NEW YEAR - AND A NEW WAVE

 

Lunch in the fresh air at our local Garden Centre was our personal New Year's celebration...

On my plate, a pretty pink snapdragon flower.

A few metres from the tables, there is an edible garden to supply the cafe..

Herbs and lots of outdoor art pieces to tempt us...

Three weeks ago, our State of Queensland was experiencing many Covid-free days...but those days are now gone.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have wondered if our mild climate kept Covid19 at bay - but it seems that it was our State's method of closing borders and strict quarantine that was keeping us safe.  We have had lockdowns whenever there was a flare up, sometimes only for a few days. Until this week there have only been about six deaths since the pandemic began.  And we wear our masks.

It had been planned to open the borders when we reached 80% vaccination, and with a push, this happened the week before Christmas.  Despite the arrival of Omicron in our country, this plan went ahead and hundreds of thousands of returning residents, tourists and visitors, have come into our beautiful State, no longer required to Quarantine.

The virus has now enveloped our State and city.  Case numbers have risen to over 10,000 per day over the past two days.  The testing centres have become overwhelmed and most have shut down;  The Government admits the actual numbers are much higher, but testing has become impossible for ill people. Those who must test wait for many hours at the few remaining places. Many are turned away. The RAT self-administered tests have sold out, and only small amounts are expected to come - some time.

We are being told there will be thousands upon thousands of cases in the next few weeks, and that we are all probably going to get the virus.  The previous mantra of looking after the elderly has vanished - it seems to be up to us to make our own choices.

The hospital systems are already in trouble - so many staff are absent with Covid, and medical professionals are at breaking point.  We are now told if we develop symptoms, to stay home and rest, do not go seeking a test or go searching for a doctor.  We are now looking at food shortages, with deliveries to major supermarkets compromised by lack of staff, so many are at home ill. 

Strangely, we are not in lockdown.

It seems that lockdown has gone out of favour as a strategy.

Our Premier has asked people to stay home unless they really need to go out, but that is all.   We are doing what so many of you have done for a very long time - stay home, go out carefully for necessities, and otherwise occupy ourselves as creatively as possible at home.  We are both double vaxed, and have appointments for our Booster but know that many vaccinated people still catch Omicron.

We are very grateful for our Red Cardinal nest, high on a hill with plenty of breeze, and a large garden to enjoy.  At the moment we have made our own rules, seeing only family members and avoiding crowds.

We had one final little celebration of our 50th Anniversary, meeting with my two sisters who were bridesmaids at our wedding.  

Now the pretty cards have been tied with a ribbon and gone into a memory box.

Where have all those years gone?

We are also enjoying time with our one-year-old twin grandsons, and to our delight they are getting to know and trust us.  What fun times we have together!

I have reorganized the house after taking down the Christmas decorations, putting precious pieces up high or away for a year or two, and amusing myself putting interesting things down low where they can find them. 

Have a good, and safe, week.

XXXXX