Monday, November 14, 2022

Covid-19 2.0




 

So on Saturday morning as we were packing to go to Abu Dhabi for the Grand Prix, I tested positive for COVID-19. Again. I only just had it in April. So the current rules in Hong Kong are: report it, and spend 7 days isolating or isolate until you get two negative RAT results on consecutive days. 

I'm in my bedroom with the en suite while Jules is sleeping on the couch in the living room, so there isn't a lot to do. I thought I may as well blog about it as one day people in my family will be interested in how life was in times of COVID. 

But before I tell the whole story, a highlight from today. Jules bought me an isolation kettle and some lovely teas. They were even the right teas that I like (Twinings English Breakfast) and that I need (Pukka Night-time). Best Husband Award 2022!







Sunday, October 16, 2022

Monday, January 04, 2021

From Hawea Flat to Hong Kong: our family's international move in the time of COVID


 Well, after over a year in the planning, our family has finally relocated from Hawea Flat in rural New Zealand to Hong Kong. Here's a brief summary of our experience of making an international move in the time of COVID.

Julian was first offered a role in Hong Kong in October 2019. Then there were the protests, then COVID hit, and for a long time it looked as though the move would never happen. But then at long last, Julian's employer booked us a flight to Hong Kong last December. The airline cancelled the flight, so we were rebooked onto a different one, and finally we were on our way.

We left home in Hawea Flat around 7am on 3 January, arriving at Queenstown Airport in plenty of time before our flight to Auckland at 10.30am. Which was lucky, as getting checked in was far from simple. 

The person on the airline desk was working off a document that stated that Hong Kong's borders were closed and the only people allowed in were returning residents. After about 30 minutes of phone calls in a back room, she discovered that we would be allowed in after all and checked our bags through to Hong Kong.

When we arrived at Auckland International Airport for our international flight, we were completely unprepared for what we found - the airport was like a ghost town. Only one cafe and one duty free shop were open - everything else had the lights off and the door barriers down. 

Going through security was also a bit different than usual, given we were the only people doing it. Over and done with in a matter of minutes. 

On board our flight to Hong Kong, there were just 22 passengers. We arrived at 8.30pm Hong Kong time and entered the labyrinth that Hong Kong airport has become in order to process arrivals during COVID. 

If you're familiar with Hong Kong airport, you'll remember the long concourses with many aircraft gates on each side.  Now imagine these with no people, and full of roped off corridors and arrows directing you to the next step in the process. 

We'd had to complete an online health declaration form before we boarded our flight, and now we had to show the QR codes to prove we'd done so. Not just once, but about seven times to seven different security staff members. I had both the kids' QR codes on my phone as well as my own, so there was a lot of flipping from screen to screen. 

The COVID test was not bad. They do a throat swab and a nasal swab but these are nowhere near as invasive as the ones they do in New Zealand. 

We were also issued with our electronic wristbands and cheerily told that the penalty for leaving your hotel room was $25000 or imprisonment and lately the government was going for imprisonment! 

Finally, we were directed to an area full of desks and told to sit there until our test results returned. It was around midnight by then and I had visions of waiting there until the next morning, but in fact it was only a couple of hours later when someone arrived to tell us we were good to go.

After clearing immigration, we arrived in a deserted baggage claim hall, to find our bags neatly stacked in a pile all by themselves. 

Then after a little more delay, we boarded the hotel shuttle and were driven to our hotel. We arrived at 2.45am, making the whole experience a little more than 24 hours. 

Now we're on day 3 of our 21-day quarantine. The thing it reminds me of most is being on a long haul flight. You're trapped, you're bored and you find yourself counting down till the next meal, and then being disappointed when the meal finally arrives. 

We also have to take everyone's temperature twice a day and record it in a little log book. So far, we're all robustly healthy.

Wonder how we'll be doing after another 19 days? 

  









Sunday, July 19, 2020

My COVID-19 test: the good, the bad and the ugly

On Friday, we had some old friends around for dinner. That night I had a slight sore throat, but thought I'd probably been talking too much.

On Saturday I went on a drive with my inlaws and their dog and at lunchtime I started to cough. Just one cough - but it set me on high alert.

Sunday saw me at the supermarket with my daughter. I took a scarf to cover my face - but all of a sudden I had a coughing fit in the cheese aisle.

Couldn't get out of there fast enough. Teenage daughter took control and managed the checkout process superbly.

When we got home I made an appointment online with my GP Mark for 8.45am on Monday. And this morning, after a bit of debate with my husband, I drove myself to the medical centre.

The protocol was that if you had COVID-like symptoms, you should wait in your car and call through to the medical centre. When I did exactly that, they were surprised that I was following their instructions. Maybe most of the population has relaxed at this point?

"Aw, good on ya for coming in," said Mark. Then we went through a little questionnaire and I explained that actually I wanted to be tested, because I have been quite a few places over the school holidays.

Slight snag - I couldn't physically cope with the nasal swab. I gripped the steering wheel with both hands, but when Mark said it was only halfway and I would need to hold it at the highest point for 15 seconds, I said 'stop'. Truly an unpleasant experience.

So we went for the throat swab instead which is apparently 95% effective, compared with the nasal swab. Had one swab on each side - relatively ok, or perhaps you can take anything after a nasal swab. I just don't know any more.

Then Mark said I could go about my day as I had a "low risk profile" so I drove myself home again, without having an accident.

And now I wait, thankful - in Wanaka at least -  I should hear the same day. And relieved that if I need to, I can isolate myself effectively in our upstairs which is essentially a 1-bedroom apartment.

Fingers crossed...

UPDATE: When I took Sofia to the GP for something else the next day, I casually asked about my test results. The GP we were seeing said "Oh yes, that was negative." So I asked why I hadn't got a text and she said "Mark usually processes them all at the end of the day." Hmf. Still I was relieved - self-isolation doesn't sound like much fun.




Friday, July 10, 2020

Writing: The Central Otago family-run startup sustaining the renewable energy dream

The Central Otago family-run startup sustaining the renewable energy dream


Covid-19 or not, renewable energy is the future. That's why one grassroots business is taking a leap of faith and trusting that the current downturn will eventually yield to an ecotourism boom.

Wednesday, March 25, 2020

COVID-19 Lockdown diary: Day 1

At 11.59pm last night, New Zealand officially entered level 4 of our emergency system: complete lockdown. So we're all isolated in our individual households, with one person allowed out at a time to shop for essentials. It's an interesting time, so I thought I'd blog about it - just so I remember it.

The kids were actually quite keen to do their schoolwork. Will had a video call with his class and teacher but only 9 kids joined the call. It was really heartening to listen to them all chat - she's such a nice empathetic teacher.

I bottled blackboy peaches in the morning and made a small dent in the glut. Still a massive box squatting in the garage. It felt like a very domestic "good life-y" thing to be doing but quite satisfying to see the full jars on the bench afterwards.

To be honest, I'm actually enjoying it so far. I guess in a normal week there's just me at home, so having a full house feels like a holiday.

Let's see how I feel after another 27 days though. Kids a bit fight-y already - and the isolation has barely started...