Lockdown now at Level 3.

Autumn colours in our backyard

Lockdown worked

We in New Zealand have been in Lockdown for 4 - 5 weeks. It has hurt the economy, but it has done wonders for the numbers coping with Covid19. We we were getting up to 70 - 89 reported cases a day early in April. (A population of 5 million) Well before Lockdown, there was one wedding that took place in a reception lodge near the southern most point of the South Island. At that one wedding with around 70 guests there was one person who had Covid19 a flight attendant.  There have now been more than 90 people infected because of that event with one fatality. (devastating for the bride and groom) It is a very quickly spreading virus and our government put us into lockdown. There were no shops except supermarkets open and those were strictly controlled. No schools were open, universities were doing distance learning and people are either not working or working from home. 70 year olds and older were to stay home and get others to shop for them. Some said it was an over reaction. Now, however, we have moved to slightly less strict Lockdown alert level 3 conditions because there are only 3 infections throughout the country a day. There have been 19 deaths, most from clusters related to two rest homes. The impact of the Lockdown was highlighted by ANZAC day, April 25th. Anzac day in New Zealand and Australia is the day when we remember all those who served in overseas wars. The date recalls the disastrous WWI battle at Gallipoli at what is now called Anzac Cove in Turkey where mainly Australian and NZ troops fought bravely and thousands died in 1915. They eventually retreated to ships and nothing was accomplished. But all war service is remembered on Anzac day. Thousands throughout NZ turn out to dawn services at war memorials throughout the country. During the day more services are held in local communities. This year the services were abandoned for the first time ever since 1916! But throughout the country, at 6 a.m. people gathered at their front gate with many people listening to the "Last Post" on their phone or music device and some also read "the Ode" ("We will remember them") We went out to our front gate. My wife had made a reasonable sized poppy, the flower that symbolises the day, we had it standing by our letterbox for the whole day, and we stood by it in the dark at dawn on April 25th. In the distance somebody was playing the Last Post on a bugle. We stood silently while we listened. Our neighbour a couple of doors down stood also in silence in her dressing gown listening to the tune. There were others down the street, we could not see, but there were many thousands more throughout the country standing at the end of their drive remembering, marking the day.  It was a very different ANZAC day, but somehow deeply significant. While we growl about having to be in Lockdown, we were reminded of those who spent years at war and gave their lives for the nation.   

Change, but not much..

So now more workplaces are open, so long as the workers can work two metres apart and there are hygiene practices in place. Schools are open but only children from homes where people have to go to work are to attend. We are still told to work from home. Fast food places and take away coffee shops are open. (It was astounding, people queued from midnight at McDonalds and other favourite fast food outlets!) We have been enjoying the food from our garden. Predictions are that we will be at level 3 for two weeks and then go down to level 2. I got in touch with both of my chaplaincy places, and I cannot yet visit. There was one manager at the fire stations who suggested that I should have been visiting. Unfortunately he is not the one who makes the call.  I am prevented from visiting at both places for at least a couple of weeks, but I have been encouraged. Managers and people at both places have said that I will be welcomed back enthusiastically. I was surprised, one manager, a nice guy, but one I would not have guessed was a man of faith, had "Jos 1:9" at the end of his email.  This text is part of the call of Joshua and it reads: "I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”  
It is frustrating. Two elderly women from our Church community went into hospital. We could not visit them. I want a car part. Normally I would go to a parts place with the old part to show them, discuss my problem, get information and they would find the part or direct me to where to go for it. Trying to get it on line seems to be drawing a blank and I am frustrated being unable to complete the job till after Lockdown. We are learning to shop on line. We needed ink for our computer printer, and an HDMI link cable and were able to get these delivered. In fact when this is all over, I think I will be doing more shopping on line. These probably cost less than driving into town to the store to buy them.
Return to normal?
I have read many articles suggesting that we ought not return to normal. It was "normal" that got us into this trouble, and "normal" will increasingly get us into trouble. I agree! We cannot keep on with an economic system that depends on infinite growth in a finite universe. We are hurting the world we live in, creating incredible inequality and simply living dangerously. I have read about this and talked about it since the 1970's. We need to re-think our normal. I dream of a better world with priorities more focus on wellbeing, common-wealth and wholeness. But I tend to be cynical about the prospect. I hope we will recognise it as an opportunity for change, a recognition of our global links and our interdependence, but I don't expect we will.

Blessings to you all. We are one family and this pandemic reminds us of that in a bad way. We are all having to cope with it. Hopefully we will remember these lessons "on the other side" when we are through this part of history.

Autumn bounty - we don't need take aways.

Car up on jacks - I enjoy doing my own mechanical repairs when I can.

The broken part - but can I get one in Lockdown?

Lockdown blues.

Lockdown is working in NZ.
In New Zealand we have all been on strict Lockdown for nearly four weeks. The number of Covid19 cases has headed downhill in a big way, even though testing has increased substantially. We have been at "Level 4" and it is hoped that we could move to Level 3 on Wednesday. So I have barely left the house. I have gone for a few walks around the block. We ventured into town to get our flu jab, but then went straight back home. I have been doing jobs around our house and acre and made a few calls to fire fighters. I also have done a weekly news letter for people of the local congregation, which I call "Lockdown Linkup". It has been well received with people sending emails of appreciation and also their stories of lockdown so that I can share them. I was sure of myself that I would remain mental health wise, healthy and even enjoy the time. But...
I have been out of sorts... sad somehow.
I have plenty to do around our house and acre, but I have felt a bit out of sorts? I am fine really, but have analysed myself and there are at least three related reasons for being out of kilter..

1. There is a bit of uncertainty about how things will go for me after Covid19 Lockdown... there maybe changes to my lifestyle. Things I have invested a lot of time and energy in are fragile and uncertain. They may not survive the Covid19 disturbance. That uncertainty feels uncomfortable.

2. Normally I am the one helping the "unfortunate" or less able. Habitat for Humanity, Drop-in centre, Night shelter, food bank stuff, knocking on doors in Christchurch earthquake, and general dogs body helper type activity have been my life. I enjoy feeling useful to others. In this situation, because I am over 70 I am told sit down, stay home, we don't need you. (I think whether it is level 2-3 or 4.) I hear of somebody with some need and I think, "I could just pop around and help them." "I'll go see them and chat!" Then it hits me again, I cannot do that! I would be breaking the law. I feel like I've been dumped on the scrap heap. Now that is not true but it is a feeling we older ones have to deal with.

3. While I am a bit of a hermit, all my life I have pushed myself "out there" and related with people. They have become important to me, it has become who I am, but now I cannot relate/be with them. I am missing the social contact. I could easily shrink back into my hermit zone?

As a pensioner I have nothing substantive to worry about. Life will go on, we will never be broke, but the above changes have their impact... Are others impacted in a similar way? Just sayin'.

A Francis of Assisi prayer which seems relevant. 

On Good Friday my wife made buns but added my hammer and nails to highlight the meaning of the day.

My home made carpet stretcher. (Carpeting the floor of my study after repairs.

Carpet done.

Study set up again.

New shelves... Lots of books discarded.

These photos are reminders of good times.

Lockdown! Farewell to the old.

Covid19 Lockdown
In the last post I pondered a new reality, that I as an over 70 year old could no longer visit my chaplaincies, Church had been closed and everything was different. Two days after that the Government of New Zealand put the whole country in Lockdown... we have to stay "within our bubble". Everybody is to stay home from work, except "essential services". We "older than 70 year olds" in particular are not to shop at the supermarket or pharmacy and there are limitations upon everybody and these are being enforced. It is working and as I write it looks like NZ has lowered the curve of Corona virus. (Covid19) Our daughter picks up our groceries which we order on line. We are fortunate in that we have had an extensive vegetable garden so we can be quite self sufficient in most things. We have been doing odd jobs around our house and acre.  We have picked apples. I have had two sessions of picking blackberries. I just started on doing some repairs to the floor in my office. I have gone for walks which has been good, but I do miss the contacts with people normal life affords. Little treats like a cup of coffee (New Zealand coffee bars do the best coffee - on our trips overseas we do not enjoy the coffee.) or wandering the DIY store or having our foster daughter to visit are missed. In many ways I am enjoying not working, being truly retired. I can do uninterrupted projects. I have been producing a weekly newsletter to keep the Church people in touch with each other. It is called "Lockdown Linkup."
Throwing out
In preparation for fixing the floor in my office I decided I needed to clean out a heap of books. Once again I went through my book cases trying to be very strong in discarding as many books as I could. I still have lots of books, but I managed to pack up four boxes of books and stash them in our sleep out. There is an annual second hand book sale in our city, which has been postponed this year because of the virus, but next year they will benefit from my books. Yesterday was a rainy day so I have concentrated on other stuff to throw out. I have had folders of my university, theological college and Social Work training notes and assignments. So today they have been all tipped into the recycle bin. It is always a bit of a sad thing. Once I got reading the assignments and the notes on the side, they brought back many memories. I left plumbing in 1971 and went to University to see if I could study. Then we left Dunedin and New Zealand to do four years of theological/ministry training in Melbourne. Then after three ministries, in 1994 I went half time at the church and did a community and social work course. As well as these there have been seminars, chaplaincy training and ongoing professional training from which there has been heaps of notes. Today I threw these out. These track the course of important parts of my life journey. I have moved on in my understandings and grown heaps, but these times of learning have prompted ongoing times of growth. I'll not miss the notes, I have very seldom referred to them down the years. But it was nice to keep them.
Worldwide Pandemic
We are deeply aware that just about every country in the world is having to cope with this Covid19. We are fortunate to be an island nation out on the edge of the world. We could easily shut our borders and/or control the people coming or going. We have a reasonable public health system and we learned from others' experience before the virus began to hit us hard. We are hoping it will be OK for us. So far we have had only one death and the powers that be have strict rules by which we have to live. We ache for countries where it has hit hard. There has been enough suffering here for us to be fearful, on edge and empathetic with other countries. Even so on social media and in other ways, the kiwi sense of humour has helped. Many of us are placing bears in our front windows and passing children hunt for them One elderly friend actually made one just for the occasion. Another acquaintance is an opera singer, so she stood on her balcony and gave neighbours a concert. We are half way through our lockdown period and you sense that people are getting a bit frustrated. I hope we stay the course and that it works well.
Anyway, to my readers, I wish you well as you cope with this very different and difficult world we live in. Take care. Kia Kaha (Maori words for "stay strong" - many Maori words are becoming just a part of our language now, which is great.)
Some photos of stuff I have been doing in lockdown....

Harvesting big beautiful potatoes

Sharpening chisels - A carpenter mate told me that in the building firm he served his apprenticeship with, they reserved a half hour every Friday to sharpen their tools. So I used lockdown to sharpen my chisels. It is actually a good lesson in life. You need time to stop and "sharpen your chisels". 

Picked apples - These came from one tree. We use them as cooking apples. Apple puddings, apple jelly etc. We have given a few away. We have more trees to pick pick apples from.

We used to have goats to keep blackberries under control, but now we don't. I have been attacking the bushes, but also harvesting blackberry. Blackberry and apple jelly - beautiful.

Three of four boxes of books.... but I still keep reading and buying books?

This is the remains of my old desk. It has been my workstation for at least 43 years... so many sermons, lessons, articles and plans have been hammered out on this desk.

We have an old house at least 135 years old, that was a cottage which has had bits added to it over the years. It is not well built and the floor of my study had been sinking for many years. Today I pulled it to bits and began repairs.

I discovered somebody at one time before we purchased the house had tried to repair the rotten floor frames. They did not do it well. By tomorrow night I'll have it repaired and back together. Today's building inspectors would have the house pulled down! A house today in NZ would never be built so low to the ground.