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SHUT DOWN WEEK FIVE:
I can't actually believe how fast the time's going. Working or studying full-time for over 50 years now, this extended time at home has been a first in my adult life, and I’m taking it as a rare gift.
But I know I’m very fortunate. The world is anxious. Many have lost their lives or are doing it really tough while I have a secure salary, no debt, a long-term partner &; a nice place to live. In fact, we’d just de-cluttered the house & garden for a big party we’d planned before social gathering restrictions took effect so we don’t even have household chores to do unless we want to. As I type, the rain is falling, giving the garden a good soak for us.
I’m lucky to be able to work at home, enjoying the quiet with time spare to explore the world of online learning. Social isolation has encouraged our technology-averse tribe to engage in Facetime. We've set up online chats &; dinner parties with friends &; family - what joy it’s been for my 90-year-old Mother to see her Perth-based grand-daughter after 5 years and keep in visual communication with my disabled sister. Libby is hearing-impaired &; autistic, living in a care home in the community but unable to make a home visit since the shutdown.
Other experiences are not so uplifting – I’ll never forget the intense fear I felt when a dry cough and 38+° temp led to a CV-19 test in Week Three, nor the stressful 24 hrs that followed, waiting for the delivery of my 'negative' result. I can't describe the sense of relief when I realised how close I’d come to this truly terrifying infection.
These are the worst of times and the most extraordinary of times…
I can't actually believe how fast the time's going. Working or studying full-time for over 50 years now, this extended time at home has been a first in my adult life, and I’m taking it as a rare gift.
But I know I’m very fortunate. The world is anxious. Many have lost their lives or are doing it really tough while I have a secure salary, no debt, a long-term partner &; a nice place to live. In fact, we’d just de-cluttered the house & garden for a big party we’d planned before social gathering restrictions took effect so we don’t even have household chores to do unless we want to. As I type, the rain is falling, giving the garden a good soak for us.
I’m lucky to be able to work at home, enjoying the quiet with time spare to explore the world of online learning. Social isolation has encouraged our technology-averse tribe to engage in Facetime. We've set up online chats &; dinner parties with friends &; family - what joy it’s been for my 90-year-old Mother to see her Perth-based grand-daughter after 5 years and keep in visual communication with my disabled sister. Libby is hearing-impaired &; autistic, living in a care home in the community but unable to make a home visit since the shutdown.
Other experiences are not so uplifting – I’ll never forget the intense fear I felt when a dry cough and 38+° temp led to a CV-19 test in Week Three, nor the stressful 24 hrs that followed, waiting for the delivery of my 'negative' result. I can't describe the sense of relief when I realised how close I’d come to this truly terrifying infection.
These are the worst of times and the most extraordinary of times…