Diary Entries

Seems like we are approaching a turning point in COVID19. People were shocked to find that their 'normal' was so artificial ... that it could so easily disappear. Was interesting to listen as people ... officials and others ... talked about managing what was largely unmanageable. Concerns about mental health were raised as well as plans for bouncing back with a V shaped recovery, even a 'new normal'. Then the dismay about second waves and the length of time before a preventative or even a palliative was available. This preoccupation with technical responses has been used to drown out what I had hoped to see; that a challenge to our artificially comfortable lives might prompt some existential questioning - and perhaps allow the voices of faith and hope to be heard and not belittled or mocked. So far, not so. Seems to me that so many of the adverse consequences of isolation and community issues that have required rules and endless jingles are addressed in the Christian narrative.

What has inspired this madness? Post CoVid cabin-fever? As I sit, trying to work on lessons, grateful that I can deliver them in person tomorrow, I am listening to my very loud family. My husband is valiantly battling the stereo system he just crawled under the house to retrieve; it's making a strange rattling sound that needs to be fixed in order to allow us to play the ancient records he's also discovered. The kids have been hovering. It's the records....Oh, the records! Led Zeppelin, Bach, Fleetwood Mac, ABBA... A frenzy of delight, and an instant dance party was only stopped when the odd noises emerged. Oh Lord, it's managed to belch out a few Beethoven notes. The 13 year old is amazed that the 25 year old recognises the music. Apparently, the older one is therefore "an old fart who listens to Beethoven". The two are on the phone to their big sister who is stuck in Brisbane where she went to start a PhD. Due to CoVid we haven't seen her for so long and we miss her desperately. She: maybe not so much missing us at the moment. She's still hanging on the phone while the other two, bored waiting, force her to talk to the dog. The eldest (also, for her sins, a teacher) has reluctantly but wisely left to prepare her own week. Much rattling has again replaced the notes of Beethoven and the dog has probably walked off in disgust. I carry on - not at all distracted from my work as I type here instead of working. PS "I DID IT!" has been followed by loud sombre drum beats from Beethoven's Old Fart Symphony; the husband is yelling at the phone, "How do you buy needles?". The poor neighbours.

Yesterday was a very odd day, after being "distant" for so long, I went to previously normal places, did previously ordinary things, with my friends, but in rather odd ways. J came over, because we'd booked to go to the AGNSW at 10:30am, she came early so that she could take our photo, reading. We arranged ourselves on the couch, with the magazine, looking and smiling and laughing and the dogs sitting, then the young dog bouncing about. Eventually we got into J's car and she drove us, towards the gallery, she mentioned coffee, so we stopped in Enmore and had a coffee at a coffee shop! Amazing! Actually the coffee was very good. Much better than I've had in a very long time. Gee'd up, cee'd up by the coffee we bounced back to the car and drove along, strange commentary, places that I'd gone past, pre-COVID in the bus, now down low in a little car. The big traffic sign near Sydney University which used to say "Stay home" now says "Call Lifeline", all the casuals losing their jobs ... we made it through town, Captain Cook in Hyde Park has been cleaned up. We made it past the Gallery, finding a parking space near the Botanic Gardens plant nursery. Fiddling around with the parking meter, it wouldn't work, people standing TOO CLOSE then it did, so we paid, not caring, really, about the cost. Charged, still caffeinated, into the gallery. Paused, T had to find the booking. Showed it on his phone, yes, for three. We went into the quiet space, the black and white and red banners hanging, so beautiful to be looking at art again. It really struck home. I started wandering through the galleries, the old courts. Struck.

MY JOURNEY TO ORANGE What a glorious morning to journey! The sun shone bright; its golden orb was paled by the white glow that glimmered. I took a local train to Blacktown, took off there to catch the XPT Train to Orange. Securing a window seat, I was the only passenger bound west. All seating arrangement was implemented for social distancing. This time, the sun rose through the mist and everything was looking fine and visible. On the way the scenery remained the same, but farm stocks grew more in numbers unlike before; thriving in a pristine world of pure air and abundance of naturally grown green feeds and water. Rainfall teems on regular intervals that fills the billabong. The train arrived few minutes late in Orange. Having not travelled in a long while, I took off at Blayney by mistake as I didn't hear the announcement on board. The Steward who saw me came to my rescue. My daughter's little family was there at the station to pick me up. We decided a take away lunch for a quick bite at home. I was feeling jubilant to see my baby granddaughter at last! She's having a piggyback ride on her Dad's broad shoulders and gave me that curious look asking "who's this little dwarf lady?" Our weekend was packed with social dining arrangements. Only few people came due to number restrictions. I relished the home-cooked Lamb Shank dish and some roasts meat and veggies. Sunday was freezing. The old folks, the Godfather, Zana and her parents gathered to dine at Robinhood Hotel. There we celebrated her First Birthday with balloons and birthday cake after a scrumptious lunch. The little celebrant looked so tired. She didn't know what's going on, rubbed her eyes and cried as we sang Happy Birthday!

2020 started with excitement. For me I was happy to be in my last year of primary school🏫. Soon I’ll have a new school, and new friends. As the year started people began to talk, they talked about a virus. At first it didn’t mean anything, until things got worse. Toilet paper started disappearing off shelves and the sanitiser rolled in. All of a sudden the world started to shutdown, and schools were being closed. Soon the border from NSW to Queensland closed. That meant I couldn’t see my dad which kinda sucked. Slowly things started to become less solitary, kids started going back to school, I got to see my dad and the toilet paper rolled in. Coming back to school was a bit hard and normal became weird and different. I hope that next year will be better than twenty-twenty, and that the world will become Normal again.😉

2020 has been the hardest year for me. I haven't been to school for nearly three months. Luckily we got sent some home-packs to do at home to keep track of our work. It has been hard for me and my family because our Grandparent's are over the border so we can't see them. I love being back at school because it is nice to be outside with your friends. I've been worried about the sickness. I thought it would get worse but here we are almost back to normal. I feel really relaxed about this. I hope the future will be a fresh start for everyone and we can all be together again.

I thought 2020 would be the best year ever... I was wrong. it has been the worst year ever! When the teachers said this is your last week for a while I thought it was going to be amazing to be at home and just play computer games. But I never knew that it it would be so long AND I would still have to do school work! Now I know how good school really is. I missed everybody, even the annoying people. My hope is rising quickly and I feel like the rotten year is going to be a fresh year full of happiness.

May 2020 Awful news of the death rates internationally – more disturbing are the figures from close districts to our home, nursing home and aged care facilities. I feel these deaths could have been prevented. Unfortunately, this situation has affected our predicament in lockdown. No visitors from family nor friends. No deliveries which was felt most on Mother’s Day. No outings was the hardest rule; feeling very locked in and frustrated by the yearning for independence as in the past. Yet, we remain safe and virus-free. The entire Monte team from top to dash there is no bottom rung here have worked tirelessly and with good humor always. The dedicated Leisure and Lifestyle team really excelled and did make our Mother’s Day very enjoyable. I hope all the mothers here in 2021 celebrate a great day! Still no lessening of our freedom to leave Monte. Much as it is my home, I truly yearn to see the winter fashions; if there are any retail stores left trading? Meet with my friends, go to a pub have a good counter lunch and a few vinos to share. A meal with my family. To cook a spaghetti bolognese at my son’s house would be bliss. Laughter to abound around the table at everything and nothing. Oh please let it soon be over. Keep all those I love and strangers safe from this virus the world over and may we enjoy life that will never be the same as the world and our country recover as best they can and continue on.

March 2020 The initial shock of the word pandemic became a reality for me, personally, the last weeks of March 2020. So many given speeches by our PM Scott Morrison followed by warnings from health heads really had me in a spin. Our management at our wonderful residence did keep us informed on all matters relating to our environment and home as best they could. However, as none of us in the community nor our carers had ever before experienced this medical phenomenon, it truly was a frightening situation. April 2020 My birthday is on the 1st of April haha and it was an original celebration I must say. My family consisting of son Dallas age 46, Hugh my grandson 13 and Zara my granddaughter 15 connected with me via WhatsApp (to me a new sensation). At the appointed time of 7pm, I viewed a lovely table with a delicious BBQ dinner, pinot noir by the glass (not for the children) and a cake in the background. They told me it was a delicious meal; I could even smell it. It was then decided a second call at 7:45 for cake and candles – what a hoot! I was here in my room, they were singing their song, candles were blown out and cake cut. They did enjoy it. We’ll always remember it as the most unique and funniest celebration as yet and more to come.

Well 2020 has gone off to a great start... Not really, the coronavirus struck the world by storm which has given a lot of people including me the opportunity to stay home and continue our online schooling, for others it may be work and even some family bonding. Anyways, in other problems being the protests going around the world which is really I think getting out of hand, lets just hope all gets better after this. During this whole lockdown thing it has kept me and millions of other students from going to school but to do online schooling, for me it was a bit hard at the beginning, it was all the sorting and getting organised for each class at different times, it was quite hard to handle. Time went by things started to get easier, completing work on time, allowing myself to exercise and stay fit and even giving myself some revision for school, just to stay on top of my game 💪 . Besides the schooling factor, staying home has even given me the opportunity to stay home with my family, allowing my family and I to bond in some sort of way, we all get together at the end of the day discuss what we did and talk and talk. This lockdown has been a great experience in some sort of way, allowing me to try something new, a new way of doing work and communicating with my peers or other family/friends. Quarantine has given me the ups and downs and has quite really changed me.