artificial)! They did it to themselves, too.

In New Zealand, it’s reported that there are two new community cases in the Waikato.

In the 1 pm announcement I learn that there are 33 new Covid 19 cases, including two in the Waikato area: one in Hamilton, one in Raglan; the rest are in Auckland. Hamilton and Raglan are to move back to level 3 at midnight tonight. This is not such good news.

I missed the announcement because I was shopping at my favourite supermarket, New World in Thorndon.  We bought salads, pizza bread and a doughnut, although they don’t have the lovely round doughnuts they used to have. I did get some raspberries! It was nice to go shopping. The store wasn’t crazily busy, and someone wiped down the trolley with disinfectant before I took it. They have automatic hand sanitiser dispensers – a great innovation. We also bought two other essentials: bread and toilet paper. One wouldn’t want to run out, now!

It’s now Monday September 4^th.  Last night I learnt that the mother of a baby in NICU has tested positive for Covid 19 at Auckland City Hospital.  This must be a hugely stressful situation for both hospital staff, the baby’s whanau, and other parents and babies. There’s usually a significant circle of people in such events, both whanau, and hospital staff.

Yesterday Prime Minister Ardern urged the importance of vaccination, saying that a way to reduce lockdowns is through vaccination.  I am frustrated here, though. I had thought that South Auckland and the South Auckland DHB (which includes Middlemore Hospital) were in Group 1 for vaccination priority. I think Maori and people with disabilities were in Group 2, and yet Maori have been slower than Pacifica and other New Zealanders to take up the offer of free vaccines, together with all the inducements that have been offered. I, in Group 3, had to wait: till the end of May, then till after Queen’s Birthday weekend (beginning of June), then till the end of July. I had my first jab on Monday 26 July. My second appointment was cancelled, and I went along with my husband to his appointment for his second jab. I would have had the jabs much sooner if they’d been available to me. I am immune-compromised, but was told to wait my turn.

This morning I leant that a new born, asymptomatic baby has tested positive at North Shore Hospital, but the mother has tested negative. That’s another even greater mystery – how did the baby catch Covid 19?  Was the midwife infected? Were the delivery staff infected? Here, too, are swathes of people, all contacts, potential or contacts of contacts.  Evidently the father has tested positive for coronavirus, so it’s assumed he passed it on to the new baby. The chief executive is assessing what further actions need to be taken to protect the birthing unit.

Poor Auckland! What chance of their going to level 2 this week? We all anxiously await this afternoon’s press conference, but I’d have to say things aren’t looking great for going down a level. Some experts are asking if the known cases are just the tip of the iceberg. The contact tracing teams will be really busy, again.

The NZ Herald reports that there are more cases in the Waikato (an area of which went from level 2 to level 3 at midnight last night), and an Auckland taxi driver has tested positive.

I’ve been watching the new UK crime series, Vigil, on TVNZ On demand. I find it quite interesting, although it has far too many loose ends, including the following: a detective who has experienced great personal loss; a lesbian relationship (of course); a dodgy nuclear submarine; difficulties of being confined underwater for long periods; attempts by the Royal Navy to cover up crimes; the involvement of MI5, drug use, dodgy urine tests, and so on and so on. So why is this old nuclear submarine doing dangerous missions at all? Is anyone likely to attack the UK?  They are quite capable of hurting themselves, by themselves. But the series is quite gripping, and the Scottish accents and countryside are beautiful, as always. 

Last night we discovered The Newsroom on Neon (starring Jeff Daniels), and I have to admit JD quite liked it. We watched Recon (a movie) the previous night, and he found all kinds of faults with that. I am watching more are more things alone on my computer, since I find all the Elon Musk stuff really boring, i.e. I’m sure it’s amazing but I don’t admire him as a human being.

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what happens – at 1 pm and 4 pm today. Ngā mihi.

Today is Wednesday September 29^th, 2021. Kia ora!

Today I would have to admit I’m a bit down. Yesterday there were 8 new community Covid 19 cases – we were in single figures! But there was concern about Covid being detected in Tauranga’s wastewater. Authorities in Tauranga are concerned, but there’s so far no further news. Anyone who has Covid 19 symptoms in Tauranga is encouraged to get tested.

Yesterday was quite a busy day. A plumber came in the morning to check the shower in the en suite bathroom. Since the power outage just over a week ago, the taps in the en suite have been running slow, and the shower has been really frustrating: it’s been hard to get the water hot enough, and the flow varies – you think it has come right, and then it goes strange again. It transpires that we need a new valve. The plumber went away for a while, then came back and fitted the new valve. I’m pleased to report that it’s made a huge difference, and the water flow is now much greater.

Meanwhile, I had a friend visiting that afternoon, and a cousin wanted to return a book I’d lent her. I needed to go up to the local store to buy some dairy milk for my friend (we don’t usually have dairy milk in the house).  You can’t buy anything in a rush these days – but suffice to say I got the milk, the new valve got installed, JD got to his appointment, the book was returned, and all went well. I even washed the dishes and tidied up a bit. My friend and I drank English Breakfast tea out of my beautiful new green cups, and we had a lovely chat. We talked about our loved ones overseas, and how the coming here of the delta variant of Covid 19 has changed everything. We can understand their weariness better now. Last year, in 2020, I used to joke that while our children overseas and their families are tearing their hair out with frustration, at least they didn’t have to worry about us. We were safe here, and life in Aotearoa has been almost back to the new normal.  Now that’s all changed. We, the fully vaccinated, are now too scared to go anywhere, or do anything much. Would we feel safe at any kind of gathering? A cinema, a concert, a restaurant or café, a church service?  We go to the supermarket and buy things we don’t really need, because, after all, what else is one to do?

Yesterday there were 8 new cases of Covid 29. Today there are 45 new cases! That is devastating!  I was quite upset when newspapers like the Guardian did not highlight yesterday’s  good news; today, that 45 is the biggest number of new cases we’ve had in a while. Yesterday there were no new locations of interest. Had we turned a corner? Today there are new places of interest – another shopping mall, in west Auckland. A patient at Waitakere Hospital, who had gone there for another test, tested positive for Covid 19. Meanwhile, conspiracy theories abound. Every time there is some new development, voices of criticism are quick to shout that the government should have done x, y or z; should have planned better; should have had prior knowledge. And yet we have all proved to be wrong. There’s still so much we don’t know about why some people are much more infectious than others; the most infectious time seems to be before you know you have covid; and hey, you change your approach as you go along, as the news keeps changing. It’s true though that the best behaved people (fully vaccinated, careful) are probably the wariest about using their so-called “freedom” to stimulate the economy. Much as we’d like to sing, go to church or the movies, and eat out, we’re terrified of any gathering greater than two or three. We daren’t plan ahead:  my daughter in Hawkes Bay has her next birthday early in December. I wonder what we’ll be allowed to do then, or at Christmas?

Our singing leader advised that she’ll be holding the last singing session on zoom for term 3 tomorrow morning. Then we’ll have two weeks’ break for the school holidays; after that, it may be clearer whether we can meet physically again.  So that is quite depressing: a zoom appointment is an appointment, even if it just involves putting a jersey over one’s pyjamas. Now we’re in that weird in-between phase, when many zoom sessions are now meeting physically (which is scary), and others are cancelled. While we love to see our grandchildren, the school holidays can be a rather fraught time.

Speaking of shortages, they are starting to bite. Here in New Zealand, coffee beans are short again, although you can still buy most other kinds of coffee. Evidently pasta is in short supply, although that doesn’t really affect us. Some metals, such as those used for making computer chips, are in short supply, Something’s happened to the fertiliser supply (I’ll have to listen to John Dickerson on the gabfest podcast again to find out the exact details).  Most of the world is heating up, but in China, coming right after the property company Evergrande being in major financial difficulties, (causing protests, unusual in China), there have been power cuts. 

The major shortages are in the UK, where policies of Brexit and the pandemic have combined to create predictable shortages – of most things, many foodstuffs, lorry drivers, and now, a severe petrol shortage. Christmas turkeys may well be scarce as well. My son used to say he and his wife could buy from local markets – now they’re complaining about shortages as well. As the UK goes into winter, and facing the fear of extreme cold and short days that brings to many colonials, the shortages are causing alarm. It’s all very well for Lady Colin Campbell to claim that the autumn weather continues to be marvellous: long may it continue! Presumably she’s not too fussed with trying to buy food to feed a family. I’m also aware that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex flew by private plane from California to New York and back recently, despite professing to care about climate change, and despite the fuel shortage in Great Britain. Some cancer patients couldn’t attend clinics because of the fuel shortage.

I well remember the three day week that was on when we first went to England in December 1973. There was a lot of terrorism back then, and North Sea oil had not yet been discovered. Opec had just been set up.  I was deeply struck by the apparent poverty in England, as well as the immense wealth, too. Of course, the wealthy could get around the gas shortage then – one toff bought up the local petrol station. Problem solved. We were stacked over Heathrow Airport for a time, and I remember the rows and rows of Coronation St type terraced houses we flew over.

While we were there we saw many wonderful sights, amongst them Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. I remember being rather appalled to find that my husband’s great aunt had a wooden bench top (now she was not hard up). We went to a New Year’s Eve party at a pub in Kent, and caught the hovercraft on New Year’s Day to. Calais. We then (somewhat hungover) caught a train to Paris Nord. I later discovered that this was the Gare du Nord.  There are many memories of that wonderful first trip overseas, but I was hugely disappointed not to see the British Museum – it was closed, because of the 3 day week.

So, really, the shortages here aren’t too bad. We’re ok, but we would like to feel safer from the unseen enemy, as we wonder if each site visited will be the move towards disaster. Most people are wearing masks. We don’t have major shortages here, yet; raspberries have not appeared on the scene, but asparagus has, and avocadoes are cheap and plentiful. There is lots to be thankful for.

In the US, the Democrats are discussing (wrangling over) Biden’s plan, but there is a debt ceiling crisis which demands attention right away. Yesterday, no Senate Republicans voted to raise the debt ceiling (I.e. fund what has already been spent, such as Trump’s tax cuts). Even Adam Kinzinger and Liz Cheney voted against this. What kind of madness is this?  Their names are already blackened, surely things couldn’t be worse for them? These two have voted with republicans more than once recently, to my intense disappointment. I guess the Dems will sort things out somehow, and they don’t need me to stress about their issues.  It also seems that the Arizona audit of the presidential election, which actually give Joe Biden a bigger win, has not slowed down the former guy at all from lying about the election result.

The answers to all these problems is that time will tell. Is today’s figure of 45 new cases of Covid 19 just a bad blip, or a sign of things to come? What should the government do next?  Will they get lucky?  In Australia today, Victoria had more new cases (950 and 7 deaths) than NSW (863 cases and 15 deaths).  The number of deaths is certainly shooting up. This has a dire effect on the medical staff, who have to deal not only with dying patients, but with their distraught family members as well, who cannot be with the dying person in the way they would wish. Thankfully here we have not had many deaths from Covid 19, thus far,

That’s it for today. Nga mihi.

Today is Saturday September 25^th, 2021. Kia ora!

I haven’t written so much about US politics recently, but a number of interesting things have happened there; interesting to me, that is. I had thought several times that I could no longer be shocked by Trump’s actions; but it seems I still can. They just keep spilling out, and not getting any better. There’s no story that reads “Trump did something honourable here”. There’s news about how he refused initially, and then on an ongoing basis, to accept that he was defeated by Joe Biden in the November 2020 presidential election. It’s now almost a year since that election (10-11 months), and the Arizona audit has finally reported. The report says that Joe Biden won Arizona by even more votes than previously reported. Yet the former guy has turned on many of his so-called friends, e.g. Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, Greg Abbott – he’s demanding a recount in Texas, a state in which he won handsomely!

I listened to a podcast on Skullduggery about Peter Thiel. It transpires that he was one of the first to support Facebook financially, which gave him some control over it. Specifically, FB undertook not to fact-check Trump’s statements. We always suspected this, now we know. I was reminded that Thiel was on Trump’s transition team; he was also behind the demise of Gawker, by suing them, and winning the case. It’s been pointed out that, whatever you think of Thiel, he is one of the few Trump supporters who has not been humiliated and belittled by him. Now that’s saying something.

It transpires that Trump engaged some seriously dodgy doctors as experts on the coronavirus; suffice to say, Dr Fauci remains with his head held high and his credibility intact, while the others do not. This is the US! You’d expect them to have managed this better, like the UK, but they have each, in their own bumbling way, been among the worst.  Poor America!  How could so many of your citizens vote for this guy?

And yet there’s more news.  Four of Trump’s closest aides (including Steve Bannon, not then formally employed by the White House, Mark Meadows, Kash Patel, and  Christopher Miller) have been delivered subpoenas in connection with the January 6^th insurrection. Apparently Kash Patel is quite upset over this. Trump has tried to claim executive privilege,  but as he’s no longer president, this has been denied by the current president.

Then there is all the support Trump had to overturn the results of the election: people like Jeffrey Clark and John Eastman. And we have former Vice President Dan Quayle to thank for talking Pence out of not certifying the 2020 presidential election. Who would have thought so?

During the past week I have been listening to the Bulwark podcast, which I generally find interesting and newsworthy. But I have been quite annoyed this week, as it seems to be a litany (from conservatives, former republicans) about haw awful the Democrats are. Why do I find this upsetting? The Democrats have a very powerful social agenda which would go some way towards giving more people clean water, new and safer bridges and roads, enhancing the social safety net – all very sensible things, really. Republicans are not making things any easier for them, including McConnell’s refusal to provide Senatorial support for raising the debt ceiling (money that’s already been spent, by the way). The Dems are figuring out how to do this stuff, given that some of them are more moderate, some more progressive. As I noted, in most countries what progressive democrats want is perfectly normal. And most of them care about the planet, too. You’d think the combination of floods, fires, and hurricanes would be a wake-up call, but remember, Ted Cruz went to Cancun in Mexico during the freezing cold in Texas last winter, when the electricity failed. There’s no accountability there.  And Greg Abbott, if you’re listening, it’s not much use preventing an abortion when the child is doomed to live in poverty, breathe foul air, and drink foul water, while fleeing for their life whenever the next natural disaster strikes, or condo tumbles over. Why should the Dems govern like republicans? Perhaps it feels different under a democratic administration, just as it feels very different here under a Labour Government, rather than National.

I’ve also listened to several thoughtful podcasts about General Milley’s decision to talk to Bob Woodward and Robert Costa about his fears that Trump might start a nuclear war (yes, Bob, it is pronounced “nu-clear-ar”, not “newcular”). Thoughtful Americans debate and discuss these issues rather well. One podcast is entitled “Milley’s Crossing”. Hilarious. The debate usually runs along the lines of while Milley was right to be concerned, was he right to shoot his mouth off to Bob Woodward, or did he show an error of judgment? Should he have resigned, and then spoken out?  Whatever, the story is truly terrifying. I was afraid of what Trump might do; I’m glad and relieved that a handful of wise heads stopped him. I’m also appalled at the carnage. Trump predicted American carnage in his inaugural speech: he certainly delivered that, in spades. Someone claimed to me during his term as president that he’d kept his promises: I wondered which ones, if any, she’d regarded as honourable.

In other news, the Durham investigation has come up with – nothing much. What is he Durham investigation? Durham was appointed by William Barr, the former Attorney General, to investigate the basis for the Russia investigation.

Back in La La Land, i.e. Aotearoa, New Zealand, there are 13 new cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland. So that’s not too bad – it’s not single figures, but it’s not in the 20’s either. Three of these cases are as yet unlinked. Earlier this morning a patient came to Waitakere Hospital, and tested positive for coronavirus. He has since been isolated, and is considered to be low-risk.

It’s now Sunday September 26^th.

This morning I zoomed into a service by St Anne’s Catholic Church in Newtown. There were no clergy involved, and it was wonderful!  There was a great deal of sharing with different people singing, speaking and praying.  The different languages and songs of worship are amazing. I also watched the St Matthew’s service in Auckland on Youtube. I did not go to my usual church service, being slightly nervous of gathering in person, and besides, it was a short night with the start of Daylight Saving on Saturday night. On Saturday night we had watched, and enjoyed, Ang Lee’s Sense and Sensibility on Māori television, starring Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Hugh Grant and the gloomy Alan Rickman. Somewhat improbably, the Kate Winslet character marries Alan Rickman, while Emma Thompson teams up with Hugh Grant.  Jane Austen’s novels generally end up with the poor-ish heroine getting her rather well-off man, and marrying him, thus ensuring not only her financial future, but one filled with interesting characters and smart conversation as well.  There are various missteps along the way, of course, and plenty of examples of rather sad marriages. Emma Thompson wrote the screen play for this film, and it was very droll, too.

On Sunday evening we watched Coriolanus, again, on Māori television. The lead stars were the great Vanessa Redgrave, and the nearly as great Joseph Fiennes. Jessica Chastain wasn’t bad either.  This was set on modern times, and I’m sure they hired an existing BBC newsreader to make it extra realistic.  Vanessa Redgrave’s plea to her son is truly amazing.  It was such a treat to hear the Bard again. I’m ashamed to say I did not know this play, but I do now. How very versatile Shakespeare is! How much he knew about human emotion, pride, and ambition.  A rare treat. During the day I corresponded with my children overseas, always a joy.

On Sunday there were 18 new cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland.

It’s now Monday September 27^th. Today there are 13 new cases, all in Auckland. They were all already in isolation, although not all have been genomically linked yet to existing clusters. A prisoner has tested positive, and so two police hubs are isolating.  

Over the weekend John Key (Sir John) has waded in calling New Zealand a “smug hermit kingdom”.  This is the man who grew up in a state house, became very wealthy, and presided over a very severe housing crisis as National Party Prime Minister. During this crisis rents went up, state houses were sold, and many wealthy folk invested in nice houses here. Often houses went empty, while families lived in crowded houses with other family members, or garages, or their cars, and emergency housing could not keep up with demand. Wages were not nearly enough to meet increasing rental costs, and benefits were very hard to get.  This created a bunch of spin-off problems: overcrowding, lack of privacy, changing schools, lack of space to do homework, and some dreadfully cold and damp conditions in existing housing. Surely everyone deserves a home, that is warm and dry, with enough good food to eat?  The Labour Government has tried to address this problem, and many would say they haven’t done enough, but many new houses are now being built, now that councils have removed restrictions allowing more building to proceed.  Now, if something could be done about the insane cost of housing!  I do believe, that if there’s more houses, they may become cheaper to buy. It seems that right wing governments tend to create social problems, usually pandering to their well-off base, and left-wing governments then not only try to clean up the mess, but do more for their less well-off base, who are usually desperate for a better chance at acquiring the basics of life, and giving their families a good life, with more amenities.

Thankfully several people, including Minister Hipkins, have fired back at Key, including one journalist who’s pointed out that New Zealand is not like North Korea: you’d get shot for criticising the leader there. The Guardian in the UK, a known left-wing paper, with some good articles, can be especially annoying at times: for the last few days they’ve been running with the following headline: “The mood in New Zealand on Covid is changing, and Jacinda Ardern knows it”. New Zealand was for a long time regarded as a world-beater in terms of Covid 19, but the emergence of the delta variant has changed everything we thought we knew about Covid 19. So why isn’t she Prime Minister Ardern? And why is she shown frowning so often by the media?  Isn’t she allowed to change her mind, too, as do most normal people when the facts change?  What friends are out there for Prime Minister Ardern?  I happen to still think she’s amazing, and I wish there was more support out there for her.

The MIQ system is causing great frustration, and not only for other people; it affects me personally, too. In March last year (seems like ages ago!) we thought this inconvenience would only last a matter of weeks, or months, perhaps.  Come Christmas, and vaccines were coming. That was to be our Christmas present.  The coronavirus said hang on there, I haven’t finished yet – I’ve more people to see, places to visit, and some of them I liked so much that I’ll go back there again; but I’m quite whimsical, too: I’ll defy predictions, so whatever the pundits think, I’ll aim to outwit them.

Although New Zealand’s approach to Covid 19 has been the wonder of the world, I suspect that a new reality has caught up with us now. When the very infectious delta variant emerged on the scene, kiwis lacked immunity: they had been late to be vaccinated (along with several other developed countries like Australia and Taiwan), and we thankfully had no experience of being exposed to the coronavirus. We were sitting ducks, and now it’s Australia’s, and Auckland’s turn to suffer.

The government aims to reduce the impact of Delta on the health system; already, there aren’t enough ICU beds.  We’ve had fewer than 30 deaths so far, and I think that no one under 60 has died: most deaths have been older people, some very old. Maori and Pasifika have not been hit especially hard, unlike in most developed countries where coloured people have been far more badly affected than white people.  That too is a blessing. Ngā mihi.

PS next time I’ll write about shortages.

Today is Thursday September 23^rd, 2021. Kia ora.

This morning I zoomed in to a singing session, and predictably got annoyed at some people’s reactions to Covid 19 restrictions. One person claimed that the government had changed its strategy, although it hasn’t told us so.  We talked about current restrictions on meeting to sing in person; evidently some exercise classes are permitted to meet; but the limit for the Khandallah Town  Hall is to have 20 people in the hall. With Thursday morning singing we usually get around 25.  Yesterday there were 23 new cases, but all but one were linked to existing cases. I commented that you couldn’t keep Auckland at level 4 indefinitely; anyway, level 3 is still pretty tough, although takeaway food and coffee (does anyone in Auckland not own their own coffee machine?) is allowed and presumably residents of Kumeu and other places that were flooded can now get their homes repaired, and materials can be unloaded on the Auckland  wharves.  Yesterday, Dr Bloomfield asked for all the residents of the Auckland suburb of Clover Park to get a Covid 19 test, even if they didn’t have symptoms. Aucklanders were reminded to stay in their bubbles, to work from home if possible, and not to cross borders unless they had a valid reason, and could present evidence of a negative Covid 19 test within the previous 7 days.

Today there were 13 new cases of Covid 19 here, all in Auckland. Prime Minister Ardern and Dr Bloomfield fronted a press conference at 1 pm, , and Shaun Hendy spoke to a model his organisation had drawn up, highlighting the importance of vaccines, a predicting 3,000 deaths at a vaccine rate of 75%.

 The government has changed its strategy, now that the much more infectious  delta variant of covid 19 is here. Indeed, they’ve changed their strategy, as has their management of the very successful MIQ system, to meet changing needs: they’ve introduced 3 tests within the 14 day isolation, further isolated people infected with Covid 19, paused flights from India for a time, checked the air-conditioning systems in MIQ facilities, vaccinated MIQ and airport workers, and brought in the Ministry of Defence to monitor MIQ sites to ensure that no one escapes. MIQ here has been much more successful than that in Australia or the UK. People like Sam Neill have written glowingly about it. It’s worked very well. It operates at the government’s expense, for Kiwis returning home for good. It is a key part of keeping us safe, and thus one of the things we were able to do was to hold the America’s Cup yacht races here earlier this year.

In today’s press conference the government emphasised vaccination, as a tool to manage the virus, and its restrictions, in future.  While you can still catch covid 19, even if fully vaccinated, it seems your chances of becoming very ill and perhaps dying are greatly diminished. The government is not imposing vaccine mandates at present (apart from MIQ workers), but it’s expected that some industries may impose them. In future, it’s hoped that lockdowns over large areas will not need too be used. Once again, I am so grateful that our government takes such good care of us all. While some of the rules can be frustrating, at least there are rules. In this war, we can’t travel as we normally would, and at least we’re not being bombed in our beds, or sending folk off to war, or dealing with a disease that has messy and disgusting bodily emissions. There’s still much to be thankful for, not least that we have a vaccine that reduces the likelihood of serious disease.

There is significant reaction to Dr Shaun Hendy’s modelling as announced yesterday, saying that with 75% of those eligible vaccinated, one could expect 5,000 deaths.  There’s much criticism of this model. It was pointed out at the time that this study had not been peer-reviewed. It was presented (I think) as a wake-up call to encourage people to get vaccinated. At the end of the day, it’s just that – a model.

It’s now Friday, September 24^th. Today there are 9 new community cases of Covid 1, all in Auckland. So that’s really encouraging – we’re now in single figures!  Let’s hope we stay there. Testing is now required in the suburb of Mt Wellington. Apparently residents of Clover Park responded very well to the request for testing, and one positive case has turned up. The Waikato are that was in isolation under a health order is to move to level 2, along with the rest of New Zealand.

This morning I read an article in The New Yorker (they do let me read one, now and again!) about a journalist who unwittingly became a super spreader for Covid 19/delta. He, his wife, their two children and his wife’s parents all caught delta. The four adults were fully vaccinated; the two children were too young. It was a very interesting story about how a well-educated family (the wife is an oncologist) did all they could to protect themselves, including isolating sick people, but the father had been on assignment in Baton Rouge in Louisiana – a covid hot spot. He was ill first, but all his family (and his in-laws) caught it. He wasn’t at risk of dying, or being hospitalised, but he was very infectious. There’s an object lesson here, about how seriously infectious the delta variant is. And yet, there are no further cases in Wellington, the Coromandel, or the South Island.

My church is to hold worship service in person next Sunday, with heaps of rules: socially distanced seating, no collection, (you can make an offering at the door), no pew bibles, and no refreshments afterwards. I imagine they won’t be passing the peace of Christ, either. The service will also be available via zoom. The church also sent out a reminder that Daylight Saving begins on Saturday night, September 26^th.  Actually the reminder said that it ends, but in fact it begins, Saturday will be a short night. That is the only reminder I’ve received! I was unaware, but I’m grateful we’re not driving back from the Hohepa family Weekend, which used to coincide with the start of Daylight Saving – a bit of an ordeal after a very busy two days.

I am also reassessing how safe I feel in certain situations. Last year, JD and I enjoyed several wonderful classical concerts at the Michael Fowler Centre for $30 a seat. At that price, I broke my rule not to go out at night, and we greatly enjoyed these concerts, including a rendition of Handel’s Messiah. But the seats at MFC are very close together: it’s like being on an aeroplane, and so, I think that were such tickets to be offered again, I would feel very hesitant about going in person. Many concerts used to be live-streamed last year, but this year they haven’t been offered. I wonder why not?

It’s frustrating now to feel very stuck. The prospect of catching Covid 19/delta is very scary, not just for me, but for my family members. It feels different now, I don’t feel as protected as I used to, even though I’ve been “fully vaccinated”. Where can one go?  Up till now, we’ve gone mainly to Hawkes Bay to see our daughter. The party we had just before we went into the August 17 lockdown was a highlight for 2021, and then we were due to fly to Christchurch earlier this month.  We should visit some other local locations, although I fear that a road trip is perhaps not advisable now. It occurred to me that we could fly to Christchurch, catch the Trans-Alpine Express to the West Coast, stay there for a few days, and then return the same way.  That’s something to bear in mind. But it does feel very stuck, not to be able to go to Australia, even, should one want to.

Last year when we went into lockdown it was a relief.  It put separation between the “before” times, and their excesses (excessive concern about “gut” health, stag parties in Los Vegas, hen parties in Bali), and the pandemic times, which we’re still living in. It was a relief, as Covid 19 cases climbed here and overseas, and I was aware of the mounting threat posed by the coronavirus, to have our government do something about it, and there was financial and medical assistance available too. There was some warning, so we could go shopping and stock up (along with many others – there were huge queues at our local supermarket); and I could be an invalid: I stayed in my bedroom, where it was warm and comfortable, and read my big library book (the library had helpfully waived any overdue fees), and JD stayed in the siting room. The weather was kind. We parcelled up games and puzzles for our grandchildren. Everything quietened down, and it was a relief not to hear planes overhead. The absence of traffic, and a zero road toll, were most welcome. All the pressing issues of jobs to be done and not enough money to pay for them went on hold. Most people were remarkably well. And best of all, I did not have to listen to angry outbursts about things. It was a relief, and many people were very grateful for it. There was a certain freedom in not being able to go anywhere, or do anything. It was quite “cut and dried”.

Looking back, we were so ignorant then. Covid 19 was scarily infectious – tales about it affecting mainly older men, who perhaps did not wash their hands properly, or smokers, or it disappearing in the summer, were disabused as we saw the terrible toll Covid 19 took on places like New York and Bergamo, in the north of Italy. In China there were stories of someone catching it while in a bus, and sitting some way away from an infected person. Yet now it’s different. The delta variant is a game-changer. Before Christmas, vaccines were coming- the great hope, although they haven’t been as effective as we wished. Delta has taken a huge hold on certain communities – and certain states in the US  – and yet some areas are spared (for now?) Perhaps it’s not their (our) turn yet.  I have to acknowledge that for all that I currently know, or think I know, coronavirus continues to weave its way around the world with devastating effects.

I think that here in Wellington we’re quite compliant, obedient and well-behaved, yet people have different levels of tolerance for the potential hurt from this virus. Thankfully, New Zealand has not seen many deaths. I do resent the way Prime Minister Ardern is shown frowning in most media photographs. She has done a wonderful job in looking after us here. Some say this in private; others scoff, and I sense their resistance. It’s a bit like talking about God. Some just don’t want to hear the good news. Having said all that, it’s very boring this time around. Ngā mihi.

Today is Thursday September 16^th, 2021. Kia ora.

Today there are 13 new cases of Covid 19, all of them in Auckland. All but one of them are linked to known cases. There are 5 new cases in MIQ. There are 19 people in hospital and four of these are in the ICU. By contrast, today I learnt that one in five hundred Americans has died of Covid 19.

In the morning I had a singing session on zoom, and then I went to visit a friend. I came home early, because two of my grandchildren came to visit after school.  They played with the dolls’ house, and then did some lovely drawings. Another son brought us some delicious leek and potato soup for dinner. We finished up with Sticky Date Pudding (from our local supermarket), and ice cream.

It’s now Friday. Today someone was supposed to come and do some cleaning. I wasn’t having a great day, but I got up, changed the sheets and towels as I normally do, emptied the rubbish, and then checked my roster online. I was quite discombobulated to learn that rather than having someone I knew come at 2 pm, someone whom I’d never met was scheduled to come at 12 noon. It was now 11:30 am. Well, it was a no-show, as it turned out. Nobody came. One really doesn’t want someone different coming every time – one wants the same person, after one has shown them where everything is. So that’s a bit annoying.  I had been asked if they could come on Saturday. I’d said no to this.  So here we go again. Last week I cancelled the “cares”, and then someone turned up unexpectedly. Really, some communication would be helpful – a text, call, or email, perhaps. They’re impossible to get hold of by phone. Today a friend invited me for lunch, but I declined because I had someone coming from Access. It turns out I could have gone, after all.

Today (Friday) there are 13 new cases of Covid 19 in the community, all of them in Auckland. It’s taking a frustrating amount of time to eliminate this strain: I’m sure they would have preferred the number of new cases to be in single figures, by now. I used to check the Australian figures after 11 am each morning, but I don’t any more now: they’re scarily predictably awful.

There is another worrying aspect to these figures. A truck driver, who left Auckland to deliver goods in the Bay of Plenty area and south of Auckland, has tested positive for Covid 19. It’s quite cold today, after a run of fine, sunny days.

There has been another dreadful tragedy here. Last night, police found three little girls dead in a house in Timaru. The mother, injured, was still alive, and was seen being helped into a police van. The father, an orthopaedic surgeon at Timaru Hospital, is distraught, as are relatives of the family. It’s very sad. The family had come from South Africa, and had just spent 14 days in MIQ before moving to a rental property in Timaru. Tonight there are photos of them online – they all look beautiful. The couple had just celebrated their tenth wedding anniversary. It seems very sad indeed, after the terrorist knife attack in Auckland recently. The mother has now been charged with the three homicides.

It’s now Saturday, September 18^th. Newspapers are giving yesterday’s total as 11 new cases of Covid 19. Perhaps there are two in MIQ which were included?

Today there are 20 new cases, but only one of them is unlinked, i.e. not a family member or a close contact of an existing cases. So I guess that’s both encouraging, and disappointing. This variant is certainly nothing if not tenuous.

This afternoon we went shopping at one of my favourite supermarkets, New World in Thorndon. I have to say that I quite like being at level 2 (minus the masks, which I find quite annoying). The store wasn’t crazily busy. I felt quite safe there. I bought salads (including a roast vegetable salad), preserved fruit, coffee beans, bread, pizza bread, and some doughnuts – just the essentials, really! Raspberries aren’t back yet, unfortunately. I’ll just be so grateful when they can pack my shopping again. Many shoppers insist on packing their purchases at the checkout counter: this can be very selfish, as it holds up other buyers. You can put everything back in the trolley, and pack them outside, where there’s plenty of room, and it’s under cover, too.

Recently we watched the first episode of the new series, Scenes from a Marriage, based on the film by Ingmar Bergman. Like Mare of Easttown, or Line of Duty, a new episode is only released each week.  I’ve also watched the first episode of Halifax: Retribution on TV On Demand.  I read a very interesting article on Edward Said in the LRB.

It’s now Sunday September 19^th. This morning I zoomed into a lovely church service, delivered by the congregation of St Anne’s, in Newtown. I also watched on Youtube the service at St Matthew’s in the City in Auckland.

Today there are 24 new cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland. That is quite devastating news, and does not bode well for a much-anticipated move to level 3 on Tuesday.

It’s now Monday September 20^th. We await today’s news with great anticipation.  In the morning, there’s a power outage, from before 8 am. There was no warning. I rang Contact Energy, and got through to a recorded message saying that there was an outage in Johnsonville and Churton Park, and it should be fixed by 11:15 am.  Our hot water doesn’t work; even though we have an Infinity hot water system running on gas, because the electricity is out, this is too (it has an on-off switch). I will have to go into the city to have my first coffee. I was going to town, anyway!

I had a very strong coffee and a boysenberry Danish pastry, in preference to a cheese scone.  I got my watch fixed, and posted some articles.  While I waited for my watch, I enjoyed another long black coffee and a very spicy cheese scone at Pie and Pickle. I then tried to use the restroom at Arapaki, only to find it barred off. I went to another restroom, upstairs at the Grand Arcade, and it was empty, and furthermore, it had paper towels.

I then went to Queensgate in Lower Hutt and went to Farmers there. I checked out bed linen, but there were no good specials there. I remembered the challenge of finding the right sizing for sheets and pillowslips, and gave up on that. Then I checked out the women’s clothing, but couldn’t find anything that really appealed, so I left Queensgate, and caught a bus back to Wellington. Boring as, really.

I caught a bus home. While doing so, I finished reading another edition of the LRB. I read about nerve agents, like Novichok, and discovered that the US had passed such drugs to Saddam Hussein in the Iraq/Iran conflict. No wonder the US had unfinished business in Iraq, and needed to attack it in 2003. I also read an article about the Aswan Dam in Egypt, and the dam that’s being built in Ethiopia – a source of conflict – now and in the future.

It was announced at 1 pm that there were 22 new community cases: 19 in Auckland, and three in Waikato (as announced earlier).

Eventually it’s time for the 4 pm press conference, fronted by Prime Minister Ardern and Dr Bloomfield. The much-anticipated result is pretty much as expected. Auckland is to go to level 3, but people are to stay in their bubbles; older people over 65 are to stay at home; but at least you can get takeaways, in a non-contact way. The schools remain closed, except for children of essential workers. The level 3 restrictions will be in place for two weeks. In the Waikato, in the area north of Hamilton (where three people have tested positive, being part of the whanau of the remand prisoner from Mt Eden Correctional Facility), is to come under a special order; in effect, they will be at level 4.  The rest of the country is to stay at level 2, but you can have gatherings of up to 100 people indoors. I pick that many churches will now be able to hold services in person under this rule. It seems that most new cases are close contacts or family of existing cases, but there all still mystery cases that come up; for example, how did the prisoner contract Covid 19? And there is some mystery about his journey home from Auckland.  Still, Aucklanders will be able to get takeaways now. That has got to be a huge relief to families, and to many small business owners.

Predictably, the restrictions don’t go far enough for Dr Michael Baker, but I think this is probably a wise move. They are still pretty limiting. Another couple has “broken the rules” and got around the Auckland boundary restrictions; this, says the PM, is a further reason for allowing some relaxation.

On Tuesday I zoomed into a Bible Study group; then I met my cousin on town for lunch. I wanted to have mushrooms on toast, but was sold instead a very nice omelette with mushrooms, cheese, and lots of spinach.  On Tuesday there were 14 new community cases of coronavirus, including members of three gangs who have tested positive.  Auckland is due to go to level 3 at midnight on Tuesday.

It’s now Wednesday September 22^nd.  There is all kinds of disquiet about the government’s seeming to abandon the Covid 19 elimination strategy, that they’d been focusing on; Judith Collins is all but gone as National Party leader; vaccine rates are still not as high as hoped; I guess people are just angry that Covid 19 rates haven’t fallen faster; confused about what safety means now; and I imagination councils are hastily rewriting the rules about what can happen in council-operated facilities, such as libraries, parks and community centres, now that at level 2 you can have 100 (up from 50) people indoors. I guess that some churches will be meeting in person this coming Sunday.  Meanwhile, I quite like level 2, with its added layer of caution, and not having so many people around. The masks are a huge nuisance, though. I cannot find a way to wear one without my glasses fogging up, so I don’t wear them much of the time. Predictably, people are frustrated with the new MIQ system. We are fortunate to have it, and that it works so well. remember there was a very scary time when we didn’t have it, or the regular testing and monitoring that followed? It has protected us well, even if it’s very frustrating that my son can’t come home for Christmas. This is like war, and we’ve only been at it for almost two years. Think how long the two world wars went on for.

Today it’s raining, and cooler again. We await the 1 pm news, announcing the latest Covid 19 numbers.  In Australia, in Victoria in particular, there have been huge protests against restrictions on tradies. I think everyone is angry, but governments are doing their best, one assumes, to manage the threats posed by delta – a scary new version of what we’ve been dealing with. There is some good news on the horizon, though: Pfizer has approved lower-dose 3vaccines for children aged 5 – 11. That could be a game-changer.  Ngā mihi.

Today is Sunday September 12, 2021. Kia ora!

Last night I learnt that there are 3 cases of Covid 19 infection linked to the exposure at Middlemore Hospital, including a 5 month old baby.

Today my emotions are mixed, again.  I’m still watching and listening to lots of 9/11 stuff, and marvelling at the US’s so-called “nation building” achievements in Afghanistan.  I’m astonished at the American naivety – that they didn’t appear to know anything about the country, or its history, before the invasion – right after 9/11 (I think it was one month later). I remember Pete Buttigieg (Mayor Pete) being interviewed when he was a presidential candidate, about serving in Afghanistan. He explained that he knew Arabic, but this was interpreted as meaning that he knew about aerobics. He’s seriously brainy.  Anyway, the Taliban have won that battle, it appears: they’ve succeeded in many Americans thinking political (or any) violence is permissible, and how mediaeval is the Texas abortion law, not held up by the US Supreme Court, soon to be followed by other republican-controlled legislatures.

Today is my personal 9/11. Ten years ago, today, I became ill, on Monday September 12, 2011 (hence 9/11).  Everything changed – for me and my family. I accept it, but I still haven’t got used to it.

This morning I had a busy time on zoom. A friend in Auckland was speaking at a service at St Matthew’s in the City, then I zoomed into a service at St Anne’s in Newtown. That was very special! I enjoyed it. After that, my local church was having its AGM, so I zoomed into that, too.  What did I learn from all this?  That God is Love; that music is beautiful; that we are all special, and there are many different ways of being inclusive and welcoming. I also learnt that there are many concerned folk to grapple with the issues of finance (never enough), outreach, and earthquake-strengthening – a thorny problem indeed.

Today there are 20 new cases of Covid 19 in the community, and 3 in MIQ. That figure will be a huge disappointment for those in Auckland who just wish for this to be over, or at least to move down a level. One couple had supposedly legal excuses to drive to Hamilton, whence they flew to Wanaka for a holiday. That is being frowned on. In Australia, things are worse again, with NSW recording 1,262 new cases and 7 deaths; Victoria 392.  Who has managed to contain a Covid 19/delta outbreak? Only Taiwan, I believe.

Tonight we had interesting conversations with our sons overseas via messenger. It’s a great mechanism: you don’t have the difficult protocols as you do with zoom over the give and take of discussion;  also, the guys can be quite succinct, as opposed to talking at some length in reality. The All Blacks trounced the Pumas in Queensland (which has so far escaped lockdown), and then the Wallabies played the Spring Boks, just winning their game by one point. Quade Cooper kicked several goals: who knew QC was a good kicker? Apparently he was born in New Zealand, and Australia has repeatedly denied him Australian citizenship. Cruel and unusual things happen everywhere, but some actions do seem inexplicable.

It’s now Monday, and I ventured forth into Wellington city. At first it seemed quite empty, but gradually more people came. I walked, in the wind and rain, to the gift shop at Te Papa. They no longer pack gifts and post them overseas, but I did have a lovely look around, and settled on a gift to send to my son and daughter-in-law in the UK. I fear I shall never see their new house, but at least I can send something for it.

I had lunch at a roomy café – several others did, too. They must be glad to have tables well spaced. At the New World supermarket in Willis St, I had to queue to get in, but the queue moved quickly. Almost everyone is wearing a mask. It is a bit annoying, but one does feel safer. I caught two buses home – there were very few passengers. I’ve done my bit for the economy today, and it was quite busy in town by the time I left to come home.

On the way home, I learnt that there are 33 new community cases of Covid 19 today, all in Auckland. This result will be a big disappointment, I fear. The government is due to announce their decision at 4 pm as to future levels of restrictions for New Zealand.  Most suspect that Auckland (Tamaki Makaurau) will have to remain at level 4; the rest of New Zealand feels very sorry for them, but relieved, too, that the rest of us have (thus far) escaped the worst of it.

I have been listening to more podcasts about 9/11, and realised, again, that many issues are complicated. I’m reminded of the reaction when the first plane flew into one of the Twin Towers, and it was assumed to be an accident; then the other plane came, and everyone knew it was not. The use of people prepared to carry out suicidal missions was relatively new: previously, most  perpetrators had wanted to stay alive. The audacity of using a plane as a weapon was amazing, too. No planes were allowed to take off from US soil. For a while there, no one really knew what was happening. But most people remember where they were when they heard what had happened. It turned out to be a defining moment – albeit one that should never have happened. It hasn’t happened again, although there have been many suicidal terrorist missions, some using bombs, some knives, and some using cars as a weapon. When we last went to Europe in 2016, there was huge fear of another incident – the Bataclan incident in Paris had just occurred; the incident in Nice happened just after we left France for Spain; and the Manchester incident at the Ariana Grande concert happened shortly after that. We’re older, so it doesn’t matter what happens to us, but we worry for our children and grandchildren and their loved ones. Having said that, the AUMF (Authorisation to use Military Force) remains in place in the US.

It’s now Wednesday September 15^th. On Monday at the 4 pm press conference we learnt that Auckland is to remain at level 4 for a further week, while the rest of the country is to stay at level 2.  On Tuesday there were15 new cases, today there were 14 new cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland, and all linked to existing cases. We all feel so badly for Tamaki Makaurau.

Here in Wellington, life is inching its way back to normality. Yesterday I went to my Tai Chi lesson: the last one on a Tuesday and the last one for term 3. The council that manages the hall we use permitted use of it. There were lots of people there, and it was a poignant occasion. Many of us cannot go to the remaining Thursday classes next term. Afterwards, I caught the train back to Wellington, and found the SCL lab on The Terrace to have my blood test. I was the only person there! I think I will always go there in future, it’s much more accessible than the Johnsonville one. Afterwards I met a friend for lunch at a café in town. There weren’t many people there, and the tables are quite well spaced. The whole etiquette of mask-wearing, talking, ordering and so on is a bit weird, but almost everyone is wearing a mask.

Afterwards I went to the Hush Puppies shop and bought some new shoes. I tried on the ones that were on special, but they didn’t fit well. Afterwards, as I was waiting for my bus, I looked everywhere (both pockets, shopping bags, handbag) for my glasses, only to realise I was wearing them. Sometimes I get so frustrated that I take them off. I’ve found that if I twist the ties on the mask so that it is really tight, my glasses don’t fog up so much. Nevertheless, I do feel even more that I’m in a bubble, wrapped in bubble-wrap, and I can’t really see properly.

Today JD and I went shopping. JD, true to form, had a number of errands to do along the way. But we bought some large towels at Farmers’ sale in Queensgate, and I also managed to post a present to my son in the UK. What a rigmarole that is! The customs form is even more demanding than it used to be, and there is very little space to write stuff on it.

I also learnt this afternoon that another case of Covid 19 has been detected in an MIQ worker.  This delta variant is proving very difficult to get rid of. In Auckland, vaccination buses have been introduced, and a new booking system for MIQ. Meanwhile, we’re stuck here. We can’t go anywhere, and people in Australia can’t come here.  Last year, we looked forward to the pandemic being over. That’s not happening any time soon. The couple who fled Auckland for a holiday at Wanaka are perhaps the most detested people in New Zealand, for now. That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.

Today is Friday September 9^th, 2021. Kia ora.

Today there are 11 new cases of Covid 19, all based in Auckland. Last night I learnt that someone who presented at Middlemore Hospital’s ER has tested positive, thus arousing concern about anyone else she may have been in contact with.  She did not visit the hospital for Covid 19; she’s just turned out to have it. Consequently 34 police who came into contact with her before she tested positive are isolating, and patients in Middlemore Hospital who came into contact with her (presumably in the ER) have been isolated. There are 27 people in hospital, including four on ventilators in Intensive Care. Why did so many police come into contact with her, one wonders?

It’s odd, here, under level 2/delta. As is usually the case, some are very careful, while others seem to throw caution to the winds. Consequently some activities are cancelled, or run via zoom, while others are to go ahead.

My last session for Tai Chi will go ahead next Tuesday morning – apparently the council that owns the Hall where it’s held has said it can go ahead. I’d like to go – it will be not only the end of term 3, but the end of an era for me.  What’s more, I’ll get to spend some time in town afterwards, and pick up a reserved book from the library.  I’m also supposed to have a blood test – maybe I’ll do that at the lab on The Terrace. I really don’t like the one in Johnsonville, and I won’t go there again if I can help it.

I have also booked for us to go to the movies on Saturday. One hopes that, while socially distant, there won’t be any fierce coughs there.

On Sunday, I have a lot of zooming to do. I’ve been invited to attend a service in Newtown, as well as my usual local one. After that, there’s an AGM which I can also zoom in to: presumably we aren’t gathering at church in person again yet. My friend in Auckland is also going to deliver a part homily again, but I can watch that on Youtube. Herein some advantages of zoom – you can be at home, in the warm, in your pyjamas, drinking coffee, and take in more than one service.

In some ways it’s nice having things start up again slowly – one has time to adjust to being more active, and being in a different mode.

Meanwhile, Covid 19 rages in the US, and in Australia. There, Victoria records 334 cases and one death; ACT 24 cases; and NSW 1542 new cases and nine deaths. In an Aboriginal community, an elder (aged 60) has died, and 30% of the community is infected.  It’s still present in Auckland, but this outbreak is dying out.  While there are various criticisms of the government, there is virtually no criticism of the decision to lockdown, at various levels. There is frustration, certainly, but respect for the seriousness of this delta variant of the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, it’s anniversary time: the anniversary of the fall of the Twin Towers and other hijackings, and the subsequent events in the US, including dreadful wars against Iraq and Afghanistan. Some say too that it resulted in the election of Donald Trump. It was a shocking and fascinating event, holding us glued to our television screens, now known as 9/11, and rivalling the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour as an attack on America herself, and causing  the consequent rage and disgust. How could they?  Well, Osama bin Laden was the inspiration behind this, although there were plenty of warning (and some disagreement from his colleagues). But if you thought Dubya was an awful president, whose administration carried out some terrible deeds, including wide-scale spying on its own citizens, Trump was far scarier, and his impact on the American people and the Republican Party continues to be shocking and alarming. At least the twentieth anniversary of 9/11 is a distraction from Biden’s pulling US troops out of Afghanistan.

The dreadful abortion law in Texas, and the US Supreme Court’s refusal to declare it unconstitutional, also continue to dominate conversations.  Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, has now declared rape to be a crime, and furthermore, he won’t allow it. What is it with this man? His wife and daughter must be so embarrassed. Did his accident render him impotent? I’m just asking. Such misogyny is quite unusual.  The effect is, of course, to totally isolate the woman, at a time when she maybe feeling terrible, sick all the time, and extremely tired, as well as trying to conceal her condition.  There’s a flood of hormonal changes too, and one can have very mixed emotions about having one’s body virtually taken over by this foetus. There’s not guarantee you’ll carry it to term, either. One wonders how anyone can be so callous about this.

I’ve also been reading my very interesting new LRB and learning heaps.

It’s now Saturday September 11.

There is a new case of covid 19 diagnosed in an MIQ worker at Auckland’s Holiday Inn (near Auckland Airport). As with a handful of other cases, there is concern as to how this person contracted the disease.  Worries about odd community cases popping up remains a big concern, as we try to get used to a new normality.

I guess I have very mixed emotions about the US 9/11. I was at home, in the kitchen, when JD rang me (he was away) to tell me to watch what was happening on TV. At first I was inclined to dismiss it, but then realised something very serious was happening. I later went to work, where everyone was transfixed around a television screen, where CNN was giving updates and showing photos of what was happening – the twin towers debacle, the plane that flew into the Pentagon, and United 93 – the fourth plane that was taken over by brave Americans, and crash landed in Pennsylvania, so that it too could not be flown into a building.  I have already listened to many podcasts, and watched a documentary – Turning Point.  There is no doubt that this was a terrible tragedy, killing many people, with many others being contaminated by the dust they inhaled.  Dubya was at an elementary school, and first looked bemused. When he was told about the first aeroplane hitting one of the towers.  Then he was whisked away to the safety of a bunker. I watched Fahrenheit 9/11. I’ve watched other documentaries too. All planes in the US were grounded for a time, and I remember there were some big problems as to where they should go, given that none were taking off.

Evidently there was much intelligence warning that something big was up. The US chose not to hear it – no one would attack them on their own soil, except there had been a bomb attack, at the World Trade Centre. Afterwards, they came together – in an almost united quest for revenge. ICE was set up, the TSA, and the NSA helped themselves to permission to surveille everyone’s communications, be they by landline, mobile phone, the internet, or social media. Extraordinary powers were granted to agencies like the CIA to undertake extreme forms of questioning, otherwise known as torture. The prison at Guantanamo Bay was set up. Most of its inmates are still seeking trial. Many evil things were done, in the name of keeping Americans safe – from what, exactly? As we know, it may well be safer to fly now, but acts of domestic terrorism have proliferated, quite apart from mass shootings. How safe does anyone feel there now?  I’ve also heard that Islam is not a peaceful religion – how many folk have told me that it is?

The American desire for revenge prompted the war in Afghanistan, and two years later, the war in Iraq.  The war in Afghanistan was called the war on terror, and Dubya famously said you are either with us, or with the terrorists. Of course, his instincts were assisted greatly by his Vice-president, Dick Cheney, and his Secretary of Defence, Donald Rumsfeld.  Members of NATO and other nations like Australia and New Zealand willingly formed part of the Coalition, to fight the war on terror. What was the objective? Afghanistan had provided safe haven for Al Qaeda; later, Bin Laden was later killed by the US in Pakistan. The US troops, and all others, I think, have left now, and the Taliban is in charge. Women aren’t allowed to play sport; the Taliban have formed an all-male interim government, and remaining journalists show evidence of brutality they’ve received when trying to cover protests.  Yes, it’s certain, 9/11 changed everything.

Today there are 23 new community cases in Auckland, including one in MIQ. The Deputy PM, Grant Robertson and Dr Bloomfield are fronting the 1 pm press conference, but there is evidently a mix up with the audio – Dr Bloomfield is announcing something quite different from what the newspapers are telling us.  23 is higher than it’s been recently; I’d be interested to know how many are in hospital.

 I watched Dr John Campbell’s update this morning.  Scotland is now having more cases of the coronavirus. The vaccine jabs are useful – one should definitely have them, but it will only give you partial protection against coronavirus. Some fully vaccinated people will still get “long Covid”. There is still so much we don’t know about it. We also don’t know why outbreaks prevail so much more seriously in some areas, for example Scotland, Auckland, or Sydney.  In Australia, there are 1599 new cases in NSW, 450 in Victoria, and a new cluster in Queensland.  They’re just going to sit it out, I guess.

Meanwhile, President Biden has done something remarkable: he’s said that folk should be vaccinated, or submit to weekly Covid tests. Wow!  This includes many workers, including workers at rest homes. The right-wing are seriously alarmed at the potential breach of their so-called freedoms, threatening to sue, in some cases. Note, this isn’t a vaccine mandate: nobody is forcing you to have a vaccine.  Many right-wing Covid sufferers are using their right to take ivermectin, the horse – de-wormer, but they won’t take the covid vaccine. They don’t care about others, either. Right to Life? What a joke. In Australia doctors are forbidden from prescribing ivermectin. Thank goodness for that. One wit suggested that unvaccinated covid patients shouldn’t be admitted to hospital – health care should be reserved for people who’ve had strokes or heart attacks, falls, or been in an accident.

Late this afternoon we went to see The Man in the Hat, from the French Film Festival.  It was nice at the movie theatre: there were few people there, all were masked, and we were seated well apart for the film. We enjoyed delicious ice-creams flavoured with rhubarb and raspberry – two of my favourites, now in ice-cream. Nobody coughed apart from me! I had a little, very discreet cough. Apart from the beautiful scenery, I found it a very odd film. JD is very suspicious of films I claim to be “well reviewed”. Last night we watched 6 Days on Maori television, and tonight a Japanese movie Like Father Like Son – both good and thought-provoking movies. I’d better stop now. Ngā mihi.

Today is Monday September 6^th, 2021

Kia ora katoa.

We just had the 4 pm press conference here, with Prime Minister Ardern and Dr Bloomfield, and, of course, a sign language interpreter (they’re a regular addition to the Dynamic Duo at these events). The news is that New Zealand, barring Auckland, will move to level 2 (Delta) at midnight tomorrow (on Tuesday night). Auckland will stay at level 4. So that’s good news, and some relief is at hand. Northland will also move to level 2.

However, rules have been modified for level 2, allowing for the fact that the Delta variant of Covid 19 is more infectious, and even more virulent than earlier mutations.  Social distancing of two metres between each person will be required, and gatherings indoors limited to 50 people; outside, to 100 people.  You must wear a mask when entering any property; you must also scan the QR code. Schools will reopen on Thursday; mask-wearing is at the parents’ discretion, but is strongly encouraged, especially by secondary school pupils.

So, there’s good and not-so-good there: small cafés, libraries and cinemas will have difficulty, I predict, in maintaining viability.  It remains to be seen just how they’ll enforce the rules. Formerly, under level 2, at a hospitality venue you had to be seated, and served by one person, while maintaining distance from people not in your household bubble.

The new rules for Real Estate remain to be seen. Can Open Homes go ahead? How many visitors will be allowed? MIQ staff will be tested twice a week. Police will continue to man checkpoints, and you’ll have to have a reason to go through Auckland (without stopping). Anyone requiring to leave Auckland will have to be tested within the previous 3 days. The government will make a decision early next week as to next moves.

It’s now Tuesday September 7^th. Today there are 21 new community cases of Covid 19. There are a large number in hospital, several in ICU and some being ventilated. I can’t find the exact numbers.  So we go on. The Auckland numbers have not dropped yet as hoped; they haven’t increased, either.

It’s apparent that level 2/delta has significant implications for many people, requiring a 2 metre distance from anyone you don’t know when out and about. This requirement makes many activities unviable. The Khandallah Community Centre has sent a message saying that all its activities are cancelled, for level 2. I’m not surprised, really.  As I said to my son in England, we hope for fine weather so we’ll be able to sit outside at cafés that have outside tables, since many inside will be unusable.

It’s now Wednesday September 8^th. Today there are 15 new community cases of Covid 19/delta, all in Auckland. While this number is less than yesterday’s total of 20, it shows that the virus is still virulent out there. One feels for Auckland, whose residents are still at level 4 lockdown. That’s really hard, and it’s hard that Auckland, New Zealand’s most populous city, has been hit hard again. Today, there are 37 people in hospital, 6 in ICU and 4 being ventilated.

This morning our son came here to work again. His children go back to school tomorrow, for a brief time before the September holidays kick in. This morning JD and I walked to the store. The local café is open again, but I suspect that with reduced numbers one will have to book to have a meal or a snack, and can’t just do spur-of-the-moment walk-ins like we like to be able to do. However it is noisier out there, and the store wasn’t as busy as usual. We walked up there, and then it started to rain quite heavily; by the time we came out, though, it had stopped raining. The shelves all seemed quite well stocked, except for flour. What is it that makes people want to bake at this time? I, for one, am relieved that I will no longer feel obliged to bake (after the abject failure of my cheese scones).  Annoyingly, I didn’t take a list, and consequently forgot to get the things I most wanted: some stamps, a large envelope, and some dishwashing powder.

It’s now raining quite heavily, but not particularly cold. Despite cold snaps, it’s been quite a mild winter, really.

It’s now Thursday, September 9^th. Today I learnt that Prefab, in Jessie St, is to close. Bother! It’s one  of my favourite places. There’s plenty of room, and it’s always busy. You can’t book, but they always find you a seat, in my experience. They have super-thick paper napkins. It’s helpfully sited between the Lighthouse Cinema in Wigan St, and Moore Wilson’s in Tory St.  There are buses in Taranaki St and Courtenay Place, so providing the weather’s not too awful, you can walk to a bus stop.  It’s a large café, with plenty of room inside and tables outside, so their opting to close is a bit of a mystery. One of the really frustrating things about Prefab, Astoria, and Clark’s closing is that people still want to go somewhere, and the remaining popular places become very busy. You feel guilty for taking up a table, and daren’t overstay your welcome.          

Today there are 13 new community cases of Covid 19/delta, all in Auckland. There are still 30 unlinked cases, in other words, mystery cases, not linked to a known victim or cluster.  It’s certainly taking a while to go away, although the waning numbers are encouraging. There are 31 people in hospital, including 5 in Intensive Care, and three being ventilated. We feel for Aucklanders!  I had a singing session on zoom this morning, and we all enjoyed it. Technically we probably could meet again under the new rules, but I think we would all advise against it, given how infectious the delta variant is proving to be. I think we feel that despite restrictions, we have again dodged a bullet here in Wellington.

Today a new edition of the LRB arrived in the mail. It’s dated 9 September (which is also today’s date).  They tend to arrive super-fast or super-slowly. This one looks very interesting, with articles on the Exit from Kabul, the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the United States of Amnesia by Eric Foner (he’s always good to read), Indian nationalism, D.H. Lawrence, and many more. I can’t wait to read it, meaning that I will put aside other good reads in order to address this one first. You would have thought that during this lockdown I would have caught up with my reading, but I fear not, and I’m ashamed to admit it.

Wellington is gradually opening up again, although we’re sensible folk here in the capital city, and there’s no rush. I do want to go to the movies on Saturday – they’re playing a French Film Festival movie that I missed out on.  Hopefully there won’t be too many coughs there, and everyone will be masked. My favourite cinemas, the Penthouse and the Lighthouse, are open again, with distanced seating – I think you need to book first, though. It’s nice to see them open again. School’s back today, too – that’ll be a relief to many people. The Mojo chain of cafés had a disappointing turnout yesterday, but I think that’s to be expected, as people’s confidence needs to grow again.  I’m sure many are working from home where possible.

In the US, Idaho is in a bad way now, after Arkansas, Alabama, Florida and Texas. In the southern states, vaccination rates are low, and most people are thinking that booster shots will be required; that perhaps vaccines will need to be tweaked annually for new variants. Perhaps the threat of this coronavirus will be less after three years. My son says that in Georgia it’s as bad as it’s ever been. Everyone is desperate to see children back at school – safely. People are looking for guidance on that – should masks be worn in school? How safe are teachers and administrators and support staff? In Cuba children as young as toddlers are being vaccinated. It will be interesting to see how that goes.      

In Australia, things don’t get any better yet. Today NSW recorded 1409 new cases and 5 deaths; Victoria recorded 324 new cases. Nevertheless, NSW is to lift restrictions; it’s being accepted that Sydney could rise to 2,000 new cases a day, and that if you need urgent healthcare for some other critical condition, it may not be offered. There was  some griping in this morning’s paper about people missing out here on scans, surgery and chemotherapy during our recent lockdown. I accept that that’s sad and frustrating, but I do admire the way our government has taken swift action to deal with this latest outbreak of Covid 19/delta, and has taken on board the ways in which the situation is different from 2020.      

It seems that Covid 19 will be with us for some time to come. Remember Auckland on New year’s Eve, the Americas’ Cup yachting races, and the crowds that watched them, both in person and on television? Last year we went to several wonderful concerts at the Michael Fowler Centre.  I hope they come back, but given the cramped seating in the MFC Auditorium, I’d have to feel very safe about going there.

We hope to join our daughter in Hawkes Bay for her birthday and Christmas, both in December, and we hope that we’ll be back to Level 1 by that time. That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.                                                                                                   

Today is Friday September 3^rd, 2021 Kia ora.

Today has been a fine day. It was memorable because Access had rostered a new cleaner to come – at 1:40 pm.  Consequently I got up and raced around changing the sheets and towels, and putting other washing on, emptying the rubbish, and folding and putting away clean washing. At least we had time to have lunch before she came.

The lady who came, on time, was very nice. I showed her where everything is kept. She was pretty efficient, and got on well with JD – always a bonus. Whether she’ll come again, I don’t know. Meanwhile under Level 3, JD is quite busy again. A new listing came online today, and many people want to see it. Under the present rules you can only have two viewings per day, so that keeps things manageable. Poor vendors, there’s nowhere much for them to go at present – except to the supermarket. There are lots of phone calls.

In overseas news I learnt that there has been severe flooding in the north-east of the US, affecting New York and New Jersey very badly, in what is being called the tail of Hurricane Ida, which wreaked such terrible destruction in New Orleans and other parts of Louisiana. The death toll from this flooding kept rising: it now stands at 44 (September 3^rd, 2021).

In Australia, the figures are still dire, and growing: Victoria has 208 new cases, and one death; NSW 1431, and 12 deaths; Queensland has no new cases.

In New Zealand, we learn at 1 pm that there are 28 new cases, all in Auckland bar one, which is in Wellington (thankfully, a close contact of an existing case). The Deputy PM, the Hon. Grant Robertson, and Dr McElnay present this news. There are 43 people in hospital, including 9 in High dependency units, and 3 on ventilators.  Aside from this, there are the usual silly stories of people going outside their permitted zones, and being stopped by police: Level three is not level “free”, one of them said. It’s encouraging that the total of new cases is less than yesterday; the question remains, however, of concern about new community cases who are not linked to an existing case. Evidently there are some, and it’s a worry. Someone with Covid escaped MIQ in Ellerslie, and walked to their home, but were dobbed in by a family member, so no great drama there.

The other big news of the day concerns a cyber outage, affecting NZ’s third-largest ISP (Internet Service Provider) – an organisation I’d never heard of: Vocus NZ. We had noticed during the morning that something was up, with email and other online features behaving strangely; then, weirder still, there was a stabbing attack at a West Auckland Countdown supermarket, where 6 people were injured, and the perpetrator was shot by police: “Isis-inspired lone wolf  shot dead after stabbing six shoppers”, reads the headline in the NZ Herald. The victims are all in a critical condition in hospital.  The attacker, we later learn, was a very troubled refugee from Sri Lanka.     

It’s now Saturday. There are 20 new cases of Covid 19, all in Auckland, so the total is going down nicely. Sadly, an elderly woman (90) has died in North Shore hospital. She did have other conditions, but it looks as though she died of Covid 19. 43 people are in hospital, and 7 in Intensive Care.

It’s now Sunday September 5^th.

Late last night I received an email from a friend of ours. It said that he would be speaking at a service at St Matthew’s in the City at 9 am. This morning I did some research, and found that this was indeed so, and I could watch this service on Youtube. I duly did so and was very impressed. It is exactly one year since my friend’s funeral was held in this same church. Auckland was under lockdown then, but as it was Level 2 restrictions, they could have 50 people at her funeral, and we were invited. This morning was a very poignant occasion, bringing back all kinds of memories.  He spoke about home – what does it mean to you?  I heard about the importance of being at home with yourself, and of being at home with God.  There was discussion about our being guardians, or custodians, perhaps, of this beautiful plant. What is our oikos, exactly? I read the Hohepa Flier the other day, and it featured a woman moving into her new home, a chalet!  This was a huge time for her. I’ll make sure to ask her how she’s finding it, next time I see her. I am quite frustrated with my home, although I have to admit that during lockdown it’s ideal; JD and I can be comfortable in separate rooms. I’m also relieved that we didn’t get rid of things, although we will have to, very soon.

After this I was able to watch the church service here via zoom. The minister commented on clothes and zoom backgrounds – I doubt if anyone realised I had a jersey on over my pyjamas.  Ah, the mercies of zoom!

It’s Father’s Day here, and I posted a photo of my daughter’s card wishing her father a happy day, and a photo of him, on Storypark (our messaging application).

Today there are 20 new community cases of Covid 19, the same as yesterday.

It’s now Monday, September 6^th. 

Last night we learnt that a patient at Middlemore Hospital has tested positive for Covid 19. This is causing concern. This morning I learnt that a pupil at Auckland’s Diocesan School for Girls has tested positive.  Neither of these locations were places of interest, as I recall. Today at 1 pm we expect to learn today’s new numbers, and at 4 pm the government’s decision is to be announced regarding further restrictions. It’s widely expected (and hoped) that the rest of the country, south of Auckland will go to level 2.  We’ve been reminded that Level 3 is not level Free, as the police have stopped multiple motorists from travelling. Thank goodness they continue to monitor the situation.  I feel that this government’s lockdown decisions have wide support. We’re now being compared with Taiwan, which had a very low vaccination rate, yet managed to stamp out Covid 19/delta.  The press here are going on about the government’s disastrous (i.e. rather slow) approach to vaccination.  I think they’re making too much of it.

In Australia, Victoria has 246 new cases; NSW 1,485 and three deaths. No, that was yesterday. Today NSW records 1,281 new cases and five deaths. In New Zealand, there are again 20 new cases, and forty patients in hospital.  This time younger people are getting very ill, and I think there are more in hospital here than previously.

This morning I listened to a Skullduggery podcast about the Supreme Court’s action in not restraining the new Texas abortion law. Podcasts, still quite obsessed with the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, are now quite horrified by this draconian new law.  Michael Isikoff talked about the “Taliban-controlled Texas legislature” – I believe I made a similar point recently about the mediaeval approach to women shown here, never mind Afghanistan.

I also listened to another podcast about Afghanistan, which focused on Biden’s treatment of US European allies and the UK. I must admit that I found this distressing: remember how NATO nations rushed to support the US when it invaded Afghanistan, on the pretext that it was providing shelter to Osama bin Laden and Al Quaeda? While the decision to invade was surely ill-considered (remember how Dubya was going to “Bomb Afghanistan back to the stone age”, not realising that it was already a very backward country), yet NATO allies hastened to support the US. There are some very short memories out there, as there were about Ukraine.

I am reminded again of the cruelty (and kindness) of many Americans. Violence, which I had thought was widely seen as not being acceptable in any circumstances, is condoned, even recommended there. In some charter schools corporal punishment is allowed.  Biden talked about taking Trump behind the bike shed; Madison Cawthorn has recommended violence; and then there are the vaginal ultrasounds widely used on women. I can thankfully say that I never had a vaginal ultrasound. It sounds quite unpleasant to me. A book was recently published called The Cruelty is the Point, by Adam Serwer, an award-winning journalist at the Atlantic magazine.

I also read an article in the LRB about the Puritans, which also mentions their extreme cruelty. Remember the Salem witch trials? The word puritanical remains associated with religious dare I say bigotry, and a strong sense of moral rectitude.  The landing of The Mayflower is still celebrated today. The Puritans became “free” to practise their own particular type of tyranny, just as today the US remains a country of huge contradictions.

The injunctions in the Bible about loving your neighbour and being kind to the poor (which occur in many places) seem to have been forgotten by Evangelical Christians today, more’s the pity. The Good Book also says that the Love of Money is the Root of Every Evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

This morning we walked to the local supermarket. It’s milder now, but not sunny, and not raining, either. The store is quite busy, but I can buy bread – Vogel’s and Mohlenberg.  The shelves seem quite well stocked today, but I could only buy a large container of dishwashing detergent. I declined, although I need it: a large container is just a nuisance (and very heavy to carry home).  I must admit there’s a bit of a “devil may care” attitude to my shopping now – I am perhaps more generous than I would usually be. Normally I’m strict about not spending too much.

Today we had sandwiches with hard-boiled egg, avocado, and green tomato chutney. They were very nice. I haven’t tried to make cheese scones again. I should have been reading books, but I’ve listened to lots of podcasts and tried to get through my pile of LRB offerings (That’s the London Review of Books). There is some gold in there (some dross, too, I’d have to say). I’m torn about renewing my subscription. Perhaps there’s an online version that’s cheaper.

We await the 4 pm decision. That’s it for now. Ngā mihi.

Today is Wednesday September 1^st, 2021. Kia ora!

South of Auckland, we are now at Level 3 of a four-level lockdown, level 1 (not level none, says Dr Bloomfield), is our lowest level where the borders are locked down, but not much else: you should exercise care, of course, by staying home if you feel unwell, washing your hands, and wearing a mask on public transport.

Last night I was reading my latest Listener (which tends to express some very right-wing views) which includes a pleasant column (Jane Clifton’s Aladdin’s Cave), headed as follows: “Australia’s Prime Minister has mocked our Covid-elimination strategy, but we’re faring quite well, thanks cobber”.  I don’t have an issue with holding politicians to account, but I don’t like to see Prime Minister Ardern or President Biden unfairly criticised for their sensible moves.

I slept quite well last night but read concerning news overseas on awakening. In the US, Madison Cawthorn (yes, a republican member of Congress, the dude in a wheelchair) is advocating violence. A Republican Committee Chairwoman carried a gun at a public family event, and so-called “ordinary” people who contemplate standing for office (a school board, perhaps) are being given death threats, along with members of their families. This normalisation if violence, and the idea that violence is acceptable, is very disturbing, especially when people are just trying to keep themselves and their children safe – by wearing masks!  One item I heard yesterday: God can’t hear you praying, if you wear a mask. That’s a Jim Baker special.

I read in the UK’s Guardian that a judge in Ohio has ordered a Covid 19 patient to be given Ivermectin (yes, the horse worming drug). Israel is reporting record numbers of Covid 19 cases, despite their high vaccination rate; and a new variant of Covid 19 (as I reported yesterday) is very alarming.

I then listen to Dr John Campbell’s daily update, and that’s very concerning, too. A paediatrician has recommended clinical testing for Covid 19 only (i.e. testing only if you’re symptomatic); everyone will get Delta; and there’s no prospect of reaching herd immunity. Naturally, the UK Tory government has leapt at this. I find it distressing. Just look at NSW, where despite some restrictions, delta is running rampant. It’s definitely not under control. Today NSW records 1,116 new cases, and four deaths. The NSW Premier says “It’s impossible to eliminate the Delta strain”.

Before the 1 pm press conference, JD and I walked to the local supermarket. It’s a beautiful sunny day, after a cold start. At the store, It’s nicely busy and not too crowded. They still seem to prefer one lone shopper, with one trolley – no baskets. There are still a number of gaps on the shelves: I can’t get the small containers of fruit in juice that I like to buy, and there are still no “made in store” sausages. I shouldn’t really be eating them anyway, but this lockdown feels like an excuse. I don’t look at eggs, although we have none; there are hardly any pies. I buy the last filled bread roll and a sultana scone, and some more yoghurt and some more ice creams. I would have bought a Coffee (Boston?) Bun, but it was dated yesterday. I like to buy them fresh.

Coming out to meet JD, who will carry this stuff home, I learn that there are 75 new cases of Covid 19, and one in MIQ; of these, all are in Auckland bar one, which is in Wellington (a close contact of an existing case). There are presently 32 in hospital, 8 in ICU, and 3 on ventilators. 40 supermarkets in Auckland are to be added as locations of interest, out of that annoying expression, “an abundance of caution”. Public health folk are working with Tegel, where three workers became infected. The September school holidays may be moved.  Already formal exams have been pushed back. Wellington’s WOW event has been postponed (it was cancelled last year).

This morning I listened to a Lawfare podcast with Spencer Ackerman talking to Jack Goldsmith. Ackerman is a journalist and writer, and author of a new book called Reign of Terror.  He’s really angry about the US’s role in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since 9/11, and it’s interesting to hear him talk to Goldsmith about US national security, amongst other things. Goldsmith is a thoughtful person, so I found this conversation really absorbing. Ackerman also talks about US loss of personal freedoms with the surveillance that now happens under Section 702.[1] Today Ackerman and Rachel Maddow are supportive of Biden’s actions in withdrawing from Afghanistan; I also listen to a Guardian podcast about the UK’s seeming betrayal of people they should have been much kinder to, and I wonder about the vehemence of the attacks on Biden, and the virtual lack of attacks on “perfidious Albion”.

It’s now Thursday September 2^nd.  It’s still quiet here, but my friend Julie tells me people are going to Café du Parc in Khandallah: they can sit outside there, and don’t have to go inside the café. I queried this, but it’s claimed you can sit on the deck outside the café, and a staff member can bring you your coffee there. I guess you can sit anywhere outside, as long as you’re 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household bubble, right? Yesterday desperate kiwis queued up to buy KFC – for breakfast?

In Australia, the figures are disappointing – 176 new cases of Covid 19/Delta variant today. They too, like NSW, have given up on their elimination strategy. Today NSW records 1,288 new cases and 7 deaths. ACT has 12 new cases.

In New Zealand there are 49 new community cases today, all of them in Auckland. There are presently 42 in hospital, 6 in an ICU (the youngest is 18), and 3 ventilated. Some ICU nurses are being transferred from other hospitals. Northland is to move to level 3 from midnight tonight. 7 of the cases reported today were infectious in the community. No Delta has been detected unexpectedly in wastewater testing, including from Northland.

In the US, Joe Rogan has Covid 19; in Sydney, a person is in hospital after overdosing on Ivermectin. In New Zealand, someone’s trying to import it. In the US, the American Medical Association has said it should not be prescribed.

In the US, arguments rage on about Afghanistan, the withdrawal, whether American citizens feel less safe now; whether the US has a role in “nation building”. Joe Biden has made another rousing speech.  It feels good that he’s been brave enough to pull US troops out, and evacuate thousands (about 123,000, including 6,000 Americans) of people in extreme circumstances; but the war must have been very profitable for many people, otherwise why would they suddenly care so much? In the Lawfare podcast I listened to yesterday, Spencer Ackerman spoke about many instanced of domestic terrorism on US soil, where no link to a foreign entity such as Isis could be made. He also spoke about Trump’s acts of violence, acknowledging that while no new wars were started while he was president, there was the bombing if Syria and the killing of Sulemani, while he condoned the brutal murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. There’s evidence that he almost started a war with Iran, in a bid to stay in office. Iran could have retaliated against the killing of Sulemani; it did not do so publicly, in the way that many feared.  Michael Moore quotes George Orwell’s 1984, in saying there has to be a war going on somewhere. There are also a number of former republicans sympathising with Biden, and pointing out that whatever Trump’s bluster, he would have botched the evacuation.  It’s also been acknowledged that Americans in Afghanistan were not obliged to register with the embassy, there, and, indeed, some Americans chose to stay. Meanwhile, Texas has enacted a law virtually banning abortions, and allowing significant fines and prosecution for anyone considered to have aided the woman in making her decision (for whatever reason), to seek termination of the pregnancy. The Supreme Court has chosen to do nothing to stop this law going ahead. The Taliban certainly treat women badly, but is the US that much better?  It risks being a barbaric society itself, in many ways. Freedom doesn’t mean not caring about others. In my view. Is this the end of the American Empire?  Who knows. There are still US troops in heaps of places, including Germany, South Korea,  Yemen, Somalia, and who knows where else. Is the US a safe place? Is the world a safe place? Alas, for many, it is not. And if a woman seeks to terminate a pregnancy, surely it was not her action alone that resulted in pregnancy. Does the man bear no responsibility?

This afternoon we went shopping at one of my favourite stores, the big New World supermarket in Thorndon. JD took a trolley too It was lovely there – not crazily busy, and everyone seemed very respectful. I bought some nice looking Caesar salad there. There was little in the way of fresh cakes, but in general the shelves were well stocked. It’ll be even better when they can pack my bags again!

Today it’s been fine. I attended singing on zoom; I wrote some letters, and we went shopping. Nga mihi.

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[1] Section 702 is a key provision of the FISA Amendments Act of 2008 that permits the government to conduct targeted surveillance of foreign persons located outside the United States, with the compelled assistance of electronic communication service providers, to acquire foreign intelligence information.