Well it looks like The rest of New Zealand will finally get its wish - Auckland being separated from the rest of the country. Hurray! No more Jaffas! What am I on about? Read on.
You see for the last seven weeks or so (I’ve actually lost track of time a little bit so I can’t be 100% certain) Auckland has been in lockdown due to a pesky Delta variant outbreak. And boy does New Zealand do lockdowns properly. None of this shopping for shoes, clothes or expensive Hi-Fi malarkey. That’s simply not on. I know because I’ve tried. Well apart from the shoes and clothes aspect anyway.
Thankfully, largely in part because Auckland did our bit, restrictions were eased in the rest of the country a few weeks ago. So now, whilst the rest of Aotearoa goes about their normal lives, albeit masked up in public, we’re stuck inside. Mostly. Which means that because a large proportion of New Zealand’s population lives in Auckland, 1/3 of the country is in lockdown whilst the rest aren’t.
To head off any accusations of Jaffa-bias, I will clarify that we’re not actually totally locked-down. A total lockdown would be Level 4 whilst we are currently at Level 3. Ah so what does that mean? Well essentially it's the same as a total lockdown except with take-out. And believe me, that's a big thing in New Zealand - not necessarily for the take-out food but definitely for the morning coffee.
Popping out for a morning coffee is a bit of a kiwi institution - probably like the rest of the world but it's been a while since I've seen it! A barista made flat-white is just the treat to get kiwis through the harshest of times. Or a long black. I personally don't bother. You see my treat is to sit in my pyjamas (or loungewear as I've started to call it on account of the fact that I'm wearing almost all the time these days), and watch the sun rise from the comfort of the sitting room with a home brewed coffee in hand. Well mug obviously, but you know what I mean.
The thought of having to get dressed, walk up the street and queue to get my morning cuppa sort of puts me off. It's not that the coffee wouldn't be nice, it's just that it's a lot less bother to put the kettle on. I suppose I could just wander up in my lounge wear - I'm sure no-one would bat an eyelid - but that's a slippery slope. Where would it end? Supermarket shopping? The pub? Work? No best not try it and stick to the kettle and the kitchen.
I could invest in one of those fancy coffee machines with the pods but in all honesty I like the way my plunger coffee tastes. Fairly strong and not bitter in the slightest. No queuing and just a little patience is all that is required.
So as far as our household goes, Level 3 and Level 4 are interchangeable. Just like pyjamas and loungewear.
What is surprising is how the rest of the country seems to have forgotten that the largest city is still under strict Covid-19 control measures. Forgotten or just don't care? Until recently I've been assuming it was the former but, hhhmmm, now I'm beginning to wonder.
Just the other day I was on a video call with a colleague from Wellington and once he noted "Ah, so you're working from home today then?".
"Yes, just like every day for the past seven weeks! And probably for another seven weeks!" came the response. I just about managed to hide my irritation.
Then, on Friday as I was finishing up my last call of the week, another colleague said "Thanks for your help with that - especially this late on a Friday - now get yourself home."
"Errr I am home....remember!"
"Oh yeah. Well in that case leave the room you're in......"
Honestly, some people.
It is strange to think that outside the Auckland border, New Zealand has returned to normal. Sort of a free world but without Aucklanders. I'm sure that they miss us. Or if they don't then they will. With time. In a bit. Okay maybe not Aucklanders per se but certainly our money!
But it's okay. We've got this. Although case numbers seem to be bobbing around the mid-teens they're not getting any higher and vaccines are rolling out so it's just a waiting game. Waiting I can do. But if you don't mind, I'll just pop the kettle on.......
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STOP PRESS
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Just as I was about to hit publish it's been announced that two cases have been detected outside the Auckland border. And one of them in Raglan - not good news.
Bottoms up Graeme
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