Monday, Labor Day, September 6, 2021

I think butter is the best choice too! How loving of you to bake/cook for your DH, when that's not really your thing anymore.

The Alzheimer's story sounds familiar. It is so sad to see and I am glad that my DH doesn't have to live in that world anymore.

LOL on your DH eating dog sandwich cookies. My DS used to call himself Woofie when he was about 3 and would eat milk bones.

Hello All

Starting my saying sorry for my absence, our 7th lockdown has really knocked the wind from my sales and didnt want to be a Debbie Downer on the group.

We have now been in strict lockdown since 5th August with the small possibility of a slight relaxing on 23rd September. We are confined to our homes with the exception of work (must be an essential worker and carry permits) to get vaccinated (more on that later) to shop for food, medicine etc (only one member from the household) caregiving and to exercise for 2 hours a day. We have a curfew from 9pm till 5am each day too and only allowed 5km from home. So my days are work (my company is considered essential) then home, rinse and repeat, with shopping once a week and visit my mum once a week to bring her supplies and food Im making for her. She hasnt been able to get Pfizer vax as the govt has only allocated Astra Zenica to her age group and our GP has advised she is too high risk to take this one. So I have her isolated until we can get her either Moderna or Pfizer. Both DH and I are now fully vaccinated so thats a plus. I am helping our children get their appointments. We may be able to get a small reprieve once we reach 70% vaccination rate but that is touted as only being able to travel 10km from home and an extra hours exercise a day - woooopeeeee!

There is much arguing and tension between the state premiers as to what % rate of vaccination they are prepared to open up with. With our Prime Minister saying we can all be back with our families this Christmas- believe that when we see it. In short Im exceptionally tired of all the crap and just want to be able to spend time with my family. During this lockdown we are missing 5 birthdays and Fathers Day alone. My eldest grandson asks me to come over every time I call and it breaks my heart as I cant. He wants to facetime as soon as he hears my voice :( Humans are not built to be virtually jailed in their homes. Family makes me happy and completes me. Its just darn hard.... whinge over but wanted to explain a little...

I dont really have anything interesting to share. My eating is terrible - Im a stress eater - enough said. Will sort that later....

I have popped in when I can to read what you have all been up to and Im so happy you are all doing well. Thank you also Cecily for checking in on me. Its much appreciated - loved chatting to you

Much love to you all and I will try and be better at posting - maybe next month I will be able to share some form of freedom and family time

S

Thanks for checking in Shirl. The amount of loss you have all experienced and continue to experience is staggering. Don't worry about being a Debbie Downer. We all have our good times and our bad times... And we can support each other through all of it.

Well, crap! I didn't realize it was another strict as hell lockdown! So, so sorry you are going through this again. My friends in NZ are going through the same. Just awful.

You can come here and whine all you want! That's what friends are for, after all! HUGS!

Speaking as a fellow stress eater, come here and unload on us! Sometimes that can be a release valve. We're tough. We can take it!

So, so difficult Shirl, especially being away from the kids and having to worry about your Mom. This Covid thing seems endless and is obviously taking quite a toll on people in Australia.

Yikes Shirley you must really feel like a prisoner! Hoping that all the effort and sacrifice is worth it in terms of surprising the pandemic. Seems like there should be a better balance between the strict rules there and some places around here where restrictions are totally disregarded. Everybody's eating is terrible during lockdown. Check in soon. we are thinking of you. Diane S