Rick, Nicky and Claire in NZ

At least 24 more days of lockdown to go. It has been a week like no other, shared I know by all of you here in Aotearoa, and probably in some similar form by all of you elsewhere in the world. We began the week at alert level 2 (of 4) and are finishing the week with our first weekend under alert level 4, and the announcement today of the first death from Covid-19 here in NZ. Level 4 means everyone stays home in their bubble (see below), or very close to home but doesn’t interact with those outside your bubble, and all business except for essential services are closed. I had work booked for Monday and Tuesday preparing customers to work from home, as events were being canceled, the over 70’s being advised to stay home, and panic buyers were trying to clear the supermarket shelves. While in the office where I was working, we watched the PM’s lunchtime press conference: we are moving to level 3 now, and level 4 at 11.59pm on Wednesday. Stay home. Save lives. The phone system thought ...

It has been quite a week hasn’t it? Everywhere. As the week has progressed so has the feeling of “what’s going to happen today?’, and then yesterday the lovely Jacinda (our Prime Minister for those who don’t have their fingers on the pulse of international politics) addressed the nation, the first time a PM has done that since I don’t know when (yes, I have tried Googling it but couldn’t be bothered to go past the first page of results which didn’t tell me what I wanted to know). So, it would appear that the only place that we can, and are, congregating in large numbers, is the supermarket. The place is FULL OF IDIOTS, buying large amounts of stuff they don’t really need. It is worse than Christmas, and to rub salt into the wound, NOTHING has appeared in the stocking hanging at the end of my bed. ARGHHH!!!! The changes and restrictions on activities are not making much difference to me, as I only have a couple of “social engagements” a month which might be affected. Nicky, on ...

It’s been nice for September. This is the time of year when I feel I am more likely than other times to recall the weather during the equivalent month in England. Summer is gradually moving into autumn with cooler mornings and evenings, but still some very warm sunshine during the middle of the day. We have had a little rain this week too, but the weekend has been lovely (which is not what was forecast on Thursday), and we had breakfast on The Rattigan this morning - porridge for me and WeetBix for Nicky. Nicky’s week has been back to her usual routine, and this week included the regular ukulele concert in town. In addition, she did a listening course, delivered by the world famous Jancis Barlow, which even though she has done it before, was still very good. Prior to the course she cooked up a dozen peach and WeetBix muffins which were enjoyed by all, including me. My working week has been quite busy, but also frustrating at times with a couple of jobs being inconclusive. I ha...

The first week of autumn has been pretty quiet on the weather front (bit of rain but still mainly warm and sunny), but generally positive on other fronts. Nicky hosted a meeting for the Maranatha members to discuss their future for their prison outreach work. This was quite an emotional affair as more stories of the leader’s duplicitous actions came to light. However, there does appear to light at the end of the tunnel, and it was agreed that the leader should be stood down. With the meeting being early afternoon Nicky provided a selection of sandwiches, only to find that most of the ladies were fasting for Lent. We had sandwiches for tea. And for lunch the following day. And the day after that. Fortunately they were very good sandwiches, so it didn’t really feel like hardship. On Thursday, Nicky, with the support of a member of the Salvation Army, formally informed the Maranatha leader that it had been decided that she would be stood down. We had a reassuring visit to the GP ...

Our last week of summer (it officially ended yesterday) has again been largely glorious, hot, sunny and dry. Autumn started off quite sunny this morning too, but has clouded over this afternoon. Nicky’s week has been dominated by her cellulitis. She started off quite low but has improved as the week has progressed, but has now started having periods of nausea too. She had a bad spell at church this morning where for a short period her legs would no longer support her, so it will be off to the GP again tomorrow. However, she has managed to do some positive things too. Monday was the 25th birthday of the Blockhouse Bay Library, and a very well attended morning tea turned out to be very good. It was lunchtime before Nicky got home. She went to the cinema with Stella to see Emma, which they both thoroughly enjoyed and would like to see again. One of her fellow prison volunteers came over to discuss the current situation and some progress is being made. Holy Communion, Ash Wednesda...