It has finally hit home the terrible change that has been inflicted upon us. How long is it since the local shopping mall was visited, when did you last have a professional haircut? When did you last try on a new pair of slacks or a pretty top? Did you cancel your last dental appointment or you skin cancer check?
All the things that were normally part of your routine have been altered. On line purchases are the order of the day , we are expert at that type of buying now.
I know things have been eased off and restrictions have been lifted but I have spoken to people in the older age bracket and some have said they don't think they will ever go to the big shopping malls again. The lockdown and restrictive life has made them feel unsure , taken their confidence away. They feel depressed and unhappy. What a disaster that so many feel this way.
From my own point of view I have a son who likes to come and spend the Winter in Queensland in his caravan .
He trips around the lovely beaches and does Whale watching trips and in between He He visits with me . I have a list of jobs , wash down the fans, clean the filters in the air conditioners. He gives the car the valet treatment
all the jobs that require a ladder and as an older person I feel I shouldn't do anymore. In return he gets spoilt, fancy morning teas, homemade puddings after dinner , plenty of ice-cream in the freezer to go with the stewed fruit that was organized during the summer and is frozen in the freezer awaiting his Winter visit. I am still waiting. The ice cream is still there , the stewed apricots, mango, plums and apple are still waiting .
As the year rolls on , you are finally aware that so many things have changed in your life and all of them have been negative, I must admit I am told it has been for your own good. But I wonder was it worth it. If you live a healthy life and have no outstanding health issues would it not have been better to take your chances and not have all these people worried about money, mortgages and jobs. Surely an immunity would have developed.
Even the everyday business of the Mobile Library was terminated and now finally if you order your reading material it is delivered in a Van , you pick up your ordered books and place the returned books in a box at the back of the Van. Thank you .. I appreciate it, but that is another thing that has changed , will it be a permanent fixture? How are you to find new authors and be tempted to try someone different when you can't see the book on the shelf?
Last but not least the increase in price of the groceries, have you noticed it is a much higher bill than you used to pay each time you visit the local shop. Meat has jumped in price, fruit and vegetables the same .. Why?
The vegs and meat are not imported , is it the shop making the profit or is it transport costs have gone up ?
I and many others like me look forward to certain times of the year, when our family and friends are free to visit , but so far not this year, when are the borders going to open , when will free travel between New Zealand and Australia be allowed? I feel there should be a stop to all refugee intake until things have been sorted out to the satisfaction of the entire population. The tourist industry is suffering, Southeners and Kiwis coming to enjoy the warm winter sun in Queensland , the Australians enjoying the skiing in the Resorts in New Zealand . We are all clean living , we were all taught to wash our hands , take showers , wear clean clothing and certainly not to cough or sneeze over people if we have a cold or the flu' .
Please can we get back to some sense of normality , before we turn into shadows of our former selves , while there is still some hope of recovery.
