Hiya! It’s Me and Mister C…

Hi all, this week I thought it fitting to just say a BIG hi from Aussie land. Apologies for the late blog last week (a second blog will be posted shortly as a make-up); life has taken a bit of a turn (for the worse?) with our whole state of NSW going into ‘lockdown’. Due to the rapid rise in Covid cases through the centre of Sydney and surrounding communities; authorities had to enlist the next level of restrictions, to try to combat the spread of the highly contagious bug virus (like other countries too). An unfortunate necessary ‘evil’ at present; we knew our turn would be coming soon. Some of my family in the NSW LGA’s have been in ‘lockdown’ for over eight weeks now, it’s been a tough time for them all and other families in the area. We have all been hoping (and crossing our fingers) the cases would have started to slow down, but sadly the cases have rapidly spiked over the past weeks.

With all the media viewing at present regarding the increased cases, multiple fines and orders; all Mister C and Me ask is to PLEASE stay home and spend some quality time with your at home families, friends or roommates. It’s best to stay home and take some time out of our busy lives to take a (forced) break and enjoy the little things around us at present. We all know it’s a tough time at present, compounded with a cold Winter (Spring is in the air though); in order to get through to the other side of Covid, we all need to work together and support each other and do the correct thing and stay home. Mister C said to me yesterday, “Well, Mummy; it’s Spring soon and that means my birthday is coming up too. I love the Sun and the big moon and of course donuts!” My dear nan always said to me, ‘Good things do come to those who wait’…

I know there are families and people (both young and older) who are doing it tough right now; we acknowledge this and by no means do we wish to criticise or ignore their personal situation (or struggles). By writing our blog, we think it important to acknowledge these struggles and the differences in situation we are all in-big or small; but to also offer hope and encouragement to all who read our blogs. By sharing some stories, there is hope that together we can get through this next ‘lockdown’ (blues) phase of our lives. There IS always hope, even the smallest thing like a sunny peaceful day (or lots of donuts from your Granny) we enjoyed over the weekend was SUPURB!

At 5pm last Saturday, our local area went into another snap week-long ‘lockdown’, putting us in line with all of NSW for a complete ‘lockdown’. I was at work when I heard the news; funnily, I heard it from a dear resident who walked up to the nurse’s office and called out, “We are going into lockdown again!” We all looked up (in the midst of hand-over of course) and all groaned; I said, “What, no!” It was a busy enough day, but on hearing the latest news (from our resident), things just got a whole lot busier (and I have to admit a bit stressful too). With the help from our wonderful staff (and a few supportive phone calls from my manager-thank-you!), I managed to sort out some important issues before completing my shift and made my way out to the car park, in a bit of a daze.

Husband was away (of course) due to being stuck in the ACT ‘lockdown’ for nearly the whole week; we were still deciding whether or not if he should come back through the NSW border earlier or not. Either way he was going to have to comply with the ‘stay at home orders’ on his return, something I knew he was not looking forward to at all. Husband did however have a booking at the ACT Covid clinic for the following Monday (four weeks wait for the appointment mind you); who knows if he was going to be able to get back through the border, to attend this necessary appointment? Husband commented, “Well, I did the application for the exemption; I really hope it gets approved. I don’t know what I’ll do it doesn’t! I can’t sit at home for the next two weeks doing nothing!” Little does Husband know we have lots of plans to get the house renos and clean up finished, and there is also lots of home schooling to do with Mister C and end of term assessments for the girls…

After my shift on Saturday, I sat in the car for a few minutes deciding what was more important, toilet paper (of which we only a couple of rolls left) or a last minute needed birthday gift, cake and items for a little ‘home party’ on Sunday? Our Widy was due to turn the BIG seventeen on Monday; she had been a bit down in the dumps after not being able to travel to ACT (via train), to see her other family for the weekend to celebrate her birthday there. After chatting with Widy about our changed plans, we decided to go out for a nice tea together at our happy local club (Husband was still stuck in ACT). On hearing the latest ‘lockdown’ news, unfortunately (of course) our plans had to change further. I rang Husband and vented a little, then came up with a bit of a plan to get through the weekend, until he could come home the following Tuesday afternoon. I then rang Widy and said I was going to be home a bit later, as I had to tackle the shops to get some items for her and our ‘home party’. Widy was understanding (as best she could) about the latest changing situation. Of course, she was down and said, “Why do I have to have my birthday in the middle of another ‘lockdown?” I listened to her and let her vent for a few minutes; I then cheered her up a bit and ran to the shops to quickly purchase some goodies (only having about forty-five mins by then until the shops were closing up!).

Phew! I never knew how fast I could run around in that amount of time, to get a nice caramel mud cake, little cheese cakes (Widy’s favourite) and a few other sugary treats (how could I resist). I then ran into ‘K-Mart’ to grab some essential home party items and lollies, then saw the sushi roll shop was nearly closing and bought thirty-five dollars’ worth of rolls (for dinner and lunch the next day?). I then managed to run into the chemist fifteen minutes before they closed, to choose a surprise bottle of perfume for Widy (plus one medication that had run out). Finally, I walked past ‘Coles’ (supermarket) only to be shooed away by a grumpy security guard who called out, “Do not come into the store, it will be at least a two hour wait to get through!” I expect of course that hundreds of shoppers were grabbing up every toilet roll they could get their hands on!… Anyway, I gingerly kept on walking, pleased I had at least picked up some good items for the weekend and for Widy; who knows about the toilet paper- will worry about that one next week…

No stories from 2019 this week, too much home schooling, reno work completion with painting and seventeenth birthday celebrations while in ‘lockdown’! (Apologies- I know we all wanted to see the end of 2019!) …

Instead, here’s another Flossy Funny…

Flossy and I made up a care package for my dear sister and her family to send up to Sydney, while they were enduring further weeks in ‘lockdowns’. Flossy wanted to let her cousins know we were thinking about them, while I also wanted to remind my sister of our love and care too. We both wrote a nice card each and packed it together with some treats and a copy of my third book for them to all read. We stopped off at the local Post office during the last week before ‘lockdown’ commenced (glad we did send it in time), I selected the right post bag to put everything in and then wrote on the bag with both of our addresses on it (my sister and ours), in order to send it correctly. I showed Flossy how to do it all; we stood in line and were then served at the counter; I paid for the transaction and left the package there once it had been weighed. Flossy turned to me and then said, “Mum, you need to take the parcel- you did pay for it, didn’t you?” I laughed, then she realised what she had said and put her hand over her face. “No, sweetheart, we have to leave the parcel here, so it can be sent!” Both laughed heartily as we walked out of the shop back to the car…

A Word from Mister C…

Watching the latest Covid news on TV, I sighed and called out, “No school for you kiddies next week!” … “What, Mum?” Flossy called out, as she came out of her bedroom. “We’re going into lockdown again!” I sighed, then said, “There’s no school for you all!” Mister C came running upstairs, “What, Mummy? No school!” … “Yes, my son. No school for you next week; you’ll have to do home school instead!” … “Oh, no Mummy!” Mister C cried. “Home school sucks! You made me do MORE school work at home, than I would have done at school last time. No home school for me!” Mister C ran off back downstairs, muttering, “No, No, No!” …🤨

Stay tuned…

For the remainder of 2019 stories and anecdotes. Apologies for the late blog this week, life does have a way of getting in the way, particularly with our current lockdown situation and three children doing home schooling… As a way of saying a big thank-you for your patience with us, I shall be posting two blogs this week instead of just one (nice huh?). Stay safe and check on your loved ones via phone (or ‘Zoom’ or ‘Snapchat’ or other apps that may take your fancy) too. Hugs Mister C…💗