More revisions and changes to those dreaded but necessary restrictions we had in place for nigh on two years means our lives are constantly changing. Maybe not to the extent as in the UK (and possibly other countries) ‘no big deal – learn to live with it’ …..here it’s back to the office and except in certain circumstances QR codes check ins are becoming a thing of the past with masks not needed. It’s proof of vaccination – 2 plus a booster – that ’lets you in or excludes you from’various establishments plus at times a negative RAT test.
So even though daily case numbers are much lower (but fluctuating) , Omicron (faster transmission but less severe – so ’they’ say) appears to have affected some of my friends’ state of mind more so than Delta – they seem to have returned to taking it slowly – in fact much slower than before. They aren’t fearful like previously – just less confident with being out and about …fully vaxxed but still cagey about visiting the supermarket, let alone cafes and restaurants with a trip to the cinema or using public transport definitely best left to others.
That is fine – I’m happy to see them now and again under their own specific terms and conditions but meanwhile I need to get on and enjoy however much is left of my life.
Which means over the past couple of weeks while I’ve been trying to dig myself out of some bad/sad/down days I’ve sat in a breezy hairdressing salon (doors and windows needing to be open for ventilation) – served morning tea to nursing home residents (hoorah for a return to volunteering) – and sung maskless at choir rehearsal (it’s very difficult to sing wearing one so this was a very welcome change)
There was another (non dept of health) change to choir procedures that everyone thought was just grand – may I present to you ’Dog’ (yes, that it’s name) – a beautiful black & white Border Collie who was ’rescued/adopted’ by our accompanist during the last lockdown.
We don’t often get visitors who just sit and listen without feeling the need to join in
Dog was peaceful and quiet, possibly a little unsure, checking Sue was still there
Also with one habit Sue is trying to break.
‘Just giving her the sniff test to make sure she is who she says she is’
How about you – what changes affected your recent days, weeks or even months?
Have they made life easier or more complicated for you?
Hopefully nothing as dramatic as the flooding rain my family in Brisbane experienced – all is well now. None came into the house, just the garden to put back together now😊
#keeplifesimple
xingfumama hosts ’whatsoever is lovely’ – Sue’s beautiful Border Collie was my lovely this week
Life this Month can be found HERE at Denyse Whelan Blogs
Still Waters 
Hi Cathy. I guess it’s more or less the same everywhere…proof of a vaccine, if not necessarily the booster. At least we seem to be moving on here (west coast of Canada), but not quite back to ‘normal’ yet.
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We’ll all get there in the end Diane – the dratted thing hasn’t gone away yet and is causing (call it self inflicted) problems more for those who choose not to vaccinate, take no precautions, complain loudly about ‘lack of freedom’ and then end up infected than the ones who take their health seriously.
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Cathy, Ontario, Canada much the same, still have mandatory masks which will most likely be lifted by the end of March. Right now the specific area where I live has a spike in cases in vulnerable people, another death, but not an increase in hospitalizations.
But the health care system is still gridlocked, and I know this only too well because I have a very painful health condition that has not yet been diagnosed (two months of serious pain), because the wait times for testing are weeks and months. I have my fingers crossed it isn’t life-threatening, but since there is no diagnosis it may or may not be. Frightening and frustrating. Since my partner still works in a busy environment with hundreds of people, indoors, having the masks off will expose him, unwillingly, to all sorts, so we are not out of the woods yet at our house.
Glad your life is getting back to normal!
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Maggie I do hope you are able to get the appointments (and any necessary treatment) you need – it seems like health care for everyone (except those who unfortunately contracted covid) has suffered worldwide.
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It’s actually feeling bizarre not having to check in everywhere
I still was wearing my mask in shopping centres unless I’m there at the crack of dawn and there are hardly any people
I’m glad your relatives are all ok
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Like you Angela I felt a little ‘naked’ being out and about with a mask on……we had a trip to Ikea last weekend where according to the guidelines they weren’t necessary- oh yes they were I decided and was surprised to see how many others thought the same way.
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I had a border collie as a child, and a standard collie when I was an adult. Collies are wonderful dogs.
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I’m not a doggy person Joanne but I have a liking for Collies as well as Labs and Golden Retrievers. They always strike me as soft loving but intelligent dogs
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Still wary of large crowds but I will happily meet friends for coffee in a cafe. I am finding it challenging leaving the house, though. More my mental state than Covid but Covid gave this recluse an excuse.
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Here’s another who wasn’t (apart from a couple of weeks during one of the lockdowns) too upset with being made to stay home.
The cafe part is difficult because even though I’m comfortable being near my party it’s the others – and what they might be harbouring- I’m concerned about. Outside for me is better than in even if it causes problems with friends as the weather cools down.
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In UK where our restrictions were lifted on 24 February, there doesn’t seem much difference locally where I live, with people still wearing masks in shops and venues and exercising social distancing as before – perhaps more so, now it’s no longer mandatory to isolate after a positive test. Sadly too, there’s evidence that vaccine protection is waning with some people I know of catching it despite their best efforts. Their symptoms have been like a long (10 -14 days), very bad dose of flu with fortunately no need for hospitalisation.
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I think it’s the younger ones who have disposed of their masks permanently Caree….older people always have one in their pocket ready to use when necessary.
PCR tests are reported as a matter of course and positive RATs (diy home tests) also have to be reported here….in fact it’s ‘required by law’ that you do so. So is isolating- our daughter had visits from health dept ‘officials’ checking to see if she was ok, phone calls when the rest of the family tested +ve offering assistance if they needed it.
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In the UK too, and I’m with you on getting out and about again. I was never keen on crowds and am quite happy with small group gatherings. Just back from swimming, it was great.
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That’s good to hear you’ve added another activity to your list. Since giving up sessions at the gym I’d be lost if my local pool closed….in fact I missed my watery workouts very much during the lockdowns. I do lots of walking/jogging in the shallow end as well as various exercises interspersed with swimming the odd half lap (I get puffed doing full laps and struggle to get back so doing halves makes more sense for me)
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It’s a big mess on the other side of the ditch!
I for one, still keeping a low profile, although I’ve started brisk short walks locally – after 9am so the school kids are all at their desks (a local school around here). I’m restricting if I do go out, but I have a lot less anxiety. Tomorrow my helper is driving me to/from the dentist which has a whole lot of new rules to go there…
My main club that has offshoots of mini groups is on “cancel mode” and I miss that mingling. But I suspect they are just following the idea that us oldies might be prone. But it appears from analysing the news that it’s the unvaccinated who are getting sick and a % need to be in hospital.
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NZ is experiencing similar problems that have cropped up in the states who kept their borders closed while NSW and Victoria had that crisis with Omicron late last year.
Definitely agree it’s the unvaccinated who are catching and spreading and not coping with the illness- their numbers are much much higher than that of those vaccinated. It’s been a difficult road for you Cathy….here’s hoping you don’t have to cope with any more twists and turns and it’s the straight and narrow for you from now on
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This too is passing. Masks are only compulsory here in shops and crowded places. Half the family have ‘it’ at the moment, all with mild symptoms.
Looks like summer will be as usual, except…who can afford those petrol prices. What will air tickets cost.
Love that Dog!
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Oh the price of fuel is becoming a real problem even for me who doesn’t go that far these days. I’m not contemplating going anywhere by air at the moment so will cross that bridge when it arrives- however we are planning the drive to Qld in a few months time so fingers crossed that the cost could have dropped by then
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That dogs looks a lot like the one we lost to old age last year. Seeing it reminds me that our insane puppy will eventually have the calm of the dog and our old one. Here masks are optional and I wear one in crowded places but not with friends.
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Isn’t he just the most loveable looking dog….Sue says he has fun at the park – at times ‘frolicking’ around with other dogs like a puppy, then becomes sooky and needy when they get home not letting her out of his sight
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Our present puppy does the same, though she jumps in our lap when she comes in, muddy feet and all if we haven’t intercepted her at the door.
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Dog is wonderful! Wishing you all the best as you navigate the pandemic. It is a time when we each need to figure out what we are comfortable doing or not doing.
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That’s the rub isn’t it….there doesn’t seem to be a happy medium that we all agree with. We must all work it out for ourselves….until it’s too late for some who perhaps should have taken a different pathway.
All jolly good fun..not when there’s the possibility of another omicron variant starting to make inroads.
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Yes it still feels a bit weird adjusting to the recent changes out there Cathy but you’re right to want to get out there and live your life taking all necessary precautions. I’m so glad you’ve managed to get back to a few of your ‘usual’ activities and are enjoying them all so much. #lifethismonth
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It’s been very stressful for some having to live with a changing environment – news that there’s possibly another variant making inroads into the population isn’t going to be greeted with joy by those who are fearful.
Different states having different attitudes hasn’t helped but I’m sure we’ll all get there (safely) in the end….we will won’t we Debby??
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Everything is rather chaotic right now and after the happenings during the last two years, I think the hardest part is the constant worry about what will happen next, will the next variant be milder or worse, and will we ever be able to live a normal life again without worry? I’ve become used to not believing that anything good can happen and that’s quite sad.
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Like just about everyone I know Susanne I really want this to be over….but we all know it’s not. You’re right about the constant worry and I’m not ignoring that fact (or the recent news of another variant making an appearance) so we’ll just keep on keeping on, mask up, wash our hands and try to stay out of harms way.😊
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I too have had some emotional set backs…Dad had to go to hospital..at 98 “is this it?” no, he is home again. Still unsettling. Just about all our family have had or are getting over Covid despite vaccinations…sigh. I have had some other health issues (not related to my cancer) and now wonder “is my calendar just a series of appointments’…yes, for now it is. I see lots of dogs being great companions and seen as adjunct to some people’s health. I am not a dog nor pet person and this is my first confession of such. It’s Ok to pat a friendly dog in our family and acknowledge it but, we did have a dog for many years and the hard yards for her care fell to me despite being our son’s ! Life, hey. With petrol prices and politics, where can I hide out for a bit! HA! Take care, Cathy. Thank you so much for linking up your blog post for the FIRST #LifeThisMonth Link Up on Denyse Whelan Blogs. I do hope you return for the next one: Monday 11 April 2022. Warm wishes,Denyse.
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