Day 7 - Voluntary Lock Down

I woke this morning with a foggy and aching head and a fiery and uncomfortable stomach. Hmmm. Head spins last night and now this? If only I had a control group to be able to ascertain if this was infection or too much red wine and chilli sauce last night. Better just push on.

Today, being Sunday, I thought "what a perfect day to start getting stuck into those DIY projects". Ah bliss. Sun's shining, I don't have to do anything or be anywhere and I love building shit. Here's my chance. Happy days!

But first I'd better have some breaky and do my chores = write the Day 6 blog. I sat down and thought I'd just flick on the ABC News to get an update. To my surprise I switched on just at the beginning of the PM's live press conference, announcing the 2nd tranche of the economic stimulus (being described more as "survival") package. Combined withe the Reserve Bank's recent support (for banks to support business), this brought the committed stimulus measures to a value of ~AU$189 billion.

This one was to be focussed on the safety net, to quickly and sustainably backup those Australians and business that need it. This was extraordinary. I was mesmerised. "This is actually really good."

I also felt like I was witnessing Scott Morrison's leadership transcend. He had stepped up to the plate (those who've read my previous blogs, will know I haven't been much of a fan).

Finally he was being transparent. He was confronting the reality of where we were at. He was sharing responsibility and commitment to working "in concert" with the state premiers. He was fielding questions from the media with fairness and respect, both to the individuals asking the questions and to where those question were coming from. He was clarifying whatever he could and being careful not to step beyond the bounds of what he knew for sure. He was clear about the context of these measures and his intent to do more if necessary. He was providing a great role model for the Treasurer, Josh Frydenberg, who also did a great job.

Wow. Am I a fan? I am a fan of that kind of leadership. Well done Sco-Mo.

Right better do my chores and get on with the day. "Building shit, here I come." Wrote the blog, chose a recipe for tonight's dinner, and went for a walk to the shops to get some supplies. "I wonder if I'll be able to buy hand sanitizer"

Urgh. I really don't like walking into supermarkets now. It's so hard to maintain the bubble. I'm touching things that everyone else has been touching. People coming right up next to me because they aren't yet used to slowing down. The aisles aren't wide enough to adhere to the 1.5m rule. I really hope Woolies can get the online delivery thing happening again, before I need to do this again, or at least some one-way store traffic systems (as annoying as that would be). This is just ridiculous, if social distancing is our best chance.

I asked one of the Woolies staff members about hand sanitizer and where I would find it, if it was ever to be in stock. She was lovely and empathetic and showed me and ... stood so close. WTF?

BTW she doesn't know when they'll have more. They've been out of stock for 2.5 weeks.

The walk there and back was lovely. notwithstanding the extra distance travelled as I zig-zagged the road to provide space for others. No problem. Was helping me get my steps up.

When I got back I couldn't resist turning on the news. After some coverage of the shadow treasurer trying to maintain relevance in the picture, our state premier was on. Sweet! I've been impressed with the WA state government (BTW that's coming from someone who didn't vote them in). They seem to be more on the front foot. Today, similar to the South Australian government, were announcing non-essential border closures. Also non-essential elective surgeries were being cancelled. Oh dang! There goes my vasectomy.

Random thought - am I going to need to cut my own hair? Or maybe I'll grow it.

But wait. STOP THE PRESS. The AFL has just announced that all games have been suspended. Well that put an end to the, along with the NRL, biggest public mockery of what we've all been trying to do here. Hallelujah. I love AFL but, seriously, that decision could have come sooner.

O-oh now there's a press conference following the national cabinet meeting that we've all been waiting for (I've never even really known what the national cabinet was, but now it is riveting). Lots of talk about the fucktards in Bondi and everywhere in the country, not adhering to the social distancing guidelines. Yes! They're mandating the closure of all public gathering venues, nationally. Oh except essential services ... and schools. WTF?

So let me get this straight. We're closing places of worship. We're closing all restaurants and cafes. We're closing pubs, clubs, casinos and cinemas. We're closing indoor sporting venues. But we're not bringing term-1 school holidays forward a week or two??

Seriously people, if you can do this without involving the grandparents, keep your kids home. It's a no brainer.

BTW Sco-Mo we can survive without our 4 year-olds getting an institutional education. If they missed the whole year it would make no fucking difference, other than possibly saving a shit load of lives. Let's start having the real conversation, about keeping 'some' schools open to support the essential services' workforce.

Now it was nearly dark and I hadn't even started building shit. Oh well. There's always tomorrow.

I did mow the lawn though; including the edges this time. Love my lawn. Brings me joy. When I'd finished I found a little thank you on my doorstep, from the neighbour who was scared the other night. Some home-made soup, some toothbrush heads and gum steriliser. Crazy times.

The soup was awesome!