I got on my bicycle today and rode along the river. There was red and white tape to keep people off the grass along the edges of the water near the train station but a few people had crossed over it. Some adolescents sitting shoulder to shoulder. Probably

I got on my bicycle today and rode along the river. There was red and white tape to keep people off the grass along the edges of the water near the train station but a few people had crossed over it. Some adolescents sitting shoulder to shoulder. Probably smoking pot. I didn't look.

Further up the river there were people lying in swimming costumes in the long grass. I had not been out on my bike for about five weeks, partly because of all the pollen and my hayfever, and partly because it gets stressful having joggers and cyclists panting and puffing &; you don't know what the particles in the slip-stream are doing and if something will land on yr lips or in yr eye.

Last time I went out I had leather ski gloves on and a balaclava and warm jackets, and now I'm in a T-shirt and shorts. They never said we could not go out and exercise here, or walk. I did plenty of walking. But even that got stressful sometimes in popular forests of a weekend.

I missed my trip home to Sydney this spring, and am rescheduled to fly end of November, stay for Xmas. Could even re-book my hotels in Singapore stop-over, no extra cost. But who knows if the planes will be flying or if Singapore Airport will be open. I just have to make sure I stay alive.

I want to see the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge again across the glittering coloured water as the ferry leaves Circular Quay. It's not a question of five bells, it's a question of coming to life again.