Christmas in a Pandemic

 It has been an interesting year with a global pandemic the main decider of what we did and where we travelled. Now at Christmas time, we can look around the world and see the huge disruption the Coronavirus has caused. Most of the world is still in lockdown with international travel almost non-existent. 

We have been very fortunate that Australia has a very deep moat around it and we have escaped the worst. Even so, there have been to date 908 deaths with 820 resulting in an outbreak in Victoria, and 54 in New South Wales. Queensland has had 6 deaths and our premier has been quick to close the borders when outbreaks have occurred. In fact, every state border has been closed at times and for different lengths of time. Many of us are reluctant to travel interstate as the borders may slam shut at any time and we face quarantine on our return. Fortunately, Queensland is a very big state, bigger than many countries, and there are plenty of places to explore.

I have been at home again for several weeks. It is far too hot to be travelling in the van. Driving during the days is fine as the car air-con works well. However at night the main air-conditioner in the back needs to be plugged into power as the power from the solar powered batteries is not enough to run the air-con. That means either an overnight stay in a caravan park (expensive) or sweltering sleepless in the heat. I decided, as I have very efficient cooling in my own cottage and local shopping centres and coffee shops, that the best place to be during December and January is home!

As it happens, all my siblings and my kids and grandkids live in Queensland so we haven't had the disruptions that many families had to face - either staying apart from family or taking the chance of travelling when they may have to cancel unexpectedly or rush home prematurely.  We had a get-together of our generation at the end of November when all 13 of us were able to get together for an early Christmas gathering.

My goodness, we are looking our age (from 55- 78)

This was meant to be the year I got all my grandkids together for a photo. It hasn't happened so I have done the next best thing and got each family photographed separately. I will do a 'cut and paste' and frame them together if I can.

Krista

                                    

Andrew

Greg

Open Borders

This has been sitting in my draft folder for about 6 months. I am obviously not going to finish it so I'll post it, very belatedly.

We are free to travel. What a joy! For us Queenslanders, we can go anywhere in the state and are able to go interstate if we are prepared to go into quarantine. From next week, our borders will be open to all Australians, except Victorians who are suffering another spike in virus cases.

I hadn't realised that I was suffering from some depression until I visited my GP a couple of weeks ago and fell apart noisily and wetly. Being the wise woman that she is, she suggested that I stopped focussing on my health, which I can do nothing about as I wait for results, and dust off the van. I have done that.

Two weeks ago today, I left home and have now covered the 620 km trip to Rockamption, with a few very small detours and 12 overnight stops. I like the coastal trip north as I have a few family members to drop in on.  I spent two days in Maryborough as my aunt there is in a nursing home and I wanted to see her a couple of times. One of the shopping centres has free camping in their car park which is very convenient.  I also wanted to visit my niece in Wondai. I have almost lost touch with her over the years so it was nice to spend the night in her driveway and go out for breakfast together before I left.

I think it is lovely to meet up with family members because we always have so much in common. On this trip also I spent a couple of days with Judy and were joined by Chris (whom I'd always known as Little Chrissie). She was always one of the 'little kids' when we were growing up.  That doesn't seem to make much difference now that they have caught up with us. We've all taken our own unique journeys but have family history and family stories in common.and are never short of a topic of conversation. Tomorrow I will be in Mackay with my grandkids - making our own little bit of history together,

20/20 Vision

20/20! The year held so much enchantment. While I was still at school, I wrote an article for the Soubirous College yearbook about life in 2020.  It was totally fanciful, though much of what I imagined has long been part of our lives. The rest will only ever exist in my dreams. But there was a dream-like quality in the very name of the year. I was not the only one who was fascinated by the magic of the year. People have talked for decades about what we could expect by then.

The reality has been totally different. Rather than a dream, many of us have experienced a nightmare. For me personally, it has been a year of uncertainty healthwise. Part way through last year, I was diagnosed with a non-hodgkin lymphoma - a cancer of the blood. Chemotherapy continued until February 2020 and was then followed by radiation therapy. I have been fortunate that I seem to have responded well to the treatments, though I am still waiting for final test results.

I have never been particularly vain, having not much physically to be vain about. However, even after my thick auburn hair turned to much thinner white hair, I have to admit I was rather proud of my locks. Losing my hair was a shock, though I consoled myself with the thought that I had a nicely shaped head and it wasn't too upsetting when I looked in the mirror (after a while!). Then, one day I went to see the movie, 'Little Women'. It was a favourite of mine from my first reading of it when I was about 10. I knew the story. I knew what was coming. I knew Jo cut off her long hair to sell to provide money for the family. What I didn't know was that when she cried, I would too. In fact I cried for several hours. When I tried to explain what was wrong, I cried again. I felt so sorry for myself. Another time, I woke up crying from a dream where something in my life had gone wrong and I was punished by having my hair cropped. By then I had finished all my treatment. I should have been rejoicing that my health had recovered but I was crying over hair that would soon grow. And it is growing. One day soon I will swallow my vanity and appear au naturel in public.

But I am only a very small casualty of the year 2020.. This year we are suffering from a global pandemic where, so far, five and a half million people world wide have contracted the Coronavirus, Covid 19. There have been over 400,000 deaths with more to come as it continues to spread. The USA alone has over 100,000 fatalities because it was not taken seriously in the early stages. Here in Australia, deaths have been about 100 (far too many, of course) but our Prime Minister, Premiers and Health experts reacted quickly to the threat and made decisions that changed our lives - and saved our lives!

From being a global village, we are now isolated. International flights and shipping have come almost to a standstill. We don't expect that there will be leisure travel overseas in the next year, at the very least - maybe longer. There are very few domestic flights, if any, as all Australian states have closed their borders. Anyone travelling from one state to another has to self-quarantine for two weeks. In the past couple of weeks, as infections seem to have slowed, some travel has been permitted. Here in Queensland, we can now travel 150 km from home, but only on a day trip - no overnight stays or camping. We are now allowed to have 5 people visit us in our homes. Hotels, cafes, restaurants are allowed no more than 10 customers at a time, so many have elected to stay closed. Many businesses remain closed with employees working from home when possible. Essential workers face the everyday insecurities of possible contact

Our children went back to school today after about 2 months at home. As they had only just started their new year and new class, today was a very anxious time. Kids had to get back into the classroom, getting to know their teachers again and re-establishing friendships that had scarcely been made, especially for those going into a new school or moving from primary to secondary school. They have had access to on-line learning with varying amounts of success. The worry for many of them is how they can catch up.  This is particularly so for Year 12 students who have missed vital months of learning as they prepared for University and careers next year. For many tertiary students, their dream of University faded as only distance learning was available, not the total change of education they expected.

There has been unimaginable disruption to our lives this year, and still more to come as this virus maybe around for months or years. I have been reluctant to write about the year as it has been so different from anything we could have imagined when we put those magical numbers together. But it is reality for us this year and important to record some of the events that have made up the first part of 2020.

Bark Properly

I am not a Dr Doolittle type. I don't talk to animals any more than I am likely to talk to trees or rocks. I must admit that I roll my eyes in disbelief when I hear grown humans talking to and about their animals. 'Who's Mummy's good boy then?' 'Give Mummy (or Daddy) a kiss.' Look at my little Arthur. Isn't he just so beautiful?' If I called my friend a bitch, she would be offended but she says to a dog, 'Come to Mummy.' Just what is a dog's mother called?

So, I couldn't believe my ears when I heard myself yell to the dog next door. 'Bark properly, you stupid animal!' When there is nobody at home, the dog barks - soft, pause, loud, short pause, short woof, over and over. There is only so much a neighbor can endure on a sleepless night!                woof .....WOOF ..oo.....woof .....WOOF ..oo

Not only that, I am talking to ants. I have a constant stream of them in my kitchen. I can watch for hours as they run up and down the wall.There seem to be protocols they all observe. Those going up, pause and seem to touch those who are going down. It seems a task is assigned to a certain number of ants. There might be a dozen carrying a crumb up the wall. No more join them, though they may slip back and make negative progress over a long period of time. Others just scurry past and leave them to their effort. I often tell them that I admire their tenacity. However, if they gather on a plate waiting to be washed, I have no qualms about washing them down the plug hole with hot soapy water. I do extend my condolences, though, as I send them on their way.

I suppose we all respond to the enforced isolation of Coronavirus in different ways. For those who spend most or all of their year on the road, it may be particularly stressful. The internet is awash with memes.  I have taken a few onboard. I like the reminder given in: You are not stuck at home; you are safe at home. I have also embraced the fact that language influences our reactions. I tell myself that I am not isolated, I am enjoying solitude.

We are being brainwashed into thinking we should be busy and productive all the time we are confined to our homes. We are bombarded with suggestions for filling our time - classes, dance parties, exercise groups, movies, new hobbies. We have to go, go, go!

As Solo travellers, we know that it not true. While we travel, we are experts at doing nothing. We can sit by our motorhomes and watch clouds drifting by, listen to the call of birds, and dream of places to go and people to see. We know that doing nothing is often exactly what our souls and bodies need, and we do it well. We can do it just as well at home.

My recommendation to my fellow Solos is, don’t let the world, the media, your neighbours and friends convince you that have to be constantly active. Just remember that times of quiet and reflection also refresh the body and the soul. And besides, we have earned the right not to listen to other people, not to follow their suggestions and not to do even one thing that we don’t want to. So, go ahead. Do as much or as little as you feel like. Be slothful if that’s what you want – and call it communing with your inner self! That is being productive, in my book.

Just to stay in touch with those who are spending more time at home than they want to, I asked for ideas of how to fill the long days. I was bombarded with suggestions and am including some but, remember, these are only for those who feel compelled to do something. 

• ·         Put your camera onto video mode and take friends on a guided tour of your garden, or your pantry or your make-up cupboard.
• ·         Choose a theme and dress for the occasion each day.
• ·         Play Naughts and Crosses with your teddy bear or an imaginary friend. Don’t cheat.
• ·         Freeze your car keys into a block of ice so you are not tempted to go out. (Maybe freeze your snacks as well.)
• ·         Register with AA and WW in preparation for the end of isolation.
• ·         Clean the pockets of the driver’s door of your motorhome. If you find a box of matches, check the tread depth in your tyres. Make a collage from chocolate wrappers found there.
• ·         Take photos of the interior of your MH, print them out and display them around your house.
• ·         Take a list like this and add to it daily. When you get to 50 items, post it on Facebook.

I have cheated a bit and taken photos of what I might have done if I had been stirred to action.Don't believe everything you see - technology is a wonderful thing!

Dressing up or my normal persona?
Note the white wig

Registering for AA and WW
Note the ginger wig

Playing naughts and crosses with Teddy.
Note the grey wig

Arranging my hair products in optimistic anticipation
Note the absence of wig

Going Viral

I love the way people put a post or a picture on Facebook and ask others to share it so that it goes viral. This year, with Coronavirus spreading at an incredible rate through the world, the idea of anything going viral really concerns us.

Last six months have not been the most encouraging in my life. Since last September, I have been treated for a Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Because the chemotherapy sent my sugar levels into the stratosphere, I spent six days out of every 21 in hospital. Then, when I expected tests to show an all-clear, I had to have another month of radiotherapy. All the time I have felt and looked well so I am not complaining but the light at the end of the tunnel was the thought of getting into my little motorhome and setting our. I finished my treatments just in time for community lock-downs.

I was fortunate, I realise, to be still at home as Australia closed down.  Overseas travel was banned, international tourism was halted, homecoming residents were placed into quarantine, schools and most of the shops closed and state borders were closed. Phrases like social distancing and self-isolation became part of our lexicon. The previous political buzzword  'going forward' was replaced by 'on the other side of this situation.' As our Prime Minister and state Premiers gave press conferences ever day, we stayed at home. I believe our authorities reacted quickly to the situation as our infection and death rate, though serious, are minuscule in comparison to those in similar sized countries.

One of the very positive outcomes of this virus, though, is the increased emphasis on our neighbourhoods.  I love the fact that our particular suburb has a flourishing Facebook page where ideas and suggestions for staying sane are posted regularly. Another positive aspect is the increased interaction with our neighbours, even as we experience social distancing. People we have never met before give an encouraging wave as they pass on their evening walks. A banner has been put up in the park saying, 'Smiles are contagious too.'

Kids are using chalk to draw pictures and write encouraging messages on the driveways. We've been going on a Bear Hunt, looking for the teddy bears people are hiding in plain sight for passers-by. In terms of neighbourhood interaction, we have stepped back 50 years to the days where we knew our neighbours and offered help when it was needed.

Recently, street libraries were set up. There is one, just a little box on the fence, about 150 metres from my home. My other regular one (before social distancing) was in the local shopping centre. This week, I have gone on a brisk walk (my daily exercise) to the street library. There have been times when the only books there have been the ones I had returned. This week, I think everyone is reading! I took six books down and brought back 8. Tomorrow I will return another 5 from the van which I finished ages ago. I am fortunate that I read almost anything, except romance and fantasy (which are probably the same thing for me). I had so much choice today that I realise that I have neighbours with the same taste in books. There is also a tub of kids books, DVDs and games which seem to have a quick turnover as well. I hope, as a teacher and bookaholic, that this is a sign of a resurgence in reading, especially of tree-books as distinct from e-books. E-books are fine if you can't get the real thing but there is nothing like the feel of a book in your hands.

Another very positive outcome of the coronavirus has been the increased traffic on social media sites. I am on a few which I check almost daily where the emphasis seems to be on lifting our spirits with lots of jokes, stories and memes to balance out the grim news around us. Most of my Facebook sites are for travellers - the Solos Network, Solos Cruising Oz and similar. I used to check to see where my fellow travellers were, now I check to see how they are keeping themselves occupied in isolation. Such a dramatic change in a very short time!

I have also gone online with Toastmasters. One of my Pathways projects was all about online activities. I have this blog and others but was unsure how to fill the other projects. Now I am online with club meetings and meetings for specific purposes - daily impromptu sessions, regular educational presentations and wider multi-club meetings. I have learnt to run an online meeting, do a long multi-media presentation, and master many of the intricacies of communication from a distance. Much of this would be familiar to those whose work involves digital communication but for the average person like me, used to face-to-face interactions, this time at home has been a real learning experience. There is a bit of a down side here, though. Instead of slopping around in my pyjamas, I have to get dressed, put on make up, draw in the eyebrows lost through chemotherapy, decide on a wig or turban, and sit smiling in front of a screen.

Life has changed.  I am well aware that for many this will be a very stressful time and will put incredible pressure on family relationships especially where job-losses are included in the mix.  I know I am resilient enough to emerge 'on the other side' with more technical skills and knowledge and with my health and mental health intact. I am fortunate to have close family and caring friends to see me through.

Tagging Along

This time last year I was travelling though New South Wales. getting ready to join a Solos Tagalong though NSW and Queensland. This year we are confined to home as a result of the Coronavirus, Some one said we have need to look at our mindset and our vocabulary. Many of us have talked about being stuck at home. It was suggested that we should used the term, safe at home. Instead of travel, I am going to reminisce a bit about things from twelve months ago,

Easter was spent at Wagga Wagga at the Stone the Crows Festival, a week of fun and activities for the Over 50 group. This was my first Stone the Crows and it was great. As expected, there were quite a few travellers that I knew, including Solos. I committed myself to two activities for the week and then went to anything that took my fancy.

I am now the proud owner of a soprano ukulele and a book of instructions and songs. After four 90 minute lesson during the week, I can tune the device and hold it correctly. I am pretty confident with the C chord, A minor and F. Unfortunately even the easiest tunes seem to include G. I watch others playing and they seem to glide across the frets. Do matter how I try, my hands still look like  chooks' foots. At the end of a practice session, I have to twist my fingers back into some semblance of normalcy. I may still need a few lessons.  Then after all that work, I realised that because I am only playing chords, I am expected to sing to provide the melody. I will have to find a big group so that I can just move my mouth and pretend to sing, as I was asked to do in music lessons at school.

Last year, Easter was very late in the month of April and Anzac Day was included in the Stone the Crows festival. I don't usually buy T-shirts but I'm always on the look-out for a bargain. Last year's festival T-shirt featured both Stone the Crows and Anzac day - two for one! So, I had to get one. I now have a shirt that I can wear only one day a year - or two if I wear it on Remembrance day. I had intended to do that on the last Remembrance Day but I was in hospital. Now we have Anzac Day just around the corner - and we are in isolation for the Coronavirus, The closest I may get to showing it off, may be to post a photo here. It probably looks better on my lounge chair than on me, C'est la vie!

Happy Easter 2020!

Safe Travelling

I think it is interesting to look at role reversals. As parents it is our job to worry about our kids,even when they are no longer kids. Then, somewhere along the way, we find they are worrying about us.

I've been asked, 'Don't your kids worry about yo travelling alone?'  My answer is, 'No. My kids are reasonably intelligent. (They got their brains from their father. I still have mine.) They will have done a risk assessment. They know with 100% certainty that they will never see me on the evening news being winched from the side of a mountain by a helicopter, or rescued from the jaws of a great white shark. I'll never be seen staggering out of a desert or a rain forest after ten days of deprivation and starvation.'

Non travellers say, 'You are so brave. Don't you get scared being out there by yourself?'  They don't realise how busy life on the road is. I am a member of  the Campervan and Motorhome Club of Australia (CMCA), one person in a membership of 65,000, couples and singles. Many of them have joined a Solos Network with about 900 members, two-thirds of whom are women, mainly in the older age group. Obviously there are hundreds travelling alone who have not joined the Solos Network. It is a genuine network with access to all the resources of the CMCA and, as Solos, we have our own niche with clear lines of communication. We have a Solos facebook page, a Rally Facebook page with information about upcoming rallies. We have smaller chapters which meet regularly and, as an entire network, we have the opportunity to meet twice a year for rallies which provide information and, most particularly, a chance to meet for fun and fellowship. As well, our Tagalong page allows us to tag along with our members at no cost, either informally or in groups organised by our fellow members,

And this not the only group that caters for solo travellers. Rolling Solo is a group of about 3500 women, representing a wide range of ages and interests. Solos Travelling Oz have more than 3000 members, Glamper Girls have more than 3500. The list goes on. I would hazard a guess that, of about 80,00 travellers on the road at any one time, at least 10,000 are solo women. How could you be considered alone?

Yet, you can most certainly be alone if you want to be. There are plenty of places off the beaten track where you can stay, short or long term. You are really constrained only by the amount of water you carry and how you generate power. Travellers who are permanently on the road are more likely to settle for longer periods of time, to stop and offer Blaze Aid for weeks or months or to house sit for a while.

Travelling around on any day of the week, you will find a variety of stopping places. Some use caravan parks, though this is a very expensive option long term. However, there is now a network of caravan parks which provide budget overnight stays for self-contained vehicles. RV Friendly Towns entice travellers with free or cheap camping, in addition to showgrounds stays which can range from nothing (in Glen Innes and many other towns) to $30.  Roadside rest areas are popular and there is a great sense of camaraderie as people settle in for the night. Smaller vans like mine can park in suburban streets without being obvious. This is referred to as Stealth Camping, though it is perfectly legal and safe. In the CMCA we have Member Stopovers (MSO) where members open their property  short term to fellow members. There are also farm stays and groups such as YouCamp which provide quiet accommodation in a rural setting at various costs. And, best of all, family and friends often have a back yard or a driveway - and access to hot showers.

Being alone on the road is a personal choice. We are always aware of our safety and that of our fellow solos. Lis, who does safety seminars, said that more than 85% of assaults and murders take place in the home, usually perpetrated by a known assailant, The other danger group is the 15-30 year olds. Most of us are older than that, we are not in a family home, and we are alone. We are the safest people in Australia. Don't worry about us.