Day 10- Grey Skies and Rancid Bayleys

I flip my day. At the house by 9am, I tidy up the front garden and get rid of some hard fill. As I'm not planning to come back for a while, I pull weeds which are going to seed. I think the saying goes that if the seeds scatter you've got the weeds for seven years. There's a lot and I'm over it by the time I get in the car to leave. But the car battery is flat. I've left the keys on in the ignition. Damn. I need help and call Chris. No answer so I cross the road to find Steve. Happy to help and we keep the 2 metre rule. Years ago when I was house sitting at 22 College Ave, he helped me break in after I'd locked myself out. "That's what neighbours are for," he says.
Back home, it's domestic catch up time. I've still got lots of jobs neglected by the all consuming house project. Nice to have the time... not bored yet. In fact, lockdown is a bit like looking after my ancient father, Lionel, in Alexandra which, in turn, is like looking after small children. Limits to freedom while activities are domestically focused. Life for lock down carers won't change a lot, except they can't go to public places.
I go for a bike ride in the howling easterly. Biking is now in the spotlight - a potentially dangerous activity after David Clark, the health minister was criticised for travelling 2km to mountain bike a track he described as "not challenging." My hill is steep. My saving graces: a very slow descent, and the brakes work.
In the evening I Zoom into Naomi and Alex's living room concert. Raw, real and reassuring. Way better than the usual evening diet of mediocre films on TV. Chris brings out a near full bottle of Baileys. We learn first hand the health hazards of keeping milky drinks, even those with high levels of alcohol, for too long. I don't think rancid Bayleys could kill you but it's eye-watering to drink.

Naomi and Alex making music in their living room

Covid update- Australia now has 5362 cases with the state of New South Wales being hardest hit. China sees a rise of 30 cases, up 19 from Friday. In New Zealand the police and their families have joined the teddy bear hunt. This is being done around the world in an effort to entertain isolated children, and our police are putting teddies in their police stations, patrol cars, bikes, boats and even helicopters. You can count on community minded Kiwis, I say. Today's total, 950.