Poppies

Today is ANZAC Day and I’d usually have debated going to the dawn service in town, decided not to and gone to the local service at Petone railway station at the slightly more civilised hour of 7am. Usually there would have been versions of this story up and down the country with many thousands of people gathering to remember. Today we are in our bubbles and can’t gather so what to do?  Stand at dawn. I might have been the only one in my street (it was dark and I didn’t have my glasses on) but   at 6am I was with thousands of others as I stood on my front verandah with the door open so I could hear the short dawn service on the radio.
I’ve also collected my poppies...

Hand made by (clockwise from the top) weaving friend, my mum and a Wellington artist

And this Poppy was collected from the SPCA 5 years ago today. 

Kia maumahara tātou ki a rātou/We will remember them

Decision Day

The daily 1pm press briefing has become a small national obsession but today there is a disruption to the schedule. Today is Day 26 (I think, it’s hard to keep track). It’s also Decision Day, the day we will hear if and hopefully when we will move out of Level 4. So at 4pm it’s pretty safe to say that the whole country will tune in, hold it’s breath and cross everything we have that the rāhui has done its job. 

Day 19

It’s all a bit weird but we’re getting used to life under the rāhui/lockdown. Walks around the block, yoga online, queuing to get into the supermarket.  Even the weaving has changed. I’m not feeling like I’m in the right headspace for harakeke but I did stock up on cord before everything closed so here I am, weaving cord pākē/capes. One thing hasn’t changed though, my weaving helper is still on the case!

Going on a Bear Hunt

Well, it’s been over a week now and basically life in my bubble is going just fine. Going for a walk during the day is a lovely distraction, especially when you can go bear hunting. People up and down the country are putting bears and other friends in their windows to make staying local a bit more fun. Here are a few of the ones I’ve spotted.

In My Bubble

So NZ is on day 2 of a total lockdown but for many of us it’s day 4 or 5 working from home. The office is looking quite destitute, not just as a result of no people but also because a lot of gear has been relocated to set up home offices all around the region.

And the bubble? It’s a wonderful mechanism from our PM to describe how we are living at the moment. Only those you live with are in your bubble and you should not do anything that will pop that bubble. Close contact with outsiders? Pop. Someone else coming into your house? Pop. Simple messaging that’s working so far.

Keeping Calm

This weekend, with all sensible precautions in place, Womad went ahead despite a global pandemic raging in other parts of the world. We all realised how lucky we were, not least because the weather was stunning, food fantastic and the music amazing.

Seal of Approval

Two screens installed, two happy cats because they can see out and catch the breeze. Bonus for me as I can have windows open and cats in.