Day 32 and maybe tomorrow is the last at Level 4

Today was a beautiful sunny blue sky day. After a really good sleep it was good to wake up to such a lovely day. Yesterday I had a bit of scare after BP and pulse rate did a bit of a hike which resulted in me feeling dizzy every time I stood up. A trip in the afternoon to the afterhours clinic resulted in being told that just taking an extra one of my pills would probably assist and it seems it has. There were no other signs of anything, so other than wondering what was happening with my body, all is well. But perhaps there is a warning there - these are unusual times and perhaps there has been an underlying tension that manifested in my body. Probably also, a lot more exercise would be helpful!
Jonathan and Amy were quietly very supportive and I am glad I was  here.

I had such plans for the quiet weekend and how I was going to get all creative - but been taking it easy so didnt get as much done as I wanted - but hey - I am feeling good so what the heck.

We have had the children all the last week, and it was the beginning of online school - home schooling. Teachers have been posting a list of tasks and the children are pretty good at finding what they need to do. The girls are better are it than Callum - but Callum's teacher keeps saying - just do what you can or want to do...not sure that is a very useful approach with a 10 year old who quite regularly does the minimum as fast as he can. Annabelle and Cordelia are both great readers and Jonathan has had Annabelle using the big dictionary to find the words in her Narnia book that she doesnt know. The only real hiccups were Nana thinking they should pay attention better - but once Nana got her attitude sorted, the schoolwork flowed pretty well. Luckily  one or two of them have been able to go out to the farm and help with the animals. Jonathan calls it Outdoor education - they learn about parallel lines ( fencing), triangles and rectangles ( making duck pens) and the use of tools, and lots of fresh air.

Yes Annabelle is competently driving the gig

Ollie in harness with his driver Annabelle

New steps up the bank

The girls helping Daddy fence - apparently Annabelle knows how to use the fancy fencing tool now.

The girls riding round the roads in Mt Taylor - Annabelle up on Barney ( yippee - after a long absence at riding after the broken arm) and Cordelia on Winter

Jonathan has done online lectures and tutorials and been getting lots of online message from his students, and his Blind Citizens group, so he is playing many roles. At times it was a bit stressful - but on the whole I keep reminding myself "this too will pass" dont get too spaced out about whether they actually do every task the teacher wants them to do. Each of the children has had Google meets sessions with either their classmates or their teacher which is great.

Cooking has been a major distracter - with apple shortcake being made every second day - a well laden apple tree and 5 mass producing feijoa trees have been very useful. The girls continue to enjoy playing with Nana's sewing machine ( the dollies each have a couple of new dresses) and paints and crafts go down well.

Anzac biscuits with some imaginative ingredients due to minimal oats and no coconut. Yummy.

Omelette - using Grandad's technique - very fluffy!

I had a couple of great Zoom sessions - with my Philosophy group and also with the Sydney based Rainbow Connection quilting group.

Anzac Day was a bit different and in common with Australia  many people in NZ went to their letterboxes at 6am and listened to a live Anzac broadcast.  Kids were encouraged to make poppies to display in their windows and there were many home made wreaths and poppies. The kids and I made a wreath and Anzac biscuits. The supermarkets have sold out of coconut!

Well, kids back in the morning - no school work tomorrow as it is classed as a public holiday as Anzac Day came on a Saturday and then if all continues well, we go to Alert Level 3 tomorrow night at midnight. No school for our kids, and at Level 3 still not recommended that Seniors fraternise too much - so I am down here until at least 11 May when a decision will be made on what happens next.

All well with my friends and family - so hope everyone continues to realise we are not out of the woods yet.