More about life during a pandemic

After a couple of very intensive weeks completing a makeover of the front garden, with Darren, I am ready to write blogs again.   

As we cannot spend money travelling, or eating out, we have decided to spend it on the garden, getting a roofing company in to replace tiles, so badly needed, and luckily we have had no leaks in the house.   We also got the oil leak fixed in the twenty year old Honda, and got the rust cut out of the back of it, before the rear door collapsed completely.  The Honda is a great car, and will certainly run for a few more years yet, we hope.    Interestingly the mechanic had to chip off sand and oil from the fly wheel, where the sand had collected when I got bogged at the beach, on Australia Day, 2019.    

Although we try not to read or watch the news too much, it becomes a little too compelling at times.

It is with increasing horror that we watch the alarming rate of Covid-19 infection throughout the world.  Our heart goes out to all the people affected by it.

 I miss living in Joydens Wood, with the beautiful woodland so close to our house.   At the moment the trees are starting to show the beginnings of green leaves, and there are swathes of bluebells everywhere.   I have seen photos of them on the Joydens Wood Facebook site.   Such a lovely time of year, full of new growth and with it, new hope.   The Joydens Wood community also look out for each other during this pandemic, which does not surprise me, as there has always been a great community spirit there.

However, I am relieved that we no longer live in the UK.    We saw how overcrowded and underfunded the NHS was, and under considerable pressure, how social care services had been cut back to the barest bones and the rapid rise in poverty in large sections of the community.    Plus a government so caught up in Brexit that they could not focus on providing support for its own country. 

It was not surprising to read about the lack of preparedness in the UK, with a government more intent on celebrating leaving the European Union at the end of January, then preparing for a probable pandemic.   We saw a Prime Minister bragging about shaking hands with people in hospital, keeping his cabinet in close confines rather then insist on social distancing, ignoring offers from the European Union to purchase equipment, making promises to put in a large scale testing regime, when there were no tests,  and stopping tracing very early in the pandemic.    

I think people in Britain have been very patient, and accepting of the situation.   Most people get on with their lives, have accepted the lockdown and appreciate the small things they can achieve in their daily routines.    And the care and concern for the people who have front line jobs, be it in the hospitals or out in the community, is, without doubt, a sign of immense gratitude and appreciation.

Life here in South Australia has eased up considerably, although social distancing and hygiene practices are paramount at all times.   Since Easter it has become quiet in Aldinga Beach, and our small shopping centre less busy.    All shops are extremely organised, and you never feel as if your health is compromised.   Restaurants, pubs and cafes are doing a great job with takeaway food and plant nurseries and hardware shops are very busy.    People are spending time in their gardens and undertaking projects in the home, as they cannot travel away for holidays.    Luckily all our trades people are able to work, and from the looks of it, are being kept very busy.   Likewise, any industry relating to trades.

During the three weeks of school holidays here, it has been lovely to see families out cycling and walking.   In fact the increase of cycling generally has been quite remarkable. 

Tomorrow Walter and I are going to he nearest large shopping centre to buy a new mobile phone for me, our first trip out to a large centre.   We shall see how we go.

During the past two weeks we have met up with family members, in our homes, but we have kept it to minimum numbers and time, and very careful of social distancing rules.   But it has been lovely to have the contact with them.

There are no social gatherings at all, so for me, no U3A meetups or walks or cycle rides together, and for Walter, no bowls.   

The facts about South Australia.    We have had no new cases diagnosed for days, and only 3 cases in about 12 days. and out of 438 cases here, 420 have recovered, with 4 people in the ICU. Four people have died from Covit-19.   The Barossa Valley which had a large cluster, due to tourists, has now had four weeks without a case.   Generally Australia is diagnosing fewer cases overall.   Not that we should be complacent of course.   The rate of testing is extremely high, and tracing is given top priority throughout Australia.

Readers may think Australia has got off lightly, and it may have infection wise, but economically we have been as badly hit as other countries.    The bushfires during summer hit the country, both traumatically and economically.   Our tourist industry was hit badly by the fires, followed immediately by a clampdown on students and tourists from China.  And money has been poured into the businesses and employees due to the shut down of the hospitality industry.    Many small businesses have had to close. There are very few flights across the country, and even fewer internationally.    The resulting collapse of businesses and the rising unemployment in the future is just too scary to even contemplate at this time.

But life goes on.

Thank goodness for having a dog.   Piper is such a joy, when she is not barking at other dogs through the front window, and taking her for walks means we get plenty of exercise.

Piper loves the beach.

Port Willunga is mostly deserted these days, except for fishermen, people with dogs, and the surfers out on their boards, when there are good rolling waves.

The roofing people arrived, with their big vehicle, trailer and ladder against the house.   It took them two and a half days to repair the roof.    The two front hedges have now gone, but more about that later.

Bags of horse manure, $2 a bag, plus free bark and poultry manure, from the chicken house that Patrick demolished when they bought their new house.

The result of a spending spree at the local nurseries.

I think it is time to cover the swimming pool.   Since this photograph was taken the water has gone a distinct green colour.

All ready for planting.

Piper having a great time shredding the strelitzia trunks.   

The self sown tomatoes produced a bumper crop of the most delicious tomatoes.   This area has now been cleared and a green manure crop sown in the beds.

As well as eating tomatoes, giving tomatoes away, we made passata sauce and green tomato pickles.  I found a useful tip, from our supermarket brochure.    When making jams, or sauces, tip the jar upside down, to sterilise the lids and to ensure that they seal.   Every jar of jam, passata and pickles has sealed

And finally another view of Port Willunga.   I never tire of looking at this beach.

The next blog, a garden makeover.

Isolation, or nearly!

After a week of trying to get our heads around isolation, or nearly, we think we are beginning to get a routine going in our house.

It is very difficult to fully understand the requirements in Australia, and what is sensible for people in their 70s, who are relatively fit and healthy, as the information can be confusing.   It also depends on which state you live in, and where you live in that state.

Everyone who comes into South Australia is meant to self isolate for two weeks, and luckily we do not have any cruise ships waiting out at sea.   We are following the social distancing regulation of only two people together and cafes can only serve takeaway coffee and food.    Other food and drink places are closed, and many businesses have closed.   There are high numbers of people without a job.  However schools are still open, but will close early for the school holidays.    Most shops are still open, I think.

So at the moment, out in Aldinga, Walter and I have come up with a solution for us.   We stay home mostly, luckily in a big house, with a big garden, and do not go near any supermarkets or shopping centres.   Thank goodness we have family nearby who can do the grocery shopping for us. At the moment we buy single items from shops (not in shopping centres), such as more printer ink, but it is straight in and out, and lots of hand sanitiser  afterwards.  Plus we walk Piper, lucky dog.

The sun is still shining here, and pleasantly warm, so being outside in the warmth lifts the spirits somewhat.   I realise this will change as the sun moves further north and winter sets in.   

My view of the pool, from the gazebo.   I should be swimming in it still, but I lack the motivation to jump into the cold water.     But it is pleasant to look at.

The hand sanitiser!  Walter bought two large bottles, weeks ago.   Way before it all sold out.   He did not mean to get such large bottles from the pharmacy but that is what they gave him, and we all laughed at him for buying so much sanitiser.   Not so anymore.   We have filled up small bottles, and put them in our bags and cars.   It is also very strong, 60% alcohol, and hopefully will knock any germs off our hands.

Keeping everything clean takes up so much time!   What with washing hands, sanitising them, and wiping surfaces and door hands with disinfectant a couple of times a day, occupies a fair bit of our time.   I have never seen the house look so clean.   The smell of disinfectant and hand sanitiser pervades our house and our cars!

A deserted beach!   Well not quite, but nearly.   We are very lucky.  It is great to see people though as being confined to home is very lonely.   Being able to say good morning to other people, makes such a difference.

Piper loves her early morning walks, chasing the ball, and swimming in the sea.   She gets an extra special long wash with the cold water from the hose when she gets home.   This is not so popular with her.

Walter and Piper out for a walk.

Kuitpo Forest last weekend.  It was a lovely shady walk, on a 30 degree day.

Aldinga Beach Scrub, with very well camouflaged  kangaroos somewhere in the centre of the photograph.

More well camouflaged kangaroos hiding amongst the trees.   It is very dry at the moment, and the brown fur of the kangaroos blend in very well with the trees and grass.

The esplanade at Aldinga Beach, which we also walk along.   It is not as deserted as this photograph shows, and it is great to see people walking and riding their bikes.

My first project, to cut this hedge out.   One of our neighbours has given us their green bin, so I have two to fill.   The next collection is on Monday so I will have to get a move on.   Our beautiful Pittosporum hedges have mostly died, due to being infested with a mealy type insect which sucked the moisture out of the branches.   Then the extreme heat finished them off.   But more about our plans for the front in a later blog.

Our thoughts are also with people all over the world during this time of a devastating pandemic.   The news that comes to us via the news is unbearable to read and to watch.   So many people are suffering hugely.   A terrible tragedy.