Tag: lockdown

And so to autumn

Posted on May 12, 2020 by - Blog

So here we are, almost halfway through what is certainly proving to be a strange and challenging year. The pandemic lockdown continues, but chinks in the Covid curtain are appearing with most state governments announcing there will soon be an easing of restrictions, albeit very small ones to begin with. However none of them are fast enough for #ScottyFromMarketing – aka Prime Minister Scott Morrison – whose focus has taken a sharp turn lately about concern for the health and welfare of people, to concern about the economy. Mr M wants everyone back at work, at school, and out shopping for goods other than loo rolls so the country can ‘snap back’ to normal, the balance sheet doesn’t look quite so lopsided, and our freefall towards recession can possibly be avoided. Clearly a terrifying prospect for Mr M and a government which sees the world in terms of dollars and cents, and likes to spruik its credentials as better managers of the country’s economy – regardless of the cost in human, environmental and social capital. But a ‘snap back’ is highly unlikely according to several economic commentators who have universally described this analogy as completely unrealistic.

And arguably unwanted. It seems a hefty chunk of the population isn’t anxious to return to ‘normal’. While the lockdown has been immensely and undeniably difficult for many, many people, for others it’s actually been rather cathartic, and unexpectedly enjoyable, so a return to ‘normal’ is not something they either welcome or relish. Quite the opposite. People are appreciating a more relaxed pace of life, time to smell the roses – literally – spend quality time with partners and children, rediscover their creative sides, and enjoy the natural world and the changing seasons. This is proving far more appealing than a lifestyle lived at a frenetic pace that barely allowed time to stop moving, breathe, and enjoy simply being. The health benefits that are flowing from this slower, more reflective pace of life are also proving significant. Not just for us, but for the planet.

It was only a matter of weeks (or so it seemed) before social media was full of photos and videos taken by people around the world amazed they were documenting previously unheard of instances – fish being caught in rivers and canals normally choked with poisonous debris; mountain ranges emerging from dense shrouds of polluted air; and night skies where canopies of millions of stars were being seen for the first time in decades.

The Earth was regaining some balance, and people were starting to realise the extent of humanity’s impact, and our role in the planet’s degradation. A few lightbulb moments were happening across the globe which ultimately, hopefully, will prove beneficial for the world, as economic models are challenged. It’s almost inevitable the pandemic will result in a resetting of how we live, work and play. It will be hard, it will be challenging, but if we are to avoid the climate change catastrophe that hasn’t disappeared, and that continues to hurtle towards us, it’s vital we do all adjust, adapt and embrace a different way of living. And that includes governments with outdated and ideological agendas that don’t belong in our brave new world.

This disconcerting summer

Posted on April 15, 2020 by - Blog

It’s been a strange summer alright. And a challenging one. Since writing my last blog post in the middle of what has been a catastrophic bushfire season across much of the mainland, followed by floods in other parts of the country, and now the new and unknown reality of coronavirus – or COVID-19 – most of the world is now living in lockdown, physically isolated from family, friends and work, and existing in a surreal kind of silence.

The pandemic has certainly changed the face of Australia, and although it’s concentrating the minds of our leaders, most state premiers have risen to the challenge very well. Others not so much, but it’s been surprising and encouraging to note, (after a rocky start in the case of PM Morrison), that Tasmania’s premier, and Scotty From Marketing, are handling the crisis efficiently and with authority. I’m no fan of either man, but credit where it’s due and they do appear to be steering the state and the country well at the moment.
Certainly these extraordinary times put into perspective the mundane and micro nature of the personal everyday. Those raspberries and tomatoes that were proving to be so tardy back in February have more than made up for their production delay in the weeks since. The natural world shows scant regard for the concerns of humanity, and both crops have forged on regardless. Until a few days ago picking them was a daily task that took at least an hour, such is their time-consuming abundance, but the dessert of raspberries we’ve now enjoyed every evening for weeks has been a joy. Unsurprisingly, tomatoes have also been a fixture in all but a very few of our meals – with the exception of breakfast.

As anticipated processing tomatoes has also been a regular item on my To Do list during the past few weeks, so the freezer is now full to capacity. Few meals are served without tomatoes featuring somewhere on the plate, and although friends and neighbours have thankfully helped relieve us of some of this excess bounty, there are few signs production is slowing. It makes up for their earlier tardiness of course, but I will not be upset when I can finally declare this particular harvest over.

Lockdown life is otherwise proving no hardship, which is my good fortune, and I’m well aware of that fact. We have space to move, a garden to keep us exercised and occupied – and plenty of tasks indoors to catch up on. And quite apart from anything else there are books. Plenty of them, and for the first time in years, a bit more time to read them without feeling guilty.

And, even more importantly, there is time (and fewer excuses!) to write my own major project, even if in my determination to catch up on some of those aforementioned tasks, it’s taken a little while to settle down to doing so on a regular and determined basis.