RETHINKING THINGS

WELL... with the news that we will have to 'self isolate' ourselves for two weeks when we return from Australia... there's been some serious thinking going on here.

First and foremost.... we have arranged for Lacy and Brylee to stay somewhere else when we come home, so that they are not forced to self isolate with us.

We have canceled our plans for traveling within New Zealand after our Australian holiday as well.  Obviously, we can't go anywhere for two weeks upon our return.

Hopefully the house has enough food and LOO PAPER for our use while we are in isolation.  If not, we can get the kids to drop stuff off at the doorstep.

Far out, this is certainly putting a bit of a spanner in our holiday plans!

Of course, we could avoid the self isolation by simply NOT going to Australia, but THE OLD MOO would be crushed if we didn't go over now!

And we would lose over a thousand dollars in flights, and travel booked in Australia too.  

So, we are still going.  

CRAZY?  Probably.  *sigh*

Back to today... packing.  Getting the lawn mowed as Stew didn't get to it yesterday.  

He did this instead:

ABOVE:  He put the dining room blinds up ... so now we can block the sun in the afternoon/evening when it's too bright.  Oh, and we will have privacy at night too of course.

I'm taking the dogs to the groomers this morning.  They will feel much cooler after that.  Coco has had the shits the last couple of days,  so she is in desperate need of a thorough bath!  Lacy had to tend to her yesterday... she was pretty ikkky.

ONWARD...

I've done some more reading up on the 'self isolation' thing.  Seems we CAN go for a drive, a walk etc, so long as we don't come into CLOSE contact with other people.  So it's not all doom and gloom.  Phew!  I think I'd go nuts shut inside the house for two weeks solid.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEX!  Sorry I did indeed forget, there's been just a bit on me mind!  See you tomorrow, have a lovely day.

Today... is going well.  
We've had the dogs groomed.
We have talked to our immediate neighbours, so they know we are away, and once back are in isolation.
We've been to the supermarket and stocked up on the essentials:

ABOVE:  I felt like a bad person stockpiling DIET COKE!  But it's the one thing we must have when we get home!  Oh... and dog food.
Cos they must be catered for too.
Anything else we need can be delivered to the house by the supermarket, or one of the kids.

 ABOVE:  Everyone is saying 'DON'T TOUCH YOUR FACE'... so, I have Stew sorted.

 ABOVE:  We went and bought the paint for the Studio exterior walls, to get rid of the calf shit yellow.  OF COURSE I chose a blue!  It will dry a slightly darker shade, don't worry!  It's not going to be so 'in ya face blue'.  *smiles*

 ABOVE: The punching bag has been annoying me ever since we put it there.  
I have to climb over it to open the windows... and there's not much room for children to play with the toys.
So I suggested to Stew he get rid of it.

He wasn't keen at all.

Then I pointed out to him just how often he uses is.  LIKE NEVER.

So he reluctantly agreed to get rid of it.  
And he knew of a young couple who would just love it... a young woman he works with and her husband.

ABOVE:  So there ya go... we will be taking it out to them this afternoon.  It's a nice feeling to know they will really appreciate it and use it, and we are happy to gift it to them.

I went for an FBG walk at 5 pm in Cambridge.  While there I got the news that Australia is now also imposing a 14 day self isolation plan for incoming travelers.

WE ARE NO LONGER GOING TO AUSTRALIA.

It would be completely pointless going over there to be put into isolation for two weeks, then come home and have to self isolate for another two weeks!

We are absolutely gutted, and I had to ring my Mum and give her the bad news.  She was extremely upset, but understood that it was completely out of our hands.   She cried.  I cried.
In fact I'm still crying on and off, because it upset me so much to hear my Mum cry.  I love her so much.

Sorry Mum.  We will see you later on in the year I'm sure of it.  

Stew and I will now have to sit down and decided what we are going to do for the next month.  Probably do some traveling around here in New Zealand.

Anyone want us to visit them?  Got a bed? *sigh*

I'm signing off early today.  I'm just a bit upset right now.