Why I shopped last week!

Last night New Zealand announced its first case of corona virus - a passenger who arrived two days earlier.  Of course we all knew this was going to happen and I'm not surprised at all that it's in my city.  Hopefully it will be clear now why I prepped a little last week and bought more groceries and supplies than I normally would... panic buying!!  Yep, last night and today my local supermarket was deluged with shoppers buying all kinds of emergency supplies. 

In fact it seems most of the supermarkets in Auckland have experienced this and yes, it will settle down but if for some reason we are told to stay at home then I for one am glad that we have enough food to last us for awhile.

I'm in two minds about this whole thing - yes, the death rate (death rate not number of deaths) is higher than seasonal flu and yes, it's affecting older people (of which I am now one).  BUT, what will be will be and I really don't think we can stop this thing.  I just hope that our immune systems will be up for it!

Other than that, it's a lovely day and the sun is shining and thankfully life goes on :)

~ Lynda


Here are some photos - not mine but off the local news website.

Queues this morning at my local supermarket - unheard of!

Last night's mad panic - many people are now wearing masks

The queue to the checkout which was way around the corner

It's all happening...

Covid 19 or Corona Virus, whatever you call it.  Before long it really will be everywhere and it seems the best we can hope for is slow progression so that hospitals are not overwhelmed.  We are coming into Autumn here so along with all the usual colds and flu it really will be hard to figure out who has corona virus.  I see the there is a person being tested right now in Auckland and the results are out tonight. 

I watched Trump giving his whitewash of the issue - only 15 cases, soon only 5 and then zero.  WTF.  Clearly he was trying to not instil panic, especially on the stock markets, but I think the brazen misinformation probably panicked everyone more! 

I have a pretty good stock of food and other supplies on hand in case we need to self isolate and my daughter is also going to stock up I think.  It's interesting that people actually are taking this seriously and making plans - even my daughter's online friends are prepping. 

I've also bought some various vitamins to help with our immune system plus ones to use if we get sick to boost our immune system.  There really isn't any more we can do but wash our hands and try to stay home.  If all of this is not needed then great, but I feel better having some things in place.

I went to the dentist yesterday about my sore gums and he cleaned out the area and said it should improve - thankfully the antibiotics I took were the correct ones and have done the job.  I've also been prescribed another lot in case it comes back - in that case I will have to have my wisdom tooth removed (and the one above it as apparently that's what they do).  I still have some pain but nothing on the scale of earlier in the week - I'm not even on pain killers now :)

I have cancelled the cruise in May that we were taking with the boys.  They are OK with that so it's a non-issue really.  I just have to figure out what to do with the European cruise... I can either push the date right out or cancel altogether.  Cancelling means we lose $800, pushing the date out will cost us $200.  The trouble is I have no idea when or where to go in the future!  I have a few more days to think about that.

I'll leave you with a couple of sunset photos from the other night while I was out looking for the Starlink satellites.  It was a stunning evening :)

~ Lynda

Another day

Today I went to the doctor for a follow up prescription and general check.  My blood pressure was 100% normal which makes me happy.  Even my weight was less than last time.  I asked her about he corona virus and she agreed that yes, it's coming.  She has a trip to Italy planned for August but is going to see how things go.  She did think that it was a good decision on my part to cancel and travel another time.

I got some more pantry stuff today and I think I'm pretty much done now.  I talked to my daughter about it and she too was considering doing some stocking up.  She just told me that a boy in Fletcher's school class has just started school today as he has been in 14 day quarantine.  He'd been in China and was amongst those who had to self quarantine. 

I'm not feeling quite as panicked as I was the other day, I suppose because I feel a little more in control?  Yes, I'd love for none of this to eventuate and for all of this prepping to be for nothing but it's also good to know I have a bit of a plan. 

Tomorrow my daughter and I are going shopping to the Discount Chemist for Vitamin C and other goodies to help our immunity. 

Finally I have seen the Starlink 5 (the series of satellites launched last week) in the night sky.  Oh my friggin goodness... AMAZING.  There is a website you can go to https://findstarlink.com/ and you put in your location and it will tell you where the starlink is.  The only one worth looking at is 4-5 at the moment as the older ones spread out. 

Here is what the look like - not my photo but it's amazing to see!

~ Lynda

Scary times ahead

This is a very scary post and I'm sorry if I upset anyone - it's my blog and I will write about this.

For those of you who don't really follow the news about Covid 19, I'm not trying to scare you but believe me - I am totally terrified.  I mentioned my concerns a couple of weeks ago and have been trying very hard to only watch mainstream, reputable links and news but the main person I've been following is Dr John Campbell from UK.  His latest video has a total change of tone and he has warned of what is to come.

If anyone is interested, here is that video.




Yes, I've decided not to travel this year but clearly the situation is much worse than that.  There are reports of possible mutations of the virus and also reports of 'cured' people still being infectious.  From what I can gather it's not if, but when, we get this.  I could run away to the beach house but I have family - my boys could catch it, visit me and pass it on.  There are so many awful possibilities but the scariest of all is the total lack of facilities that will be available to help those who contract the virus.

Dr Campbell has spelled this out in many videos.  He explains about hospitals being at capacity with just the existing flu cases and there simply would not be beds or ventilators etc for Covid 19 patients. 

I'm trying so hard not to panic but then that is burying my head in the sand.  For anyone who says the flu is worse then you've clearly not read about this insidious disease which has a long incubation period where you are contagious.  It can also have little effect on your health for a couple of weeks and then suddenly turn very grave. 

It's basically impossible here to buy masks, they have all been snapped up weeks ago.  The same goes for hand sanitiser.  There was a video shown this morning of people queueing outside an Italian supermarket - all with masks on and waiting to shop.  I have no idea where I'd now get a mask. 

What I can do is stock up my pantry - I'm off to buy lots of long lasting food and supplies in case it's not safe to go shopping.  Remember, I live in a community with extremely high numbers of people from overseas and many travellers and tourists.  To think the disease won't be here any day is dreaming. 

Added to that I have an infected gum from where my wisdom tooth is.  I will have to get that tooth out but in the meantime I'm taking a course of antibiotics that was prescribed for me in November for my eye - I looked it up, it's the exact same antibiotic used for gum infections.  I'd not normally do this but I was away and the pain was extreme!  I'm off to my doctor tomorrow for other matters but will check with her.

So there you are - you might think I'm panicking and yes, I am. 

~ Lynda

Fantastic Wedding

We have just had the best week away for our nephew's wedding. We went over on Wednesday to help set up everything and came home today. On the night before the wedding all of the close family members got together - from the other groom's side as well. It was just wonderful! The other groom is Maori for the Ngāi Tūhoe tribe. Both he and all of his family are fluent in the Maori language and are fully steeped in the Maori tradition.  It really was just such a wonderful experience being part of the whanau (family).  The groom on our side of the family is also 1/8th Maori but has not been brought up knowing the language etc. 

The weather was perfect too and we all had the best day!  After the wedding, the had the speeches outside on the lawn and the Maori whanau performed beautiful songs and finished with a powerful Haka.  It really was simply incredible.  We were all called 'sisters' or 'brothers' and there was just so much love everywhere.  

Even though I live in New Zealand, I have never attended a Maori wedding before and it was something I will never forget.

I didn't get any photos of me taken on the day other than a blurry selfie I took with my daughter!  Never mind, it wasn't about me :)

Oh and regarding Elton John?  We didn't end up missing his concert - it's been rescheduled to next January.  I was really sad that we would miss seeing him but so happy he'll be back, even if I have to wait another year.

Here are a few photos from the day.  You'll see twelve 'brides'... yes, all of the bridesmaids were dressed in white and looked beautiful.

~ Lynda

Making bridal flowers the night before - we all made the table decorations and bouquets.  Lots of money saved and they looked great!!

One of my 'projects' was decorating the bridal arch.  Thankfully they loved it because I had no idea what I was doing.

My other job was to put the covers on the chairs and set them up etc.  

The two grooms or as they were called on the day 'the bride and groom'.  That's the 'bride' with the pink garter :)

Stu's dad performing the marriage ceremony

Me and my daughter 

My daughter and Stu's niece 

During the speeches - the family singing their waiatas (songs)

Stu (wearing the hat) and his brother and sister playing silly buggers outside the public toilets

The bridal party having their photos taken by the professional photographer

Elton John

Sadly Elton John is sick and had to stop his concert last night due to pneumonia.  Our tickets are for tomorrow night, Tuesday, but we can't attend then as we have to be over at Coromandel for the wedding of our nephew.  Damn and blast... I know it's for a really genuine reason Elton but OMG, I was SOOOOO looking forward to your concert.  We can get a refund.

The opening song - sadly the show didn't go as long as planned

Elton breaks down when he realises he can't continue

On a positive note though, when he performed his concert down the road the wind was in the right direction and we could hear him in our yard!!  It was the weirdest thing in the afternoon... I was out gardening and thought the neighbours down the road had their music playing loud and then it dawned on me that it was Elton John in rehearsal.  Then at night Stu and I went outside to hear 'Benny and the Jets' plus a few other songs and 'Funeral for a Friend' which was amazing!!!  Oh well, at least I got to hear him a little. 

My daughter and her husband went to a Viking themed party at the weekend and let's just agree that they don't do fancy dress by halves!!!  They looked amazing.  My son-in-law made most of his costume himself - all the chainmail on the jacket, all the animal skins etc.  It took him ages but wow he looked fantastic.  I'm not sure what people though of him driving to the party looking like this though!  Photos below.

We are off to the Coromandel soon to help our nephew prepare for his wedding.  We have Stu's other nephew and his family staying with us at the beach house so that will be different! 

I really don't know what I'll wear - I just feel too fat in the dress I had bought but I'll see how I feel on the day.

~ Lynda

My son-in-law the Viking!!!

And with my daughter - her outfit was also fantastic

More on my boys

Today my daughter messaged me with lovely photos of her boys - they had mufti day today (no uniform) and were both awarded a certificate.  Every week some kids are chosen for one reason or another but it was unusual for them both to be up there getting a book prize!  I know it melted my daughter's heart.

As some of you know, Cole has struggled at school compared to the other kids.  His writing is atrocious (sadly) but his reading is coming along which is fantastic.  Today he came home from school with a Roald Dahl book and said to his Mum... "I'm just going to my bedroom to read a book" and off he went.  When I Facetimed them later on he appeared and said that he was up to page 48!  What?  You could have knocked my daughter over with a feather.  He could even talk about what he'd read so he was clearly comprehending it all.  I hope that dispels some of her worry over him.

Then there is Fletcher who is now in year 10 and apparently now has his first girlfriend!!!  OMG... we don't have anymore details but my wee boy is growing up :)

We have the two youngest tomorrow for the night so that will be enjoyable.  I might even get Cole to read me a story!

Thanks for your comments on yesterday's post.  There's not much I can do but make gentle suggestions when she's not emotional.

~ Lynda

The sun today - it was a halo and looked so weird!!

Charlie with his certificate and book prize

And Cole with his - of course he chose a car book

The boys getting their certificates - other faces blocked out for privacy

My boy Charlie

I got home yesterday after taking a friend to the airport and then Stu and I popped out for a meal.  Today my daughter phoned me about something so I asked her to pop around.  She is really down about Charlie.  As most of you might be aware, Charlie is autistic and sadly he's showing more signs of this as he gets older.  He is a gorgeous boy but he has trouble with a lot of things and is now hating school. 

He enjoyed school last year but this year he has said that the kids are cruel, he can't do the work as it's all too hard and he wants to go back to kindergarten.  Poor wee man... and my poor daughter.  She is just so stressed about it all but I just think it makes the entire situation worse.  Every time he shows any decline, she's off to the online forums for more information and then pumps the kids full of all kinds of vitamins.  I have no idea if that helps but it can't hurt I suppose except for making them aware that they are different from the other kids.

Then on top of that, the forums she reads are extremely anti-vaccinations - she tries to explain to me that it's not the vaccination itself but the stress it puts on some kids bodies, the chemicals used and now it's because the vaccines are grown in fetal cells.  Her/the forum's theory is that some kids body's reject the vaccine due to the human cells they were grown in.  Then she tells me about the kids who literally change as soon as they are vaccinated.  Clearly I am not a scientist and can not and will not comment one way or the other but these bloody forums have a lot to answer for!  I swear they are making her worse.

Sometimes I wish that she could just step right away from all advice and just being a normal Mum who just feeds their kids good food, loves them and doesn't worry so much.  That isn't going to happen and my goodness it stresses me out!  I come home from the beach house all relaxed and bang, I'm wound up like a spring again. 

I'm so incredibly sad that Charlie will have a struggle growing up.  I'm sad that my daughter has to live with this and watch him become more and more 'different'.  I'm sad that my daughter's life will forever be consumed with this thing that is autism.  I can only hope there will be a happy ending.

~ Lynda

Coronavirus

Yes, it needs to be talked about... I'm trying really hard to be a 'glass half full' person regarding the spread of this disease but sadly, the news gets worse every day.  I've been doing more reading and research into this than the average person and the news isn't good.

First off, here in New Zealand we have not banned flights Hong Kong or Singapore etc and even up until a few days ago I saw many flights arriving from China.  All they are doing at border control is asking questions of people, giving them a pamphlet and sending them on their with with advice to 'self quarantine'.  Really???  They hop into a taxi and go on their merry way.  In my humble opinion it's only a matter of time before this virus is in Auckland.

Yes, I'm scared for myself and for my loved ones.  I've scared for the community.  I believe that the death toll and number of cases reported in China is highly under reported.  Our hospitals are not equipped to have hundreds of people on ventilators and from what I have read, that is the only hope for someone who gets complications of the virus.

Cheery enough post for you all?  I'd love to be told I'm completely wrong but with the incredibly easy transmission of this virus and the long period without symptoms I'm worried.

As a result of this we are not travelling this year - our big UK/Europe holiday is off.  This is not so much because of fear of the virus there but more because we need to outlay many thousands of dollars for this trip and none of it is covered under travel insurance - epidemics and pandemics are not routinely covered and specifically coronovirus.  Luckily all we stand to lose at the moment is a small amount of money.  We can also rebook a cruise for another time (next year probably) using the same deposit.

Then there is the mini cruise we are doing with the boys in May.  Even just three days of a cruise ship does not thrill me at the moment and we will reassess that decision when final payment is due next month.

~~~~~~~~~~~

On a happier note the weather is gorgeous and I made it to the beach yesterday for a swim.  It was really weird... I was the ONLY person on the beach!

Tomorrow I'm driving a friend back to Auckland - his father died in UK last month and he is only now going to the funeral.  Apparently there is an incredible backlog of funerals where he is...  Here in New Zealand a funeral is generally about three days after death but his father died mid January and his funeral is a month later?

I'm actually angry at this 'friend' because when I was visiting him the other day I mentioned that the boys had scratched the back of our brand new car... he disappeared for a few minutes and returned saying that he'd taken care of the scratch.  WTF??????   Yes, he'd gone out and tried to cut and polish the area WITHOUT MY PERMISSION.  Only heck, we were going to get the experts to sort it and now there is a patch on the back of the car that looks distinctly lighter colour and rough.  The kind of paint we have is special, very high gloss paint and you simply can't do what he did.  It's also on the plastic part of the car, not metal.  I'm so pissed but can't say anything because he's such an emotional guy prone to depression - especially as he's going to the other side of the world for his father's funeral.

Anyway, we'll see if the professionals can sort it :)

~ Lynda

Just me alone on the beach!

Low tide - it's a long walk to reach the water.

And a couple of photos of the beach today - from a different angle.  Still hardly anyone at the beach and the water was gorgeous!!

The Beach and Queen

We went to Queen on Friday night and had a fantastic time.  I didn't know a few of the songs but once the show got going I was all in!  My absolute favourite was "Love of My Life" where everyone sings, light up their phones then Freddie Mercury sings at the end of the song.  The clip below is from another concert but basically the same as our concert.

 

Of course I love all the others as well - especially Bohemian Rhapsody.  Adam Lambert was amazing too.  Now we have the Elton John Concert to look forward to next week!

The weather at the beach has been amazing - Stu went home today and I'm staying on until about Wednesday.  I'm taking a friend back to Auckland as he has to catch a flight to UK to attend his father's funeral. 

Tonight the sky was beautiful and clear and I watched the Starlink 2 satellite train go overhead.  There are 60 satellites in a row that go over in a continuous stream and it's the craziest thing to see!  If I didn't know what they were I'd seriously think it was an alien invasion.

Stu's dad is doing OK - he came for lunch here yesterday along with some other family and it was lovely.  He puts on a brave face but I know he is feeling very sad... understandably.  I can't imagine losing my partner of over 30 years - particularly as they were such a close couple.

I missed a phone call this morning from one of my sisters... I know she would have been calling to see what the other sister might have said to me - funnily enough though, the other sister has not contacted me at all so it kind of shows me which one really is stirring the pot!

~ Lynda

At the Queen Concert

Adam Lambert - he was amazing!

Stu looking very handsome :)

My age is surely showing but there's not much I can do but laugh :) 

The beach on our walk today - stunning!!!

Exhausted!

We have had ALL the boys for two nights - my goodness it's tiring.  The oldest one (14) is now joined to his phone, the middle one just tries it on all the time (I want this or I want that etc) and Charlie is just delightful.  Washing, cooking, cleaning and making school lunches is bloody hard work and I could never go back to being a full time mum!  I'm sure if you have them all the time you'd get into a routine and get used to unflushed toilets, clothes strewn around the room, screaming because it's not fair, etc etc.  I'm also sure that if I had three boys full time we'd have more rules and they would surely have more consequences.

Never mind, we still had a lovely time and I still love them to the moon and back :)

Tonight we are going to see Queen with Adam Lambert!!  To be fair, I'm much more excited about seeing/hearing Adam Lambert, but I know I'll enjoy the entire concert.

I'm just sitting here enjoying a cup of tea before getting back into my jobs.

~ Lynda

We took the boys to the park for a picnic yesterday - they enjoyed that.

Back to a normal topic!

Food.... yes, the reason I started blogging way back on 5th March 2003 was to find like minded people to help me lose weight.  I had a very basic blog called something like "Lynda's Weight Loss Journey" and found a few others who were trying to lose weight like me.  I actually am still in contact with a couple of the ladies from back then!  My blog then morphed into a journal of my life and family and then to a full on low carb blog. 

Low carb worked really well for both myself and Stu and from 2011 until a couple of years ago we did really well.  Obviously life, travel, age and family all get in the way of strict low carb eating so my focus then became to keep healthy and keep my HbA1c to normal levels.  For those who don't know we were both pre-diabetic back in 2011 and have both had normal blood sugar results ever since - I know this is down to keeping reasonably low carb for sure.

Yes, we still try to eat low carb wherever possible - our last holiday was a challenge but we've never tried to be strict while away.  For us holidays are also about experiencing different food so to balance that we walk as much as we possibly can.  I don't usually gain much weight after a holiday and get back to my normal weight soon after getting home. 

Over the last few weeks food has really been out of our control - we've been at Stu's fathers house while his wife was ill/dying and we ate whatever was offered by those making it that night.  We didn't do too badly but I did gain a little so I'm back to trying to lose weight again.  One thing I don't do and hopefully never will do again is 'diet'.  For some reason as soon as I try to diet I fail!!  This time all I'm doing is having a protein shake for breakfast/lunch and only eating dinner.  Yes, I know, that sounds like a diet but I'm not counting anything or recording anything - that's when I usually lose the plot.

If you started following me because of the low carb eating, be assured we still eat low carb for every normal meal.  It just feels wrong to eat lots of bread or potatoes and we never have rice, pasta or sugar.  Low carb is just our normal so if I don't mention it, don't think we don't still eat that way :)

Yesterday was spent making up 84 'Recovery Packs' for Stu's nephews wedding in a couple of weeks (at their request).  They include paracetamol, Berocca, mints and water.  It's a really fun gift to give to guests as they leave - I'm sure people will enjoy the joke.  I have blurred out the name of his partner for privacy - for those who know, it's another man and I just love that he is able to marry and live such a normal life now that the laws have been changed.  How different his future must have looked when he was a teenager thinking he could never be part of a married couple.

We have the boys tomorrow and for the night then we are off again to the beach house to check on Stu's dad and keep him company for awhile.

~ Lynda

Moving on...

Thank you for all of your comments.  I will leave that new comment box on as it seems to work for more of you.

This week I have to make up about 100 packs to be given out as a wedding favour/joke at our nephew's upcoming wedding.  They are 'recovery packs' and contain a bottle of water, a Berocca, panadol and Mentos Mints.  I package them all up and they are given out at as guests leave.  My daughter did this and people loved it and when my nephew saw the photos he wanted them too. 

I also have a hair appointment - not with my regular hairdresser as she was booked, but with another at her salon so I hope she does an OK job.

Then we have the boys all day Thursday and for the night and on Friday we are off to see Adam Lambert and Queen!!  I'm pretty excited about that especially as it's just down the road and we can walk to it.  In two weeks time we will be seeing Elton John also.  I saw him back in 1982 so it's been a long time between shows.

I don't know who knows about the Starlink satellites that SpaceX have been launching??  They are series of satellites that fly around in a row.  The other night they flew over the Coromandel on a very clear night but we missed them so I'm now on the lookout for a fantastic sighting.  Last night we saw Starlink No1 go overhead and counted about 15 satellites but it was a bit cloudy.  My mission is to stargaze more often!! If anyone else is a bit geeky like me the link is https://me.cmdr2.org/starlink/  You just put in your area and it will tell you where and when to look.  There are many more to be launched yet and the more recent the launch, the closer they are together.

We have our next big trip planned for August/September in UK and Europe but I'm really second guessing it all now with the outbreak of Coronovirus.  Travel insurance won't cover cancellations related to it so I'm not planning or booking anything else for awhile.  Worst case if I cancel now, I just lose our cruise deposit.  We do have a mini cruise planned in May with the two youngest boys so we are looking forward to that!

I've not heard any more from any of my sisters.  I don't know if they sorted it all out or not but at least no one is telling me.  I am a little curious though... :)

Bye for now

~ Lynda

Trouble commenting?

Quick post - many people seem to have trouble commenting so I've changed the comment box to a different type which apparently gets around the problem.  Could those of you who have had trouble perhaps leave a quick comment to see if it works?  I do like the other type of comments (where I can directly comment to yours) but if this works better for more of you than I'll leave it

Thanks
Lynda

Difficult Post

I had left this post up for a day.  It related to wills and I only intended it to stay for a day.

I just needed to vent because it's been a shit of a week all round.  I'll leave you on a happier not with Cole's birthday, he turned 8 yesterday and said that he was having 'the best birthday ever'.

~ Lynda

The excitement of opening a present 

Haha, I just noticed my daughter had a plate shoved in the bib of her overalls... it's what Mum's do :)

Privacy?

I have been alerted to the fact that my new blog magically appeared on Feedly (a blog feed service).  I use Feedly and it didn't magically appear on my feed but damn... it looks like I might have to go completely private as in 'invite' you all to an invitation only style blog.  I have kept all of your email addresses in case so you don't need to contact me.  I really don't think anyone in my family would be using blog feed services.  It does make me realise however than my blog could come up on other people's feeds - I have turned off the google search option for my blogs but clearly there are other ways??

I'm in two minds - bugger them if they find this and read about my life.  BUT on the other hand, I don't want to fall out with my family and as it stands I do get on with them individually even though I seem to be the centre of their gossip.  I do realise that when I post personal photos it opens them up to the world so a much more private blog could be the way to go.

Yesterday we had a lovely lunch out with Stu's dad and sister and today he's going to his place to chat about going forward...finance, the will (he's an executor) etc.

We went to the beach yesterday for a walk but didn't swim - there all these little jelly things in the water.  They don't sting and don't cause any harm but it's just yuk swimming amongst a pile of little jelly eggs things!  They come and go and are usually only there early January but the weather and seasons are all over the place now so who knows.

It's Cole's birthday tomorrow - he turns 8.  He's been reminding us constantly of the countdown to the day so I gather he's pretty excited!  We have bought him two expensive cars that he's been drooling over for awhile.  They are good quality metal cars, a Lamborghini and a Bugatti.  I hope he likes them.  We will be going there for afternoon tea which will be lovely.

I'll ponder about making this more private but I'm glad I've kept your email addresses in case.  If you found this blog without emailing me, it might be a good idea to let me know (via email).

~ Lynda

Another busy day at the beach... there were people swimming further up 

Stu in his happy place :)