Diary Entries

Don’t kiss the kids, don’t smooch the spouse, Wipe all the doorknobs, disinfect the house. Hold your social distance and monitor your space, Don’t stand too close or you’ll cop a virus in the face! Avoid shaking hands when you arrive at the meeting, Do tapping elbows cos it’s the new proper greeting. And when you’re out shopping, here’s some free advice: ‘Go gently down the aisles, don’t hoard, be nice!’ ‘Cos there are some people struggling, Worrying how they’ll cope. So be a decent Aussie, And offer them some hope. March 25 [singalong with kids] If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands! Clap clap! If you’re happy and you know it, wash your hands! Clap clap! If you’re happy and you know it, then you really oughta show it, And we’ll all be safer right across the lands! Clap clap! If your nose you gotta blow it, use a tissue! Clap clap! If your nose you gotta blow it, use a tissue! Clap clap! If your nose you gotta blow it, use a tissue then you throw it, And we’ll all be safer right across the lands! Clap clap!

I wrote a cheesy song, about feeling completely muddled and unmotivated at home but also the comfortability of being in your own space. The danger of the comfort zone I suppose. I set an alarm almost every morning, I lay in bed I just ignore it don't even hit snooze, I just get used to the sound I feel ashamed when the daylight it fades because what I have I achieved except watching TV 19, shouldn't I be getting drunk in a pub but i'ld rather be at home and isn't that sad? Sometimes I feel homesick in my home Sometimes I feel like i'm not my own What am I here for and should I care, don't think I do but I want to I want to. Is breakfast still breakfast, if you have it at 3? Is dinner still dinner if you have toast for tea? I'm careless with the hours reckless with the days, I sit and watch as they fade away 19 shouldn't I be in a club getting drunk but i'ld rather be at home and isn't that sad? Sometimes I feel homesick in my home Sometimes I feel like i'm not my own What am I here for and should I care? Don't think I do but I want to I want to.

Ruby Princess (to tune/pace/piano of Ruby Tuesday by the Rolling Stones) There’s no doubt at all, where you came from Stowed away on board, among the throng. Stole a ride on every breath, Seems many missed the smell of death, Found out too late It’s such a fate. So Goodbye Ruby Princess! We’re gonna hang our shame on you. Ain’t no blame sittin’ on our shoulders, So we’re gonna diss you. Two thousand walked the plank, at Circular Quay Who let them all ashore? It wasn’t me. We thought we held all the aces, Now we’re just countin’ cases. At such a cost Twenty-one lives lost. Hey Goodbye Ruby Princess! We’re gonna hang our shame on you. Ain’t no blame sittin’ on our shoulders, So we’re gonna diss you. Covid left the ship, went far and wide, This saga’s dented our swollen, national pride. Cos our system was the best, Now every crew member needs a test. Forget the raves Reputations line the graves. Yeah Goodbye Ruby Princess! We’re so glad to see the back of you. When you sail into the sunset, You bet we’re gonna diss you. So long Ruby Princess! Your visit’s been so disappointing And when we’re done with finger-pointing You bet we’re gonna diss you [Alec O’Halloran. Is this the best song ever to come out in these Corona times??]

I never thought that i would be part of a pandemic. I've asked myself what I would do if a deadly virus took over the world, but I always told myself that it would never happen. I remember when I first heard about the virus. Four months ago I was sitting in our lounge room watching the news, because they had something about animals on, and just as I was about to change the channel, I heard something that I will never forget. The lady that was reporting had said that a deadly virus was in China. I was terrified, but I didn't realize that most of the world would have to self isolate. About a month or two after that, social distancing became a thing, and a month or two after that, kids were only allowed to go to school if their parents were medical workers, delivery drivers, grocery store workers, policemen/woman, firemen/woman, or something like that. To be honest, I don't really miss school, but I really miss my friends. I can text and call them, but its not the same. A good thing about staying at home is that I can stay in my pj's half the day!! I can also spend a lot of my time with my amazing pets!! I can do my school work online while hugging or petting them!! I love my teachers, because even though we are living in the middle of a pandemic, they can still teach us many things online. The world is suffering right now, but we will get through this together...

Corona Virus I know it's very dangerous and can spread viruses all over the world, and loads of people get sick from it, because it jumps onto each person's hands. Because of this Corona Virus, people need to wash their hands a lot. If you don't, you'll get very very sick - too sick to go anywhere. If you get even sicker, you might even go to hospital. If they can't help you, you'll go to the Emergency Hospital. Because of this Corona Virus, loads of things are shut - like the library, the charity store, the playground, and cafes. When the Corona Virus goes away will you feel happy or angry or confused or cross or sad?

i don"t like covid-19!!!!! no one does. maybe some children because they don't get to go to school, but i miss school. because my friends are there, and so are my teachers. Some good things are: i get to play with my six guinea pigs, 🐹, they are sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute!! i also get to play with my 4 chickens and 2 rabbits. i get to write to my friends, and see them in their windows, when i drop off their letters, and they don't see me!! Also a big thank you to my teacher Mrs D for being so organised with all 🏫school work! i also get to hold my sisters birds🦜🦜!! i can not wait to go back to school😊😊😊😁😁😁😋😎😎!!!

I was due to travel to Bali and Phuket in March 2020 with my family. By February, before the virus was first reported in Australia we were still ready to go and thought we would be safe. I kept my eye on Worldometer with no reporting of the virus at our destinations but the again how true was this report?? Then all the flights were cancelled and we started working from HOME – the new NORMAL.

To my beautiful girl... Today I will pick you up from rehab...and I am scared, terrified in fact, of what the future will bring. The drugs have stolen your joy, and so they have stolen mine. The pain inside is suffocating..,because I can’t fix you this time, you need to want to fix yourself. I can’t keep you safe, all I can do is love you. And I do. Be courageous, be brave...you are so loved, let this love envelope you, let it carry you and protect you... When you feel weak, I will love you even more, hold my hand and we will be brave together. Love you always and forever Mum x

I love film and see many and two never left my mind. The first Outbreak (1995) based on a non-fiction book The HotZone by Richard Preston. The second Contagion (2011) a chilling resemblance to what was to come in 2020. I had nightmares for weeks after both films and pondered could that happen, knowing fully it could and might, but selfishly NOT in my lifetime. Without surprise I recall the first news flash about COVID-19 and positively thought it will be contained like bird flu, or mad cow disease, and it's on the other side of the globe, so I'm safe! The second news flash sent a wave of fear over my body. I felt I was in the movies. It's not contained and is spreading exponentially. Hedging my bets, with all manner of PPEs and my will updated I took a last minute bucket list cruise on the QE2 to Tasmania which was wonderful. Returning safely to Sydney, virus free, but straight into self-isolation on Sunday 15th March and there I remained. Like many, I gardened and cleaned cupboards. I experimented with unknown recipes and used technology to connect with all whom I hold lovingly in my heart. The birds still fly and sing, whales swim in the ocean and wildlife return to their natural  habitats. Meteorites fall to earth in rainbow colours and toxic omissions are the lowest they have been for decades. Petrol prices are below the dollar for a litre! My feelings now shift to vulnerability and sadness and overwhelming  distrust and disgust. Who would have said I might have more faith in Hollywood than the institutions of society. The 7 deadly sins come to mind. Have greed, wrath and sloth overtaken my twilight years? Who holds the cards? See you at the movies.

I went to the hairdressers on Saturday. After weeks of being with just my husband and daughter and the endless assortment of faces on my laptop screen, it was somewhat strange and over-stimulating to be not just out of the house, but out of the house doing something "normal" surrounded by other humans again. I spent the first 10-15 minutes excitedly talking "at" my stylist, who, judging by her patient but not entirely engaged responses, must be getting people like me in all day every day. In the "before times", I dreaded the inevitable "So, are you going out tonight?" line of questioning, and always had to feign interest in talking about celebrities and reality television. This time however I surprised even myself with my desperate need to talk about nothing and everything to someone, anyone. Of course some things never change, and I still left the appointment with a cut I didn't particularly like, despite gushing "Oh I love it!" as she showed me the back of my head.