Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

I’ve almost run out of groceries (no bread or milk left) as I normally get them on Thursday or Friday. Food doesn’t last long in my house with three men and one anxious, stress-eater woman residing therein. I knew I should have gone food shopping yesterday, but the sun was shining so I walked instead. So of course, a Covid case turned up in Canberra (Australia) today – the first local to Canberra case of community transmission in over a year. Anyhoo, this afternoon Canberra went into a snap 7-day lockdown with only a few hours notice. As soon as I heard the news, I dashed across town to get the fish for the dog with the copper storage disease. Unfortunately, I didn’t get into the shopping centre because it was a shit-fight for parking (and no doubt shopping trolleys) so I returned home instead. I also briefly cruised past the little local shopping centre I often frequent but it was pandemonium there too. I did manage to get some Turkish bread from the local takeaway so the lads should be good for a day or so.

Thanks to the young gentleman for coming forward for testing. Unfortunately, when you’re the first case to be identified in a jurisdiction, everyone inevitably learns your general movements over the previous few days. It is all for the good though. The information proved how out of touch I am with youngsters! I don’t think silly, old me would gad about so much unless I was on holiday, returning to uni, or was in some way connected with the federal parliament which was sitting for the first time since the Sydney lockdown. Anyway, the Canberra contact tracers will no doubt be doing a lot of detective work over the next little while to track down the index case if it is not this young gentleman.

As I’ve mentioned previously, there is a lot of movement between Canberra and Sydney, the latter of which has been in various unsatisfactory states of lockdown since June this year. My fish comes from a shop that gets its fish from the Sydney Fish Markets. Apparently the fish is freighted in, which might seem reassuring until you realise the concessions made for freight transport. I also took my dog, Ama, for a specialist vet appointment this week. The vet used to travel down from Sydney. Perhaps those arrangements have changed? [My vet wasn’t wearing a mask but I am quite confident that would be vaccinated.] Anyway, I’ve been feeling a bit off since the weekend. It’s hard to know whether I am just feeling anxious. People who are just feeling anxious are encouraged to stay home and not add to the testing queue. Anyway, anyway, according to my inside contact, there was also chaos on the highway between Canberra and the south coast this afternoon as many more anxious Canberrans headed to their coastal holiday homes prior to the Canberra stay-at-home orders coming into force. The virus has wheels, as western New South Wales residents recently discovered. Anyway, let’s all stay safely at our homes or home-away-from-homes, and fight the virus on the beaches, fields, streets and hills, or whatever.

Because staying at home sucks but is necessary, and because so many of us Aussies are doing precisely that at the moment, I thought we should have a pandemic song to cheer us up. The song is I’m Good?, written by Aussie hip-hop group, Hilltop Hoods, for the 2020 lockdown to raise money for roadies affected by the cancellation of live entertainment due to the pandemic. The band asks listeners to consider donating to Support Act and directing donations to the “Roadies (Crew) Fund” https://supportact.org.au/donate-now/. I hope you enjoy the song.

I don’t know about you but I am pretty fucked in the head (FITH) at the moment. Also, I have to solve this fish problem somehow as white fish is Ama’s only source of protein and the fish shop is outside of my local area.

Stay safe, stay sane, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy

About the photo – I went for a long, slow walk this afternoon to try to settle my mind, and took a couple of snaps. There were lots of people driving home in preparation for the 5pm quiet-down. Over the next seven days, Canberrans are permitted one hour exercise per day with one other member of the household. I don’t think dogs count toward that household limit.

50 thoughts on “A Busy Week Already”

  1. It is one of those things when you don’t do what you thought of doing and then the shit hits the fan. I sure hope none of all those running away to other locations around Australia have Covid and take it on “holidays” with them. It is a bit fucked that’s for sure Tracy. I was in Lismore for K’s birthday and to see my specialist when that selfish arsehole came from Sydney to the north coast with his Covid infected kids as well. I am on Stay at Home orders from travelling from there (where there hasn’t been any notice of where he went in Lismore) to home. Thankfully we both live in isolation anyway.
    It looks like the old ripped up newspaper on the nail in the dunny 😂
    Hope you will be/are OK Tracy. Get a home delivery from the supermarket?

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    1. I hope you avoided the avoided the house-hunting jackass, Brian. What a balls-up the NSW lockdown is. Godnose why we had to have Feds parliament sit in Canberra this week. My nose is running like a train. I’m sure I will be able to get a delivery once the supermarket gets in stock again. Luckily I’ve got dunny paper, but not enough fish which my local doesn’t sell. I’ll sort something.
      Take care, Brian. I’ll get tested if my nose doesn’t settle. It was probably hayfever from the walk.

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      2. Outdoor masks are required except for vigorous exercise, and I’m never vigorous. 🙂
        I bought some fish elsewhere because my fish shop is next to a school where another case was identified (poor kid), and the kids at the school often go to that shopping centre. Still, two guys were not wearing masks in the next place I tried. I’m not sure if I will go back there but I am running out of options. Hopefully we have enough fish now for a few weeks. If we run out of people food, we can always eat the breakfasts I cook for Ama!

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      4. I will make enquiries or inquiries or whatever. Thanks for the tip, Brian. The owner of the second shop nearly fell over himself trying to give me bonus prawns but I was pissed off and just wanted to get out of there. I told him I might come back if all his staff wore masks. Costly mistake. I would probably exceed Woolies minimum order in fish alone. This dog costs me a fortune, Brian, but she is doing well.

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  2. Our governor is such a jackass. He is not going to enforce a mask mandate. He is going to withhold salaries from any educators who do try to enforce a mask mandate for students. Several counties have said, “Screw this. We are mandating masks for everyone.” Meanwhile, Florida is the epi-center (We’re #1!) with hospitalizations, the government is sending us 300 ventilators, and the governor claims ignorance of any ventilator request. I should have stopped at ‘the governor claims ignorance.’ Stay safe, Tracy.

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  3. Things are reasonably sane in our state, but the rates are going up again due to the unimmunized – and by that I mean the “I won’t get it” crowd. The reasons vary from It’s a fraud, it’s no worse than the flu, to some far-out ones. The best I heard was someone who really believed the Vampire immunization theory out of “I am Legend”. Being the little shit that I am I almost asked if he’d prefer the microchip version instead.

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  4. Wow, one case and lockdown! Smart move.
    Our Premier lifted all restrictions and as our numbers increase it doesn’t appear anything is going to change. As we head back to school in 2 and half weeks, it seems we are to be business as usual, pre-covid business as usual that is. We don’t have herd immunity yet. I think that shows a latent disregard for our children. Believe it or not it could be worse, I could live in AB where cases are rapidly increasing and that Premier has dropped all testing clinics unless you have a referral from a doctor.
    I hope all goes well in your lockdown and you find Ama her food! Take care Tracy.

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    1. I don’t think there is any other way when so many people are unvaccinated here, and not by choice, Heather. There are I sufficient resources to care for everyone who would become ill which would increase the tragic loss of life.
      It is a huge risk not to protect children, although those against vaccination would probably say the same thing. I’m grateful you don’t live in Alberta.

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      1. I hope your area keeps things under control. I feel for the health care workers who have been overwhelmed. Update: since I wrote yesterday AB is announcing new measures today. Yesterday they had over 500 cases so are now rethinking. I’m glad I don’t live there but I do have family there!

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  5. I’m also fucked in the head at the moment. I was thinking how I made it through all last year with a pretty optimistic attitude and tolerance for my fellow man and now? I’m no optimistic, I don’t want to go outside, the smoke from the California fires has been horrible added to the sorrow I feel for all those people going through what I went through (and worse), my frustration with a friend who refused to be vaccinated for NO GOOD REASON (see today’s post if you really want to know), and the fact that I’m pretty sure that at least half the people around me share her idiotic perspective on the vaccine. Cases have risen crazily in Colorado and I was just up in one of the most right-wing counties in this state going to urgent care, the supermarket, etc. I’m tired. Part of me hates people right now.

    Tracy, the Aussie pumpkin, didn’t have enough room in the garden and was struggling. I thanked her for her inspiring effort and consigned her to the compost pile and changed her name to Traci. She was cool with that. Bear and I have not been out for a walk in a long time partly because of the abysmal air quality and my asthma (miasma) and partly because of my injured arm. Every day I tell Bear, “It’s going to get better and it’s going to get cold again.” I am lucky in that she believes me, but it’s true.

    Hang in there, Tracy. I think it’s all we can do. ❤

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    1. It is hard to be tolerant when you’re in pain and when you are shut away from that terrible smoke, Martha. I, like many other Aussies, still haven’t recovered from our own fiery summer. It was warm enough for me to mosaic the other day and tomorrow looks like good mosaicing weather too. Tell Bear that means there could be a cold snap any time now.

      Take care, Martha. I hope that rain comes soon. You’ve had two years of smoke and fire so it must be the US’s turn. Also rain for Greece would be good too. It is such a disaster in so many respects.

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  6. Writing from the edge of the Sydney Basin have so agreed with every word you have written and your choice of music for this Friday the 13th is absolutely priceless ! I am sorry about but fully agree with your lockdown and think it will be way briefer than the dramas we are experiencing. Let us not forget the whole eastern Australian drama began with one limo driver transporting one positive air crew !!! best to you and take it hour by hour and day by day . . .

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    1. Hello, Eha. I’ve been wondering how you are going? I hope you are getting through hour by hour and day by day because there looks like there may be many more quiet days at home for Sydney folk and for all of us in the state. I’m quite sure the premier and the PM would like us to forget about that limo driver and the gold standard response. I hope our lockdown will be shorter but, as you know, everything has to go right, and it is so easy to make a mistake. It is not like we’ve had a huge amount of practise here,
      I’m glad you enjoyed the song. The music is the one thing that keeps me from going insane. Stay safe, Eha.

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  7. Hi Tracy, I thought of you this morning when I heard Canberra was shoved into lockdown. Don’t worry about your current head status – we’re all fucked in the head right now, so you’re in good company. Stay well – I take it you’re OK for medication and there’s no shortage or hoarding of that essential stock?? Thinking of you xx

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    1. Thanks for thinking of me, Linda. We knew it was coming. My diabetes medication is all fine. Limits on supplies were put in place at the beginning of the pandemic. Means I have to front up to the pharmacy more often which is not ideal but my pharmacist and his team are great people so I will no doubt work something out with them. Thinking of you too, Linda. I hope the kids are coping better with the familiar house bound routine.

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      1. We’re all fine, thanks. Two out of the three kids are getting out regularly with friends, which I’m overjoyed about. T1 goes to a park to play soccer with his mates, Our Girl has been scootering around the neighbourhood with a friend from school every afternoon this week. This translates into better sleep, and more engaged with online learning. T2, still and always happy to be home, hiding in his room device in hand. I have so much worry over this kid…:( Not sure if I mentioned to you that he’s finally joined a basketball team, but the latest lockdowns (note plural) have restricted him to three training sessions and two games, only one of which he felt comfortable enough to get on court. If only we could keep momentum with him, I know he’d feel better about socialising and being outdoors. Glad you’re medication is all fine, despite having to go to the pharmacy more often. Hang in there – all of us – better days have to be coming. Right??

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      2. I am with you in hoping for better days, Linda.
        I can understand your concern re T2 I know how difficult it is to extract boys from their rooms, especially when those puberty hormones kick in. Depression can be particularly prevalent around those years. Good luck with your encouraging your lad outdoors. That maternal encouragement can often be a source of conflict, even if the young person does enjoy it once finally out the door. Take heart though (and subject to what your child is looking at online), his room is generally a safe space, a cocoon, if you like. You will get the analogy, I’m sure.

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  8. I’ve just emerged from a fairly medicated state, and read about your lockdown. I hope it proves effective, and that you can get Ama’s fish without too much extra stress.

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    1. Hello, Su. Thanks for popping by. I was thinking about you. I’m relieved you’re through the op (by the sound of it). Difficult part now.

      That reminds me. I have a Kiwi song for you. “Counting The Beat” by The Swingers.

      I suspect I shall be listening to a few more tunes before the Canberra lockdown is finished. Am really hoping too that NZ has better luck stopping Delta than we have had so far.
      I found some fish so Ama is good. The fish not so much.

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      1. I love that song!!!! Phil Judd is a genius, albeit an e trembly troubled one.

        A week post-surgery and I’m doing quite well I think. Waiting for path results is a bit trying, but overall I’m feeling good.

        Am not convinced that NZ will dodge Delta for much longer; we’ve just done the “in expectation of a lockdown” shopping list.

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  9. Tracy, welcome to the f*cked up club! As if there were not enough morons already, their tribe keeps increasing!! I hope you are able to find fish for Ama and your local supermarket delivers the essentials.
    We will all emerge from this a lot greyer, more cynical and totally looney!! Take care.

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  10. Much sympathy for your situation Tracy. I’m roughly following what’s happening in Australia and the US. What’s just happened with you could also happen here any time, but please no!

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      1. No worries at all … this is our space and we are certainly entitled to speak our feelings!

        Good to hear you were able to sort the fish out!

        Keep safe & well!

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  13. The US is in dire straights with the current surge, which was completely preventable. Texas is now out of ICU beds for children. Cases are spreading in the schools. The whole country’s gone nuts.

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