Thursday, March 26, 2020

WILL THIS BE KNOWN AS THE CORONA HOLIDAY?


Hello Dear Readers,

What a strange fortnight it has been, as we have been enjoying the company of our daughter and two grandsons on their Australian holiday....

weirdly accompanied by the arrival and rise of Covid19 in Australia.


We took them to the Gold Coast for a few days, and the boys loved swimming at the beach at the ocean instead of a lake, Canadian-style..




They loved being on the 15th floor..


and  climbing tropical breadfruit trees...


Back in Brisbane, we made good use of a local wildlife reserve..



See the little joey in her pouch..




They loved the lorikeets at our house, and even better at the zoo where they are accustomed to being fed by humans holding a feeding tray..



There was a visit to their cousin, Little Aussie, who lives in the bush:


Small boys love a waterhole..





Like all little Australians, the Koala Photo!

Here's another peek at mine:


The koala was hurting me with its claws!


And now they are safe home in Ottawa, commencing 14 days of isolation.

Air Canada excelled themselves, with a rapid transit through Vancouver.
There was no warm food or drink on the 14 hour flight from Brisbane, but plenty of pre-packaged muffins, yoghurt, sandwiches etc.
They were home only 21 hours after leaving Brisbane, the quickest trip any of us has done in 20 years of going to and fro.


And now, as I set the house to rights again, we really are in Self Isolation at the Red Cardinal nest.

Others seem so organised, doing their social media, finished their cupboards, working on crafts and sewing.

I am very tired.  The strain of keeping two lively little boys and our dear daughter safe and well caught up in the end.  We went through nearly all our disinfectants and wipes, and cannot buy more.
The essential items are never there when we try to shop.

Like everyone else, we will try to keep our spirits up, and tomorrow it is time to plan some happy activities here at home.

What are you doing?  Please share, I'd love to know.  
Meanwhile, my painting easel beckons...

Please take care, stay home, and be safe.

XXXXX










30 comments:

  1. So happy to read this as I start my morning. As long as our families are safe and well I think we can make do with missing grocery items. Stay safe my friend.

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    1. Hello Darla, we certainly intend to do our best with safety. The alternative is certainly not at all appealing! Much concern at Government level. Let's enjoy our homes right now.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos and vacation! The koala photos are so precious! I didn't know taking a photo with them is a tradition. I think that would make people want to visit Australia. The lorikeet picture is adorable!

    I hope you are able to buy more wipes soon.

    Finished shopping for a while, things here in Vermont USA, for me, aren't much different as I stay home quite a lot already. The light traffic and not seeing many people out and about is weird though.

    Stay Safe!

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    1. Hi there Salty Pumpkin, I love that you live in Vermont - really not so far from our daughter in Ontario :)
      Tourists love to line up for a picture with a koala, but with the new distancing regulations, that might have stopped this week. Not sure. I notice the light traffic too, and our neighbourhood is much quieter in general yet everyone is at home!

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  3. Lovely pictures of the grandchildren! Great to see the koalas and kangaroos! Fabulous fun and adventures for them ( and you too!)
    We are cocooning at home (week 4 for me) trying to stay safe. Baking bread, reading, knitting, gardening, cooking and going out for a walk in the fresh air but keeping my distance from other people.
    Stay safe Patricia

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    1. We were so lucky that that small zoo is so close to us, and we could manage the hand washing etc. They love the fauna of Australia, and enjoyed it all immensely. Reading, sewing and gardening will be on my list too, and the walking is essential. People are kindly keeping their distance on the path. Be safe too.

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  4. Oh Patricia...love that pic pf you and the Koala...
    I think your grandson resembles you 💙
    Trying to stay busy cooking...crocheting...laundry...same old!!!
    Truly miss my kids and grandkids...but are told "NO WAY" by our government...it is the only way to stop this deadly virus 😕
    School cancelled for this term...sad situation...
    Stay safe my dear...we are!!!😘

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    1. Hi Linda, how sweet that M resembles me - nobody has said that: made my morning :) Still doing laundry and cleaning after the visitors, but the weekend will be our first test. I bet you miss the kids so much, as we do also. We really can't see family right now. Our schools are going online next week, after much public protest when the Govt tried to keep them open. Glad you are safe!!

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  5. Working very hard....we are trying to set up telehealth as well. J is very high risk (age, diabetes, immune suppressed) but will be on frontline. I have worked hard to get everything organised. We started months ago - J predicted this virus had pandemic potential.

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    1. Hi Sarah Liz, Your J is very smart in his prediction - well done you for going on to telehealth. That is the way to go right now. No way will I go to the doctor's rooms in the near future. I am high risk too, so being extra careful. Be safe, and I hope you get some down time to sew along the way :)

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  6. I can understand that you are tired after having the family with you, as I am tired after a day of grandchildren! You deserve a good rest and should take it. We are keeping ourselves away from people except for food shopping and medical visits of which I have had a few but now won't need any for a few months. My Rheumatologist has said she will give consults by phone or Skype if necessary. I am making sure I sit outside in the sun foorr at least half an hour and read and have also been doing some baking and trying new recipes for dinner meals. By the time I wipe everything down with disinfectant and keep up with the laundry, it is lunch time then I try and do some painting (watercolour), might get the knitting out when it gets cooler. Then there is always weeding and cutting back in the garden. I hope you manage to keep happy while isolated. Blogging is a good start. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. Hi Rosie, I have had quite a day of rest today - only did a bit of washing and vacuuming! My doctor is doing phone consultations as required - very reassuring. I too am wiping everything down - quite a maniac I am. My first social decision is to blog much more, as I think others are doing. Today I found some new dressmaking patterns I forgot I ordered in all the confusion of the past month - nowhere to go in a new outfit, but no harm in making something new :)

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  7. I am delighted Patricia that the Canadian families trip turned out to be such a success even though the world was turned upside down during their visit. Good to know that they have arrived home safely - this will be an historical moment for them to share, may be one that they will share with their own families one day in the future.
    Love the two koala photos.

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    1. The timing just worked out and we loved having them here. They got home just in time before further restrictions. I think the boys will remember ‘corona’ - even that we did not hug them until the end. Too risky, little boys touch everything!

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  8. Yes we have toilet paper, having stocked up a bit for the visit. Our shops are quite bare so supply might be a problem. The boys are so much fun, and their accents and conversation so entertaining!

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  9. I'm glad you had a lovely visit and that they made it home safely. Canada is working hard to contain things. Our stores are also out of wipes and sanitizer, but seem to have decent supplies of everything else. I venture out as little as possible and only early in the morning when it's quiet in the grocery store. I hope you have some time to catch your breath. I've been organizing, cooking, baking and trying to make things as normal as possible for my two kids. Take care. Xx

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    1. It seems we are all in the same situation - comrades in isolation... Life is busy with kids, isn't it? We did a lot of baking during the visit, but now it is time for us to work it off. I am calling for Home Gym to start Monday :) Take take Jen. xx

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  10. What lovely photos! Those boys look so sweet! Stay well and I am glad your easel is beckoning you, paint us something beautiful. xx

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    1. They are the sweetest little boys, Kay. So sad to see them leave. We have moved into some sort of serene isolation here. I hope all is well where you are, take care and be well too. xx

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  11. Good to know you managed to have a good visit with your daughter and grandchildren given the pandemic. One makes flight reservations months in advanced and who could have predicted we'd not only go into Daylight Savings Time but into the Twilight Zone!

    In the evenings I feel tired in spite of spending so much time at home in isolation. Staying home and only home can be exhausting! It's a big production going out for groceries. Making sure I wear gloves, staying 6 feet (or as best I can) apart from other people to get there and while shopping. Washing my hands every time I return home. Buying food if it's there, since it won't be if I wait a day. And fortunately exchanging smiles with fellow New Yorkers in solidarity, which helps!

    Like many people, I'm cooking and baking at home, organizing, cleaning and watching quite a bit news. Reading newspapers and books and watching history videos on YouTube. I also find I'm a tad absent minded. I go to the supermarket for things and return home realizing I forgot to look for them. Seeing empty shelves and having to monitor crowds to keep apart throws me off! Usually I find going to the supermarket a lovely experience. The workers there are friendly and working hard now to keep the shelves stocked best they can while being uncertain of what will come in to stock.

    Stay well, Trish!

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    1. Twilight Zone indeed, Debra! I was interested to read that you are tired also, while staying at home which should be restful. We are a bit the same; I think I have underlying anxiety making me tired. Buying food is fraught indeed - if it is there. Then I wash everything when I get home, wondering if I catch any virus lurking thereabouts. Is it time to stop watching so much news, I wonder? It can be terrifying to see, and I think of you when NY comes on, which it does. We have discussed getting Netflix for the duration, just to have something different to watch when we can't go out. Stay well, and hope you can avoid the crowds!

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    2. We have similar thoughts and experiences. The pandemic reminds me so much of Albert Camus' novel "The Plague," which I read in high school. Stay well!

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  12. Definitely all feels surreal doesn't it. Your family visit looked and sounded fun for your Grandies. Wishing you and your family continued good health xx

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    1. It was such fun, Michelle. And we came down with a thud once they left :) Doing our best on the health front, and planning an isolated picnic today. Good health to you and yours. xx

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  13. So happy to see the boys having such a fun time on their visit - and glad to know your daughter and boys had safe trip home and made good time.
    Patricia I know how it feels when families live on different continents, having lived that same way since 1962. My mother missed a lot of her grandchildrens' growing up, and I missed a lot of her help, especially when they were little.

    Rest up now - probably going to be easy as we can't go far now can we!
    Stay well and safe - Mary

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    1. Thank you Mary. You would know, then, the loss of connection which we often feel. Thank goodness for Facetime, although infrequent due to time differences. Ha, so true, we can't go far now! I am hoping the period of isolation might lead to better health in the end with less rushing about. Be safe. x

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  14. I'm so happy you were able to have your guests, dearest Trish, and that they got home safely. But so sorry for how tired out you are now. I pray that you're able to get your hands on some of those materials. If you have bleach you can make a diluted version as a good spray and disinfecting cleaner. I loved seeing the fun parts of the visit and I'm sure it was wonderful getting time with the sweet boys. Your grandson looks so much like you in that picture! 😉 Sending biggest hugs and prayers to stay well! Have a great weekend. 🙏 ❤️

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    1. Hi Carrie, good thinking re the bleach - I have some of that. Love our grandsons: M would be amused that he looks like me, he he. Hugs and prayers. xx

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  15. climbing trees is one of the best things that a child can experience. The fun and thrill of it remains a lifetime.

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